Support NeoGAF

[Spyxos]

How Common Is Social Media Addiction?​

Rates of social media addiction are sadly growing each year. With 56.8% of the world’s population active on social media, it’s believed that rates of social media addiction will also rise over the coming years.

Social Media Addiction Statistics by Age​

Teens and young adults are by far the largest age group affected by social media addiction.

Because many young people experience FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), they feel obligated to be on social media despite the mental health issues excessive use of social media can cause.

According to Statista, rates of self-reported social media addiction by age group include:

• 18 to 22 years old: 40% of Americans self-reported being addicted to social media
• 23 to 38 years old: 37% of Americans self-reported being addicted to social media
• 38 to 54 years old: 26% of Americans self-reported being addicted to social media
• 55 to 64 years old: 21% of Americans self-reported being addicted to social media

Social Media Addiction Statistics by Gender​

When it comes to self-reporting social media addiction, it appears at first glance that women are more likely to have social media addiction than men.

Statista reports the following rates of social media addiction per gender:

• 34% of women admit they are somewhat addicted to social media, with 11% admitting they are undoubtedly addicted to social media.
• 26% of men admit they are somewhat addicted to social media, with 7% admitting they are undoubtedly addicted to social media.

Although women tend to self-report a higher addiction to social media than men, recent studies have found that men may actually be more likely to develop social media addiction than women.

Social Media Addiction Statistics (2023) - Who Is Most At Risk?

Social media addiction affects people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Understanding its effects on different groups can help identify those at higher risk and provide prevention and treatment options.

www.addictionhelp.com

 

[winjer]

Self reported numbers will always be very skewed.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Nah. Gaming tho? Yeah.

 

[Scotty W]

Yeah, I’m on Threads 24/7.

 

[AV]

Definitely hooked on Discord. Not addicted in the algorithmic, targeted content way that FB, Instagram etc. get people, but definitely spend all day making sure channels are read.

 

[Hrk69]

Nah, I fucking hate it

 

[ReBurn]

I deleted all of my socials years ago because I was being stalked. It was the most liberating experience.

 

[FunkMiller]

Sadly, I have to be on them for work (communications consultancy can't operate without some bloody social media) and that dribbles well over into my down time as well.

 

[Laptop1991]

Using the internet for various reasons, yeah i am, actual social media sites like Facebook, Tiktok or X etc no i rarely use them

 

[Synless]

If Gaf counts as social media, I would argue yes. Otherwise, no.

 

[John Bilbo]

I do use GAF and Youtube too much I think.

 

[laynelane]

I didn't realize Youtube counted as social media. It and Reddit are the only ones I use of the ones listed in the article. Youtube daily and Reddit every so often. I'm not sure if it's age or personality, but Facebook, Twitter, etc. have just never appealed to me.

 

[Husky]

I might be an internet addict, but I'm definitely not a social media addict.

 

[cash_longfellow]

Deactivated Facebook a couple of months ago. Kept messenger because my mom uses it to keep in contact, she doesn’t have a smart phone. Some times I miss the socialization and want to go back, then I remember how much of a cesspool it has become. So I wouldn’t quite say addicted, as much as a little reliant for human comms.

 

[Quasicat]

The only thing I use that would be considered Social Media is NeoGAF. I don’t have Facebook, Instagram, My Space, etc because my employer watches it very closely (but NeoGAF flies under their radar). I have seen several good teachers get written up, fired, etc due to posts they put up about the district.

 

[JimmyRustler]

I read GAF and use 9gag quite a lot but I would not say that I'm addicted. I like to pass time with it. If there is a good conversation with someone to be had I don't even think about using my phone.

 

[Grildon Tundy]

Yes, if you count GAF and lurking on Reddit, which I do. No Facebook, Insta, TikTok, Twitter for me, though

 

[Danknugz]

nope

 

[Mr Reasonable]

I imagine some people probably don't realise this forum js a form of social media and will be checking in multiple times a day.

 

[ÆMNE22A!C]

I don't think GAF counts but yeah, check it daily

No Insta, Twitter, FB, SnapChat or any other shit.

No cable or news for 14 years.

Smh

 

[Fbh]

I probably spend more time on GAF than I should.

I don't spend any time on instagram, facebook, Tik Tok and the likes.
Only have an Instagram account for my business.

 

[ÆMNE22A!C]

Sometimes i wished I was like nush and had a day to day update regarding purple and transgenders.

Such dedication ...

 

[thefool]

No but i watch too many ig reels.

 

[West Texas CEO]

No cable or news for 14 years.

FACTS!

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

No but i watch too many ig reels.

 

[RJMacready73]

Absolutely none of my mates are on it, no one I know uses it outside of a few acquaintance's and the odd family member and my kids know not to even dare ask me to put Tiktok/Facebook/Insta/Snap/Grindr on their mobiles

 

[Big Baller]

Nope.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

I use this and X, but this is all I post on. Sometimes I shitpost on Reddit if I want to trigger a mod and get myself banned from a subreddit, just because I know those bastards are calculable.

 

[MrMephistoX]

I’ve kind of weaned myself off of it aside from Reddit and Threads mostly because I follow accounts that cover breaking news: I try to stay away from fandom and other bullshit where it’s easy to get into ultimately fruitless arguments with people whose opinions I don’t agree with or respect. Facebook has basically died for me since its just the same old boring shit from people I used to know (weddings, kids, graduation) and now we’re in a middle aged lull where it morphs into bragging about said kids, divorces, remarriages and vacations and the occasional political hot take and after that funeral announcements I guess?

 

[IntentionalPun]

From a "posting on social media" standpoint, no. I was for a while when I had an Instagram blow up, and I became a minor influencer in a certain hobby's online culture. That got exhausting and I quit doing that as I have a great career and I'd never top the money from that in this particular niche , but I made a ton of IRL friends from the whole thing so that was a bonus.

As far as reading social media? Maybe.. but I do take days off from it, very often entire weekends since I keep myself busy and do gobs of drugs and being twacked out on the internet is a bad idea, man.

 

[thief183]

I don't have any since 2019, life is awesome now

 

[Revolutionary]

I am addicted to observing the trainwrecks on social media, sure. But I never actually participate.

 

[Durien]

Only Gaf, the rest can go die in a fire...

 

[jason10mm]

I deleted all of my socials years ago because I was being stalked. It was the most liberating experience.

Good for you.

BTW, move the flowers on the table a little to your left, it's covering the part of your face I like most while you sleep

 

[OverHeat]

I got an addiction for GAF

 

[Trogdor1123]

No x , instagram, TikTok, and I don’t know how to use Facebook. I’m good

 

[Lambogenie]

OnlyFans and LinkedIn. Together.

 

[Ophiuchus]

In my opinion, social media use isn't necessarily an addiction but a natural extension of communication in today's digital age. Personally, I enjoy platforms like Reddit and Quora for connecting with people and discussing various topics. These interactions help me overcome social anxiety and shyness.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

I deleted my Facebook and Twitter accounts a while back.

BUT, I still visit this and another gaming forum daily, which of course is 100% social media.

 

[Billbofet]

I don't have X, Instagram, and deleted Facebook years ago. I do visit Gaf more than I should and I would almost consider YouTube to be a form of social media as it is great at making me and my daughter dumberer each day.

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

I was hanging out on Threads a while ago. Shit is Fallout 3 in real time.

 

[drganon]

Only if you count gaf. Otherwise no.

 

[Mr Hyde]

No. I check my FB and Instagram once a week. Just looking in on what friends do. I never scroll or sit for hours following people and their lives. GAF is the only site I check regularly and hang out in (if you can call it social media). I'm not much for the Internet in general, I only use it for research and gaining information and knowledge, like it was intended to.

 

[Jayjayhd34]

Nah only use FB to speak to close friends and family and to watch those funny or motivational videos

 

[Sleepwalker]

I don't think so at least. I use facebook for the marketplace and browse twitter from time to time. I dont post picks or upload anything tho.

 

[AJUMP23]

I found myself being influenced by notifications, so I turned those off. That removed any influence social media was having on my habits.

 

[IDKFA]

No.

I used to use Twitter a lot (refuse to call it X), but that place is a cesspit of some of the most toxic and hateful people on the planet.

It's just millions of people locked inside their echo chambers and becoming more hateful.

Leaving that site did wonders for my mental health.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Love fb for marketplace, X is better for news, quick updates on sport events, YouTube has plenty of good stuff.

 

[Ophiuchus]

Getting a Quora account from https://digitalstorenet.com/product/quora-accounts/ has been great for engaging in meaningful conversations. While some may self-report addiction due to FOMO or excessive use, for many, it's about social interaction and learning. It's important to balance online time with real-world activities to maintain mental well-being.

 

[DGrayson]

Ive slowly been weening myself off various social media.

Facebook I deleted the app off my phone and keep it not logged in in the android browser or my browser on my PCs. If I need something I log in, check it and be sure to always log out completely after.

Instagram I deleted the app off my phone and I only use it through the browser I use on android. Its a bit more cumbersome than the app and it cuts down on my mindless browsing (also less adds I think).

Besides that I dont really use anything else besides GAF.