Strategies for Self-Controlling Social Media Use: Classification and Role in Preventing Social Media Addiction Symptoms

Brevers, Damien and Turel, Ofir (2019) Strategies for Self-Controlling Social Media Use: Classification and Role in Preventing Social Media Addiction Symptoms. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 8 (3). pp. 554-563. ISSN 2062-5871 (print); 2063-5303 (online)

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Abstract

Background and aims: Many people present excessive patterns of social networking site (SNS) use and try to self-regulate it. However, little is known regarding the strategies employed by young adult SNS users and their role in preventing the emergence of addiction-like symptoms in relation to SNS use. Methods: In Study 1, we employed a naturalistic-qualitative approach for finding commonly employed self-control strategies in relation to SNS use. In Study 2, we examined differences between the frequency and difficulty of the strategies identified in Study 1 and tested the process through which trait self-control exerts influence on reducing SNS addiction symptomology. Results: Study 1 revealed six families of self-control strategies, some reactive and some proactive. Study 2 pinpointed the most commonly used and most difficult to enact ones. It also showed that the difficulty to enact self-control strategies in relation to SNS use partially mediates the effect of trait self-control via SNS use habit on SNS addiction symptom severity. Conclusions: Taken together, the present findings revealed that strategies for self-controlling SNS use are common and complex. Their theoretical and clinical significance stems from their ability to prevent the translation of poor trait self-control and strong SNS use habit to the emergence of excessive use as manifested in SNS addiction-like symptoms.

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