Addiction to social media “is a myth,” according to a new study

A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports concludes that social media addiction could be more of a myth: only around 2% of users show clinical symptoms compatible with an addiction.

Although 18% of respondents consider themselves “addicted” to platforms like Instagram and 5% claim to have a real addiction, researchers Ian Anderson and Wendy Wood point out that the majority simply exhibit a habit of frequent use, not a disorder with loss of control, tolerance, or withdrawal symptoms.

The study warns that the repeated use of the term “addiction” in the media and in scientific publications — much more common than the word “habit” — can generate misconceptions, guilt, and an exaggerated self-assessment of social media use.

Although the actual addiction percentages seem low, that figure could represent millions of people due to the enormous global volume of users. However, the authors clarify that even that calculation could overestimate the problem, since meeting clinical criteria is much more demanding than the self-perception of dependence.

Researchers propose understanding the intense use of networks as a modifiable habit, and not as a pathological addiction. They suggest strategies such as reducing notifications, changing routines, or substituting moments of use with other activities, instead of applying treatments designed for real dependencies.