Social media has become an integral part of daily life for millions of people around the world, especially younger generations like millennials and Gen Z. Yet, as its use becomes more pervasive, questions about its potential addictiveness and impact on mental health have come to the forefront. The issue, however, is complex and nuanced, with researchers and experts still working to understand what exactly constitutes problematic or addictive social media use, and what the consequences might be.
A recent 2024 survey revealed that nearly one-third of American adults regularly engage in "doomscrolling" — the compulsive act of endlessly scrolling through social media feeds, often consuming negative or distressing content. This behavior is especially common among younger users, partly because social media platforms are deliberately designed with infinite scroll features, encouraging users to keep swiping in search of the next engaging post. These design elements, while effective in keeping users hooked, have raised concerns about their role in fostering problematic social media habits, and even addiction.
But is social media truly addictive in the same way as substances like nicotine or alcohol? The answer is not straightforward. Experts emphasize that while some people may develop unhealthy patterns of use, the term "addiction" carries specific clinical implications that are still under scientific investigation.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has established a dedicated Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health to explore these issues. The AAP notes that while problematic social media use can manifest as difficulties in school performance or social withdrawal, it does not always rise to the level of addiction. Rather than focusing solely on addiction, the AAP promotes the use of the broader, less stigmatizing term "problematic Internet use" to describe the spectrum of concerning behaviors related to digital media.
This debate around social media addiction is not just academic; it also plays out in the legal arena. Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against major platforms like Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram), TikTok, YouTube, and Snap, accusing them of enabling harmful levels of social media use and endangering young users. In a notable recent case, a New Mexico jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million for violating the state’s consumer protection laws by endangering child safety. Other verdicts, including one involving Meta and YouTube, are expected soon, highlighting the growing scrutiny these companies face.
To better understand the scientific perspective, experts such as Jenny Radesky, co-medical director of the AAP’s social media and youth mental health center, and Bradley Zicherman, clinical associate professor at Stanford University who directs the Youth Recovery Clinic, provide valuable insights. Radesky suggests that "addictive" social media use can be seen as a severe subset of broader problematic media use. She prefers using "problematic Internet use" as a term that captures a range of concerning behaviors without necessarily labeling them as addiction.
In contrast, Zicherman is more comfortable describing some forms of problematic social media behavior as addiction. He compares social media to slot machines, where the unpredictability of rewards — likes, comments, followers — creates a dopamine-driven cycle of anticipation and gratification. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that signals pleasurable experiences to the brain, reinforcing behaviors that produce such feelings. While dopamine pathways are naturally involved in many rewarding activities, addictive substances and behaviors can hijack this system, leading to compulsive use despite negative consequences.
Data on social media use provides some context for these concerns. According to a 2021 survey by Common Sense Media, tweens (children aged 9 to 12) spend an average of 18 minutes per day on social media, while teenagers average about an hour and a half daily. Research into the mental health effects of this usage presents mixed findings. For example, a 2025 study analyzing data from nearly 12,000 children participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study found that increases in social media use were associated with higher depression symptoms the following year. Notably, the reverse was not observed — children with more depressive symptoms did not necessarily increase their social media use.
On the other hand, some studies suggest moderate social media use can have benefits. A recent investigation involving over 100,000 Australian students from grades four through twelve revealed that older adolescents who used social media moderately (up to 12.5 hours per week) reported better well-being scores than those who did not use social media at all. This demonstrates that social media use is not inherently harmful and may even offer social