A new study suggests that excessive Instagram use may be a habit rather than an addiction. Researchers from the California Institute of Technology and the University of Southern California surveyed 380 US Instagram users and found that only 2% displayed symptoms of addiction, despite 18% believing they were addicted.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, analysed responses from participants who described their feelings of addiction and were assessed for symptoms such as cravings and withdrawal. The findings indicate that frequent social media use does not typically impair daily functioning, a key criterion for addiction.
Psychologist Dr Audrey Tang explained that behaviours like checking phones constantly have become normalised, making them less likely to be seen as impairments. However, she noted that if a child wakes at night to use social media, it may be considered an addiction as it is not healthy.
Dr David Harley, a chartered member of the British Psychological Society, argued that calling excessive use an addiction places blame on the individual, whereas social media companies design apps to capture attention. He described these as conditioned habits, not naturally occurring ones.
The study also reviewed 4,383 news articles mentioning 'social media addiction' versus only 50 mentioning 'social media habit', suggesting media framing influences self-perception. Researchers recommend using the term addiction more selectively.
