research about social media title

13 social media research topics to explore in 2024

Last updated

15 January 2024

Reviewed by

Miroslav Damyanov

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To help you choose a specific area to examine, here are some of the top social media research topics that are relevant in 2024.

• What makes a strong social media research topic?

Consider the factors below to ensure your topic is strong and compelling:

Clarity: regardless of the topic you investigate, clarity is essential. It ensures readers will be able to understand your work and any wider learnings. Your argument should be clear and your language unambiguous.

Trend relevancy: you need to know what’s currently happening in social media to draw relevant conclusions. Before choosing a topic, consider current popular platforms, trending content, and current use cases to ensure you understand social media as it is today.

New insights: if your research is to be new, innovative, and helpful for the wider population, it should cover areas that haven’t been studied before. Look into what’s already been thoroughly researched to help you uncover knowledge gaps that could be good focus areas.

• Tips for choosing social media research topics

When considering social media research questions, it’s also important to consider whether you’re the right person to conduct that area of study. Your skills, interests, and time allocated will all impact your suitability.

Consider your skillset: your specific expertise is highly valuable when conducting research. Choosing a topic that aligns with your skills will help ensure you can add a thorough analysis and your own learnings.

Align with your interests: if you’re deeply interested in a topic, you’re much more likely to enjoy the process and dedicate the time it needs for a thorough analysis.

Consider your resources: the time you have available to complete the research, your allocated funds, and access to resources should all impact the research topic you choose.

• 13 social media research paper topics

To help you choose the right area of research, we’ve rounded up some of the most compelling topics within the sector. These ideas may also help you come up with your own.

1. The influence of social media on mental health

It’s well-documented that social media can impact mental health. For example, a significant amount of research has highlighted the link between social media and conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress—but there’s still more to uncover in this area.

There are high rates of mental illness worldwide, so there’s continual interest in ways to understand and mitigate it. Studies could focus on the following areas:

The reasons why social media can impact mental health

How social media can impact specific mental health conditions (you might also look at different age groups here)

How to reduce social media’s impact on mental health

2. The effects of social media exposure on child development

There are many unknowns with social media. More research is needed to understand how it impacts children. As such, this is a very valuable research area.

You might explore the following topics:

How social media impacts children at different ages

The long-term effects of childhood social media use

The benefits of social media use in children

How social media use impacts childhood socialization, communication, and learning

3. The role of social media in political campaigning

Social media’s role in political campaigning is nothing new. The Cambridge Analytica Scandal, for example, involved data from millions of Facebook profiles being sold to a third party for political advertising. Many believe this could have impacted the 2016 US election results. Ultimately, Facebook had to pay a private class-action lawsuit of $725 million.

The role of social media in political campaigns is of global significance. Concerns are still high that social media can play a negative role in elections due to the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and the bandwagon effect.

Research in this area could look into the following topics:

How people are influenced by social media when it comes to voting

Ways to mitigate misinformation

Election interference and how this can be prevented

4. The role of social media in misinformation and disinformation

Misinformation and disinformation mean slightly different things. Misinformation is unintentionally sharing false or inaccurate information, while disinformation is sharing false information with the deliberate intent to mislead people.

Both can play a role not just in elections but throughout social media. This became particularly problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research into this area is important given the widespread risk that comes with spreading false information about health and safety-related topics.

Here are some potential research areas:

How misinformation and disinformation are spread via social media

The impact of false information (you could focus on how it impacts health, for example)

Strategies for mitigating the impact of false information and encouraging critical thinking

The avenues through which to hold technology companies accountable for spreading misinformation

5. The impact of AI and deepfakes on social media 

AI technology is expected to continue expanding in 2024. Some are concerned that this could impact social media. One concern is the potential for the widespread use of deepfake technology—a form of AI that uses deep learning to create fake images.

Fake images can be used to discredit, shame, and control others, so researchers need to deeply understand this area of technology. You might look into the following areas:

The potential impacts of deepfakes on businesses and their reputations

Deepfake identities on social media: privacy concerns and other risks

How deepfake images can be identified, controlled, and prevented

6. How social media can benefit communities

While there’s much research into the potential negative impacts of social media, it can also provide many benefits.

Social media can establish connections for those who might otherwise be isolated in the community. It can facilitate in-person gatherings and connect people who are physically separated, such as relatives who live in different countries. Social media can also provide critical information to communities quickly in the case of emergencies.

Research into the ways social media can provide these key benefits can make interesting topics. You could consider the following:

Which social media platforms offer the most benefits

How to better use social media to lean into these benefits

How new social platforms could connect us in more helpful ways

7. The psychology of social media

Social media psychology explores human behavior in relation to social media. There are a range of topics within social media psychology, including the following: 

The influence of social media on social comparison

Addiction and psychological dependence on social media

How social media increases the risk of cyberbullying

How social media use impacts people’s attention spans

Social interactions and the impact on socialization

Persuasion and influence on social media

8. How communication has evolved through social media

Social media has provided endless ways for humans to connect and interact, so the ways we do this have evolved.

Most obviously, social media has provided ways to connect instantaneously via real-time messaging and communicate using multimedia formats, including text, images, emojis, video content, and audio.

This has made communication more accessible and seamless, especially given many people now own smartphones that can connect to social media apps from anywhere.

You might consider researching the following topics:

How social media has changed the way people communicate

The impacts of being continuously connected, both positive and negative

How communication may evolve in the future due to social media

9. Social media platforms as primary news sources

As social media use has become more widespread, many are accessing news information primarily from their newsfeeds. This can be particularly problematic, given that newsfeeds are personalized providing content to people based on their data.

This can cause people to live in echo chambers, where they are constantly targeted with content that aligns with their beliefs. This can cause people to become more entrenched in their way of thinking and more unable or unwilling to see other people’s opinions and points of view.

Research in this area could consider the following:

The challenges that arise from using social media platforms as a primary news source

The pros and cons of social media: does it encourage “soloization” or diverse perspectives?

How to prevent social media echo chambers from occurring

The impact of social media echo chambers on journalistic integrity

10. How social media is impacting modern journalism

News platforms typically rely on an advertising model where more clicks and views increase revenue. Since sensationalist stories can attract more clicks and shares on social media, modern journalism is evolving.

Journalists are often rewarded for writing clickbait headlines and content that’s more emotionally triggering (and therefore shareable).

Your research could cover the following areas:

How journalism is evolving due to social media

How to mitigate social media’s impact on neutral reporting

The importance of journalistic standards in the age of social media

11. The impact of social media on traditional advertising

Digital advertising is growing in popularity. Worldwide, ad spending on social media was expected to reach $207.1 billion in 2023 . Experts estimate that ad spending on mobile alone will reach $255.8 billion by 2028 . This move continues to impact traditional advertising, which takes place via channels like print, TV, and radio.

Most organizations consider their social strategy a critical aspect of their advertising program. Many exclusively advertise on social media—especially those with limited budgets.

Here are some interesting research topics in this area

The impact of different advertising methods

Which social media advertising channels provide the highest return on investment (ROI)

The societal impacts of social media advertising

12. Impacts of social media presence on corporate image

Social media presence can provide companies with an opportunity to be visible and increase brand awareness . Social media also provides a key way to interact with customers.

More and more customers now expect businesses to be online. Research shows that 63% of customers expect companies to offer customer service via their social media channels, while a whopping 90% have connected with a brand or business through social media.

Research in this area could focus on the following topics:

The advantages and disadvantages of social media marketing for businesses

How social media can impact a business’s corporate image

How social media can boost customer experience and loyalty

13. How social media impacts data privacy

Using social media platforms is free for the most part, but users have to provide their personal data for the privilege. This means data collection , tracking, the potential for third parties to access that data, psychological profiling, geolocation, and tracking are all potential risks for users.

Data security and privacy are of increasing interest globally. Research within this area will likely be in high demand in 2024.

Here are some of the research topics you might want to consider in this area:

Common privacy concerns with social media use

Why is social media privacy important?

What can individuals do to protect their data when using social media?

• The importance of social media research

As social media use continues to expand in the US and around the world, there’s continual interest in research on the topic. The research you conduct could positively impact many groups of people.

Topics can cover a broad range of areas. You might look at how social media can harm or benefit people, how social media can impact journalism, how platforms can impact young people, or the data privacy risks involved with social media use. The options are endless, and new research topics will present themselves as technology evolves.

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431 Social Media Essay Topics & Research Title Ideas

Welcome to our list of social media topics to write about! We’ve collected the most interesting research topics, titles for social media essays, and samples. We’re sure our topics will inspire a great essay!

🏆 Best Essay Topics on Social Media

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• Social Media Effect on Young People
• The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
• The Influence of Social Media on Teenagers
• Social Media Has Improved Human Interactions
• The Influence of Social Media on Youth
• Should Social Media Be Banned?
• Impact of Social Media in Education
• Social Media: Impact on Children Despite its benefits, social media is bad for children because it allows them to interact with content intended for adults.
• Social Media Addiction Causes and Solutions This paper explores the causes and consequences of social media addiction and how psychological methods can help address the problem.
• Social Media Counterclaims: Benefits over Disadvantages Humans utilize social media as a substitute for face-to-face communication and interaction, but it is not equivalent to real-life communication and lacks integrity.
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media Essay The essay defines some of the critical social media terms. The use of social media has evolved and has resulted in a rapid increase in social and commercial factors.
• Social Media: The Privacy Issues One of the disadvantages of social media is its exposure of people’s private lives to the online world and worldwide audience.
• Social Media: The Negative Impact on Relationships This analytical paper describes the dangers of social media platforms and how they can ruin people’s social and romantic relationships.
• Social Media and Friendships Overview This paper seeks to discuss why social media, as a medium of communication, might not be the right channel for making and maintaining genuine friendships.
• The Role of Social Media Within the Society Social media is one of the most frequently used ways of modern socialization and communication. It is used for personal needs, creativity, recreation, business promotion, etc.
• Negative Effects of Social Media on Health While social media can help people communicate and learn more effectively, its negative effects should not be underestimated; they include depression, anxiety, bullying, etc.
• Social Media Addiction: How to Overcome the Problem Social media addiction is the extensive usage of social network platforms, including Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, disrupting individuals’ daily lives.
• Children’s Use of Technology and Social Media: Essay Example Research conducted in various nations indicates that children and teenagers spend most of their time on social media sites than they do on other websites and mobile sites.
• Social Media Addiction: Causes and Effects Problematic or addictive social media (SM) use and its health implications have become popular research topics in recent years.
• Instagram vs. Facebook as Social Media Platforms The two overlapping social media sites, Facebook and Instagram, have stark differences in users’ age, the scope of engagement, and business marketing strategy.
• Life With or Without Social Media The paper discusses the major differences between life with social media and life without them, focusing on the matters of interpersonal communication value.
• Marketing Yourself and Social Media For many businesses, marketing strategies are aimed at obtaining the attention of consumers to their products and services.
• Youth’s Use of Social Media and Its Impact on Narcissism This paper has presented an overview of the problem of narcissism that prevails in contemporary youth due to their problematic use of social media platforms.
• Social Media Platforms’ Impact on Human Loneliness Social media platforms are making humans lonelier than ever because people often spend much time on those platforms at the expense of physical interactions.
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media Influence on Younger Generation Social media is a trendy and convenient way of communication and self-expression among youth. It has both advantageous and disadvantageous sides.
• Social Media: Negative Impacts Social media are gradually losing the function of communication tools and gaining the status of platforms that allow posting any content, including illegal and immoral materials.
• Social Media as a Distraction in Academics It is vital to recognize the ways in which social media can work as a distraction from academic pursuits and implement solutions to particular problems these platforms create.
• The Power of Social Media The popularity and high use of social media have adverse effects on society. The ability of people to hide their identity when interacting on social networks creates a room for cyberbullying.
• Social Media and Traditional News Media Social media platforms have transformed how people communicate in today’s world. Information can easily reach any corner of the globe by just having a smartphone.
• Nike Social Media vs. Adidas Social Media: Marketing Analysis This case study is aimed to study the official accounts of Adidas and Nike, on four of the most popular social networks: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
• Social Media and Interpersonal Relationships Social media has undeniably impacted the nature of interpersonal relationships, and the result is rather ambiguous, although more negative changes can be identified.
• Social Media vs. Television and News Channels Social networks have become a key communication platform that shapes the knowledge and experience of young people.
• Digital Marketing and Social Media The capabilities offered by the rapidly developing information technology segment have contributed to the speed, effectiveness, and affordability of digital marketing strategies.
• Negative and Positive Impact of Social Media Although social networks provide people with opportunities and have several advantages, the constant time spent on social networks has many disadvantages.
• Social Media: Impact on Interpersonal Communication and Relationships Social media has surpassed email as the primary method of communication with individuals from all around the globe. It has proved beneficial to some and harmful to others.
• Social Media and Freedom of Speech Social media has revolutionized how people communicate publicly and privately, allowing users to express thoughts and feelings freely.
• How Social Media Shapes Our Identity Technologies form a new reality characterized by unique interaction patterns influenced by the culture and values topical at the moment.
• Social Media: Annotated Bibliography An annotated bibliography on social media, effects of social media on society, effects on mental health and wellbeing, and election campaigning on social media.
• Classification of Social Media Users Social media has become an important tool for development goals. The most common social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
• Social Media Disadvantages for Adolescents A social network is a platform designed for the construction of social relationships. The active use of social networks harms adolescents.
• Marketing Through Social Media The usage of social broadcasting sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit to sell company services and goods is known as social media marketing.
• The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers Despite the negative impact on teenagers, social media can benefit if used for specific purposes; for instance, they use them to produce memes and develop creativity.
• Annotated Bibliography: Social Media and Mental Health This article describes several sources about the connection and some other issues about social media and people’s mental health.
• Social Media and Its Role Now and in the Future This document focused on the role of social media, now and in future. To achieve this goal, it focused on a number of issues that surround social media.
• Positive and Negative Impacts of Social Media on Mental Health Social media became popular only several decades ago, but at present, they constitute an important part of everyone’s daily routine.
• Social Media’s Influence on the Restaurant Industry In the restaurant industry, customers can connect with restaurant owners or other customers via platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
• Effect of Social Media on Adolescent Mental Health This study aims to assess the current relationship between social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health.
• News on Social Media Can Replace the Traditional Media The paper aims to explore the potential of social media to replace traditional media, focusing on the perceptions of users, information credibility, journalists’ behaviors.
• Relation Between Politics and Social Media The paper discusses social media have diverse effects on politics, including their influence on voting, the spread of fake news, and the proliferation of negative attitudes.
• Social Media Nature and Influence Social media’s interactive nature is highly influential; it breaks the traditional barriers of time and distance between people through social networking tools.
• How Social Media Affects Individual Freedom Everyone should consciously approach the use of social networks and not forget about real life. This is the only way to save freedom, mental health, and respect from others.
• Recruitment and Social Media Employers in the contemporary world use various tools and strategies when recruiting individuals for their workforce. One such strategy is social media.
• The Impact of Social Media on Education Social media can distinguish between positive and negative impacts on education. The advantage is that social life is an integral part of the learning process.
• Social Media and Informatics Role in Healthcare This paper examines three examples of using social media and electronic systems to demonstrate the impact of the Internet and modern informatics on healthcare.
• The Negative Influence of Social Media on Teenagers’ Mental Health This essay is purposed to explain the aspects in which excessive use of social media affects teenagers’ mental health.
• WhatsApp: Social Media Security and Privacy This paper seeks to analyse the issue of social media security and privacy in WhatsApp, with the writer illustrating a variety of technical and policy.
• Opportunities Social Media Provides Social media provides more opportunities for all to show different perspectives on the same issue and demonstrate the results of someone’s work more effectively.
• Are Social Media a Good Thing to Society? Recently, computer systems have been adopted, and human beings have developed communication to make the world a global village.
• Social Media and Social Isolation This paper provides an annotated bibliography of the three articles related to the topics of social isolation while using social networks and its harmful effects.
• Has Social Media Ruined Our Culture The question addressed in the paper is whether social media platforms ruin people’s culture and force them to adapt, bringing about the convergence culture.
• Social Media’s Influence on American Culture This paper lays out the impacts that social media has had on American culture over time. It presents both negative and positive influences on the culture.
• The Role of Social Media’s Influence on Revolution Recent revolutions were massively impacted by social media. With contemporary social media, properly selected content can create and direct the passionate crowd.
• Social Media Impact on Teenagers’ Socialization Through the use of social media teenagers have well-established human connections, boosted communication skills, social skills, relationships, and a sense of responsibility.
• Benefits of Using Popular Trend in Social Media Utilizing a popular trend in social media use is worthwhile since it improves users’ sense of belonging to the community, self-expression, and consumption.
• Social Media Promotion of Juvenile Delinquency Mass media is a great instrument for shaping public opinion, and it has a significant influence on people’s minds.
• Politics and Social Media Relations It is hard to discuss politics in contemporary society without including the internet, especially social media, in the discourse.
• Negative Impacts of Technology and Social Media on Young People’s Lives Social media has caused far-reaching negative repercussions on the lives of young people. Particularly, the negative effects of addition to SNS, related mental health issues, etc.
• Social Media for Children: Threat or Opportunity? The current paper discusses potential risks and opportunities of social media for children advising parents to be careful and telling about social media safety rules.
• Social Media Effects on Consumer Behaviour Social media creates a platform where businesspeople communicate and/or interact with their customers. Through social media, companies market their products to reach worldwide consumers.
• Social Media for the Purpose of Knowledge, Entertainment, and Communication Almost all people, especially the representatives of young generations, consider their smartphones and laptops to be an integral and rather significant part of their life.
• The Effects of Social Media on People Social media affects the human brain both in the developmental stage and the developed stage, which leads to a reinforcement of the cycle of negative interdependence.
• Social Media as a Cause of Anxiety and Depression Anxiety and depression are considerable problems for world society. Numerous studies have linked high social media use with high levels of anxiety and depression.
• Social Media: The Role of Cyber-Ethics The obsession with social media popularity urges users to use bots in order to increase “likes”, which is an example of unethical behavior.
• Social Media Impact on Globalization Among the many drivers of globalization, the advancement of digital social media platforms has been one of the most influential.
• Social Media Addiction and How It Affects People Every year people spend more and more time on their smartphones or computers. The present essay discusses the topic of addiction to social media and smartphones.
• Balancing Social Media and Child Development Children might meet content on social media that can encourage inappropriate behaviors. Adolescents are frequently subjected to peer pressure from what they view on social media.
• Types of Social Media Users Users can be divided into six classes based on how many social media people use and how actively they engage: no-shows, newcomers, onlookers, cliques, mix-n-minglers, and sparks.
• Impact of Social Media on Mental Health Sites such as Facebook, email, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Reddit, and YouTube have led to a revolution in communication, specifically within the school.
• Obesity Prevention: Social Media Campaign A variety of programs aimed at reducing the risk of obesity has been suggested by healthcare practitioners and scholars. Among them, diet interventions are highly popular.
• Social Media and Their Psychological Effects The overuse of social media results in low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other psychological issues.
• Social Media in Crisis Management of Restaurants Various firms are considering the use of social media to manage the crisis, especially if this involves rebuilding the image of the firm destroyed by negative publicity.
• LEGO Social Media Strategy: Great Essay Sample LEGO is a business that engages its customers, uses various types of social media to reach out to various audiences, and focuses on creativity above all else.
• Social Media in Aviation Crisis Management This report examines social media tools to comprehend how they are utilized to facilitate analytical response capabilities by airlines for effective crisis management.
• Social Media Usage and Teenager’s Ecosystems Social media has complex impacts on the youth, which are majorly positive. However, it causes negative impacts in an educational, socio-political, and physiological manner.
• Social Media and Mental Health Relationship The paper argues social media use can affect dire repercussions such as adverse mental health issues that’s why stringent measures should be imposed to avoid negative consequences.
• Social Media and Modern Society Due to the developed connectivity, community-building, and communication and information exchange, social media is primarily beneficial to modern society.
• Personal Change: Cutting Time Spend Online on Social Media Spending time with family, engaging in daily activities, and making inquiries from people who have experienced the challenge to be changed can help one succeed in change.
• Social Media in Moderation This research argues that the moderate use of social media is the most mindful approach to incorporating these online assets into daily life.
• The Influence of Social Media on Democracy Democracy entails the protection of human rights among individuals facing social, economic, and political challenges.
• What Effects Does Social Media Have on Real-Life Communications? The widespread use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and WhatsApp has changed the way people communicate.
• Social Media Regulation as Question of Century Large corporations can control the flow of information while leaving only the content that fits their policy. That is the foremost fact in favor of regulating social networks.
• How Social Media Contribute to Mental Health While social media enhances individuals’ communication and interaction with other people, spending a lot of time on social networks can make people lonely.
• The Australian Social Media Industry’s Analysis The Australian social media industry has faced various challenges due to different factors, including ‘media mogul’ subjugated media.
• Social Media Observation: Instagram The history of Instagram is young but attractive due to its simple and smart application structure created by Kevin Systrom, a Stanford University graduate.
• Social Media Through Lenses of Social and Applied Sciences This essay will evaluate the creation and development of social media from the perspective of the lenses of social and applied sciences.
• Fashion Industry and Social Media The impact of networking services causes more competition, honesty, and creativity in professional clothes design and marketing.
• Social Media Impact on Teenagers in the UAE This paper studies impact of social media on teenagers in the UAE. The research was based on a sample of 30 respondents through a mixture of direct interviews and questionnaires.
• Social Media: Advantages and Disadvantages The paper analyzes the various effects of social media and demonstrates that they should be treated critically, emphasizing their manifestations.
• Apple and Samsung Firms’ Social Media Analysis Apple’s brand voice communicates the high quality of its brand in a consistent manner. The majority of Samsung’s blog articles communicate the brand’s excellent quality.
• Impact of Internet and Social Media on Influencers The paper states that influencers and the Internet are inseparable elements of the whole. Influencers continue to be an essential part of the modern Internet.
• Social Media Impact on Mental Health Social media is proven to be not only a huge part of people’s everyday life but also a factor in their mental condition.
• Pros and Cons of Free Speech Regulations on Social Media Freedom of mass information is considered the central principle in any democratic state which necessary for political pluralism and cultural diversity.
• Social Media and Latest Trends in Marketing In the last decade, social media have been actively used by businesses as instruments to promote their products and services.
• Social Media Evolution and How Does It Make a Difference in Today’s World The evolution of social media has made it a global political actor because of its significant role in various areas of human life.
• Community Health Nursing Social Media Campaign Increased risk of mental illnesses among people aged between 18 and 39 years in Brevard County is related to lack of access to mental health services.
• Social Media Influence, Ethics, and Privacy Issues Social media remains one of the dominant internet services, which offers a new interactive opportunity: for political support, humanitarian aid, group activities, etc.
• Social Media Impact on Activism Social media has played a crucial role in activism in recent past years, as it has provided a new look for the activism movements by giving them access to large groups of people.
• Is Social Media Bad for You? Evidence and Unknown Social media has taken a notable position in people’s lives, although society has conflicting opinions on its effects in the long term.
• Social Change Theory and Social Media Contemporary social change theory is an appropriate framework for talking about social media, but now social media dictate their rules to social theories.
• The Rise of Cancel Culture: Social Media Users’ Perspective The modern perception of media discourse has become one of the major contributors to the genesis and development of an innovative model of social cognition.
• Propaganda Machines on Social Media Platforms In many cases, propaganda is advanced through powerful social media platforms, Facebook, Twitter, Google, and Instagram.
• The Causes and Effects of Social Media on Relationships and Communication Communication has become easier and more complicated at the same time. The Internet has blended interpersonal and mass communication, making public and private lines less pronounced.
• The Influence of Social Media on Mental Health The paper discusses the consequences of social media on people’s mental health, behavior, lifestyle and possible benefits.
• Social Media Effects on Communication Behaviors Social media has caused negative effects on communication behavior such as eliciting a false feeling of connections and friendships.
• Nursing Professionalism in Social Media By analyzing personal social media accounts according to the standards governing the profession of nursing, one may trace the risks of its negligent use.
• Social Media Categories for Public Health Promotion This paper discusses social media categories, singles out popular and cutting-edge tools, and outlines how these tools might be used for the issue of community health.
• Social Media’s Influence and Their Role in Communication Social media tools help people to connect individuals awareness of an issue worldwide. This, in turn, helps to usurp authoritarian governments while uniting people in a crisis.
• The Role of Gender in Interactions via Social Media Females tend to focus on development of certain relationships and creating a community while males tend to use social media to get information, have fun and so on.
• Becoming Distant on Social Media Some of the main reasons why social media can be considered destructive are its ability to develop addiction and expose users to inappropriate content.
• Walmart’s Online Marketing in Various Social Media By monitoring sales, Walmart may see trends in growth and season, which can help Walmart prepare its inventory for busy times.
• Consumers’ Buying Behavior and Social Media The objective of the research is to examine how social media can put considerable value into shaping consumers’ buying behavior.
• The Impact of Social Media on Elite Sportsmen Performance Excessive Internet use can lead to a high degree of emotional stress, resulting in a lack of sleep, inability to eat, and limited physical activity.
• Role of Personality Traits in Social Media Behavior Social media has become one of the most prevalent communication and interaction digital tools in contemporary times.
• Social Media Usage in College Students Conducting a literature review demonstrates that there are many negative and positive aspects of social media usage among college students.
• Free Speech Regulation on Social Media Even though some countries actively support the position of freedom of speech for their citizens, it should still be monitored and regulated in social networks.
• Social Media and Online Identity As a key platform for social interaction, it can be argued that this emergent technology influences how people behave both online and offline.
• Social Media Use in Workplace. The Effect of Social Media on Employees’ Job Performance The increased use of social media in workplaces has offered companies and organizations direct positive benefits.
• What Made the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Go Viral on Social Media? This paper aims to analyze the viral campaign the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge utilizing Berger’s STEPPS model in the 2014.
• Correlation Between Social Media and Communication Skills The effects that social media may have on a person’s development and ability to communicate with others have proven to be controversial.
• “Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now” by Lanier Although the vast majority of people are aware of the hazardous effects of social networks, they still cannot imagine their life without them.
• Social Media in Real Life: Causes and Effects Social media have multiple effects on real-life communication. The cause-and-effect relationships between the specified phenomena may be less peremptory than initially implies.
• Gender Discrimination in Society and Social Media: Solutions The paper finds out to what extent discriminatory attitudes are present in different societies and how much social media induce them.
• Social Media: Science, Technology and Government Social media has become one of the most utilized platforms in the world today. Advances in technology have enabled a lot of access to information and eased communication.
• Social Media Usage and Impact Dissemination of information has been made simple and faster since the discovery and creation of social media.
• How Is Social Media Affecting College Students? The use of social network websites has been extensive that they have not just attracted the interest of industry and academic researchers all over the world.
• Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health Conditions Social media usage creates mental health problems that can be solved through the enhancement of mental health education in schools and improving access to help for patients.
• Social Media Plagiarism: The Key Issues Oxford dictionary defines plagiarism as using someone else’s ideas, with or without their consent, by incorporating them into your work without full acknowledgement.
• “Don’t Demonize Social Media…” by Frazer-Carroll The paper analyses research dossiers and news reports that have linked teens’ use of social media to mental health problems.
• Critique of “Impact of Social Media…” by Jan et al. Facebook, as the most prominent and commonly utilized social media platform, has a significant influence on young people’s self-esteem.
• Connectedness and Disconnect on Social Media Social media has changed people’s lives significantly, as it has introduced a novel way of sharing information.
• Social Media Effects on Employees and Productivity Addiction to social media has severe ramifications for employees of an organization, and these implications may affect the organization’s overall productivity.
• Social Media and Work Productivity Avoiding the wide range of adverse effects of social networks, especially those associated with a decrease in workers’ productivity, is impossible.
• Social Media Relations in the Digital Age The principal hurdles to using social media are the absence of specialized abilities and disorientation in the two-way communication approach.
• The Social Media Impact on Globalization This paper explains the impact of media on globalization and how it has affected businesses. Many people are currently using social media to run business organizations.
• Social Media and Depression in Adolescents: The Causative Link This paper explores how social media causes depression in adolescents during the social-emotional stage of life.
• The Healthcare System: Effects of Social Media Healthcare professionals are grasping social media as an instrument in careers advancement. Registered nurses and health practitioners must be registered for vocational reasons.
• Social Media Use and Self-Esteem Control in School Students This study will highlight the impact of social media on students’ self-esteem and suggests possible ways of avoiding negative influence.
• Are Social Media Ruining Our Culture? Even though social media are diversifying the world around people, they still have an ambiguous impact on culture and lifestyle.
• Personal Brand Management and Social Media The paper discusses that social media platforms provide great tools for building and maintaining personal brands.
• Social Media and Mental Health in Adolescents It is already quite clear that unrestricted use of social media increases the chances of anxiety and depression.
• Social Media Influences on Young Adults The paper proves that social media impacts young adults because it destroys their understanding of time and exposes them to bullying and gossip.
• Impacts of Social Media on Children’s Social Lives The discussion of social media’s effects on children’s lives has become a major contentious debate all over the world.
• Social Media and its Effect on Children Healthcare providers, policymakers, teachers, and parents raise numerous concerns regarding the effect of social media sites on children.
• Effects of Social Media and Internet Social scientists focus on social, economic, and political affairs, and social media and the Internet are highly useful.
• Use of Social Media in the Workplace The company’s management decided to reconsider its attitude towards this issue and introduce new rules for working with social networks.
• Professionalism and Social Media This paper is a summary of the Facebook postings that could be considered inappropriate based on the professional standards of nursing.
• Social Media, Smartphones Have Become Obsession Smartphones have become our obsession instead of being our helpers. They attract people to use all of the apps and social networks as much as possible.
• Social Media Impact on Customers This paper will analyze how social media affect customers at each stage of their path to purchase by the example of people deciding to go on vacation.
• Leveraging Social Media in the Luxury Industry: Recommendation for Dior Across the world, thhe luxury fashion is a dominant sector in the luxury industry since it registers consistent growth in sales and profits.
• Information Technology, Its Impacts on the Family, and the Ethical Issues of Using Social Media Information technology managed to transform the face of the planet, enabling economic globalization and paving the way for international corporations.
• Social Media Enable Cultural Importation This essay is written to show that social media enables intercultural exchanges that enrich both groups instead of creating a one-way flow.
• Role of Social Media in Managing Customer Relationships Social media is an advanced communication device of the modern century that applies the inclusion of a massive group who share a common sentiment.
• Accounting, Social Media, Workplace Ethical Issues Business ethics is a crucial concept that drives business growth and an important element in guiding strategic goals, short term, and long term focus on sustainability.
• Social Media in Lives of Teens and Tweens The paper on the identification of the role of social media in the lives of teens and tweens via such themes as Finsta versus Rinsta accounts.
• Social Media in Nursing Practice The use of social media can be considered profitable, but nurses should take into consideration the patient’s confidentiality before engaging in this activity.
• Social Media and Accountability in Organizations The increasing reliance on social media as an avenue for reporting customer grievances can work in favor of most companies.
• Social Media, Clients and the Helping Environment Essay aims to analyze and compare three relevant social media outlets, find a way to connect a specialist with the client and decide what platform is best suited for online support.
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• Discussion: Public Intimacy and Social Media
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• Depression and Social Media in Scientific vs. Popular Articles
• Ethics and Technology: Bots in Social Media
• Direct and Social Media Marketing Strategies and Techniques
• Positive and Negative Images on Social Media and TV
• Social Media and Spirituality: Correlation Study
• Genius and Digital Legacy: A Social Media Post
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• Social Media in the Modern Workplace: Advantages and Challenges
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• The Problem of Misinformation From the Social Media Platforms
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• Focus on Social Media as a Health Advocacy Tool for Adolescents
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• Social Media Access and Use for Children and Adolescents
• Social Media and Networking in Organizations
• Technology and Social Media Role in Customer Service
• Social Media and Internet Advertising for Brand’s Success
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• Hillary Clinton and Jair Bolsonaro in Social Media
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• The Role of Business Ethics in Recruiting New Employees Using Social Media
• Social Media Effectiveness in Engaging Consumers
• Benefits of Using Social Media
• Social Media and Its Effect on Mental Health
• Sensemaking Process: Socializing Social Media
• Social Media Role in Managing Event Customer Relations
• Does Social Media Contribute to the Absence of Close Friends?
• Print and Digital Ads on Mental Health Implications of Social Media
• The Effect of Social Media during Adolescence
• Social Media Crisis Communication for Business
• Social Media Use and the Impact on Mental Health
• The Role of Social Media Tools in Crisis Response and Recovery
• Technology and Dating: Social Media and Committed Relationships
• Ethical Use of Social Media: Users’ Anonymity and the Inviolability of Their Personal Data
• Meaningful Relationships in the Age of Social Media
• The Social Media: Effects on Young Adults
• Invasive Social Media & Data Security
• The Influence of Social Media
• Social Media as a Type of Addiction
• The Emergence of Social Media Enhanced the Partisan Media Exposure
• Social Media Marketing: Case Study
• Instagram: Social Media’s Negative Impact on Society
• Wilson’s “Detecting Mass Protest Through Social Media”
• Does Social Media Use Contribute to Depression?
• Social Media Activism During COVID-19
• Social Media Used as a Way to Hire or Fire an Employee
• Future of Social Psychology: Social Media Impact
• Social Media and Mental Health
• Households and Businesses: The Influence of Social Media
• Role of Social Media in Emergency Preparedness
• Social Media Tools’ Impact on Sports
• Social Media Behaviors in Asia
• The Role of Social Media in Activisms and Revolution
• Social Media Influencing World Activism and Revolution
• Social Media Tools in E-Commerce
• User Data and Privacy Protection in Social Media
• Conformity Feedback in Social Media
• Negative Affect of Social Media
• Social Media in Nursing: Pitfalls and Opportunities
• Social Media Impact and Governmental Regulations
• Social Media and Video Games for Teenagers’ Self-Esteem
• Social Media and Young Women’s Self-Perception
• Social Media Manipulation from an Ethical Side
• Intel Corporation’s Social Media Policy
• Social Psychology Research and Social Media
• “How to Turn Negative Social Media Into a Positive” by Ciccotelli
• Protect Your Firm From the 12 Risks of Social Media
• Human Resources: Social Media Policy in Companies
• The Effect of Social Media in Changing Marketing
• Social Media as Educational Technology Among Marketing Educators
• Social Media Activism in the Arab Spring Revolution
• Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube Influence on Activism and Revolution
• Databases, E-Commerce, Social Media at the Workplace
• Law Enforcement: Online Crimes and Social Media
• Privacy and Integrity in Nurse’s Social Media Use
• Social Media in Business Across the Globe
• Nurse Leader’s Responsibility for Social Media Posts
• Facebook’s Social Media Algorithms Study Arguments
• Social Media in Bahraini Decree Law 47 of 2002
• Transparency of Services: Social Media and the Internet Usage
• Social Media Platforms and the Nature of Healthcare
• Social Media Applications in the Fashion Sector
• Affordable Care Act: Nursing and Social Media
• Spreading Information with Social Media in Activism and Revolutions
• Social Media Changing Interpersonal Relationships
• Social Media Techniques for Communication Management
• Taylor St Baristas Company: Social Media Marketing Plan
• Social Media’ and Business’ Relationships in Indonesia
• Social Media Usage in Transparency Services
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• Social Media’s Effect on Activism and Revolution on the World Stage
• Simulation and Social Media in Healthcare
• Social Media Policies and Code of Conduct
• Print and Social Media in 2011 Egyptian Revolution
• Social Media’s Influence in Activism and Political Revolution
• The Ways Social Media Controls Rebellion and Activism
• Asking for a Password from Social Media
• Social Media Influence on the Lives Today
• Social Media Tool in Modern Marketing
• Social Media’s Influence on the Children and Teens Lives
• Social Media’s Influence Importance
• Social Media Effects: Problems Understanding
• The Effects of Social Media on Today’s Society
• Role of Social Media’s Influence on the World Stage
• Social Media Role: Activism and Revolution
• The Role of Social Media in Activism and Revolution
• The Importance of Social Media in the Activist Movement
• The Role of Social Networks in the Political and Social Activism of Citizens
• Social Media’s Influence: Activism and Revolution
• The Role of Social Media’s Influence
• Social Media’s Influence Role in Activism
• Michael Reagan’s Role in Social Media
• The Impact of Social Media on Super Bowl Ads
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• Communications: Facebook Social Media Platform
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• Can Social Media Increase Voter Turnout?
• How New Digital and Social Media Impacted Public Relations?
• Does Social Media Have Political Power?
• How Does Social Media Affect Our Romantic Relationships?
• How Facebook and Social Media Has Had an Impact on American Culture?
• Does Social Media Create a False Illusion for Women?
• How Does Social Media Affect the Fashion Industry?
• Can Social Media Improve Literacy and Communication Skills?
• How Does Social Media Use Influence People’s Body Image?
• Does Social Media Enhance Interpersonal Relationships?
• How Can Social Media Be Used to Improve Customer Care?
• Does Social Media Affect Teens Positive or Negatively?
• How Has Social Media Affected the Relationship Between Celebrities and Fans?
• Can Social Media Marketing Be an Abusive Marketing Tool?
• How Does Social Media Encourage Business Success?
• Can Social Media Help Save the Environment?
• Does Social Media Affect Performance of High School Students?
• How Fitness Clubs Can Leverage Social Media?
• Does Media Misrepresent Women Social Media Change Methods Advertising?
• How Has Social Media Impacted the Online Buying Behavior of Consumers in the UAE?
• Does Social Media Effect the Way Teenagers View Themselves?
• How Does Social Media Affect Bullying?
• Why Should Teachers Use Technology and Social Media?
• How Does Social Media Effect Time Management?
• The Effect of Cyberbullying on Users
• The Spread of AI-Generated Art on Social Media
• Privacy and Data Security Concerns in Meta Platforms
• How Social Media Promotes Acceptance and Tolerance
• How Social Media Marketing Impacts One’s Business
• Social Media’s Influence on Public Opinion and Political Activism
• Mindfulness as a Potential Solution to Social Media Addiction
• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Body Image
• How Social Media Shapes Youth Culture and Trends
• Social Media Marketing Strategies for Effective Consumer Engagement
• Inequities in Social Media Access
• The Use of Social Media in Education
• How Online Interaction Impacts Offline Relationships
• The Effects of Social Media on Sleep Patterns
• Cross-Cultural Engagement via Social Media
• The Echo Chamber Effect of Social Media and Political Polarization
• How Social Media Evolved from Early Platforms to Current Trends
• Why Do Social Media Influencers Affect Consumer Behavior?
• Social Media and Fake News: Addressing the Spread of Disinformation.
• The Role of Social Media in Crisis Communication and Disaster Response

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StudyCorgi. (2021, September 9). 431 Social Media Essay Topics & Research Title Ideas. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-media-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "431 Social Media Essay Topics & Research Title Ideas." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-media-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2021. "431 Social Media Essay Topics & Research Title Ideas." September 9, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/social-media-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Social Media were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .

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74 Best Social Media Research Paper Topics

Whether in college or high school, you will come across research writing as a student. In most cases, the topic of research is assigned by your teacher/professor. Other times, students have to come up with their topic. Research writing in school is inescapable. It’s a task you are bound to undertake to fulfill your academic requirements. If you are in college, there are several topics for research depending on your discipline. For high school students, the topic is usually given. In this article, we focus on social media and topics about social media.

A social media paper is a research paper about social media that studies social media generally or an aspect of it. To write research papers on social media, you’ll need to conduct thorough research for materials and scholarly materials that’ll assist you. For social media, most of the scholarly works will be media-focused.

Sometimes, Professors or teachers ask students to write an essay or research a topic without narrowing it down. In that case, students will have to develop specific research topics. If you’re writing a paper on social media, we’ve provided you with helpful topics to consider for research.

How to Start a Social Media Research Paper

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Before giving a research writing, Professors and teachers believe students already know how to write one. Not every student knows how to write a research paper in most cases.

Research writing follows a systematic pattern, which applies to research on social media. Below is the pattern of a research paper to use;

• Paper title
• Introduction
• Statement of problem
• Research methodology
• Research objective
• Critical analysis
• Results and discussion

Every research follows this basic pattern, and it also applies to your research paper on social media.

Social media has become a powerful tool for engagement of various kinds. Before now, social media was merely apps used for interpersonal affairs. Today, with the modification of digital technology, social media encompasses a lot more. Below are some social media topics to write about.

• The impact of social media in promoting interpersonal relationships
• A study on how social media is a vital tool for social change
• Social media censorship: A new form of restriction on freedom of speech
• The constantly growing oversharing nature of social media
• Social media is a vital tool for political campaign
• The proliferation of social media platforms into a buying space
• The juxtaposition of personal engagement and business on social media platforms

There is a wide range of topics to coin from social media for college students because social media is a platform with diverse issues that can form into topics. Here are some research topics about social media to consider.

• Breach of Privacy: A study on the ability of the government to monitor personal affairs on social media
• A study of the toxicity brewing within social media
• The increased cyberbullying perpetrated on social media platforms
• The evolution of Twitter into a space for diverse conversations
• A study of the emergence and growth of social media over the years
• Effects of social media: How social media is breeding laziness amongst children
• Social media as a distraction tool for students

If you are searching for interesting topics, there are many interesting research topics on social media. Examples of research paper topics that sound fun to choose from include;

• A study on how the emergence of social media and social media advertising has infiltrated its primary purpose
• An evaluation of how social media has created employment opportunities for people
• Social media influence and its negative impact on society
• Advertising on social media: Will influencer businesses take over advertising agencies?
• A study on ways to improve advertisement for social media engagement
• A look into how social media creates a distorted view of real life
• Social media and real-life: Does social media obscure reality?

Research questions are helpful when carrying out research in a particular field. To know more about your thesis on social media, you will need to create research questions on social media to help inform your writing. Some social media research questions to ask are;

• Are social media platforms designed to be addictive?
• What is a social media Algorithm, and how to navigate it?
• To what extent are personal data stored on social app databases protected?
• Can social media owners avoid government monitoring?
• Should parents allow their children to navigate social media before they are 15?
• Have social media jobs come to stay, or are they temporary?
• Is social media influencer culture overtaking celebrity culture?
• To what extent can social media help to curb racism and homophobia?
• Does social media exacerbate or curb discriminatory practices?
• Is social media an effective tool for learning?

Everyone has access to social media apps until they’ve reached a certain age. There are several social media essay topics for high school students to write about. Some social media titles for essays include;

• How social media affects the academic performance of students
• Why the use of social media is prohibited during school hours
• Why students are obsessed with Tiktok
• Running a profitable social media business while in high school and the challenges
• The dangers of overusing editing apps
• A critical essay on how editing apps and filters promote an unrealistic idea of beauty
• The death of TV: how social media has stolen student’s interest

The challenge students have with their topic ideas for research papers is that they’re broad. A good social media thesis topic should be narrowed down. Narrowing a topic down helps you during research to focus on an issue.

Some narrow social media topics for the research paper include;

• A study of how social media is overtaking Television in entertainment
• A study of how social media has overtaken traditional journalism
• An evaluation of the rise of influencer culture on Instagram
• YouTube and how it has created sustainable income for black content creators
• A comparative study of social media managers and content creators
• A study of the decline of Instagram since the emergence of Tiktok
• How Twitter breeds transphobic conversations

There are several areas of social media to focus your research on. If you are looking for some social media marketing topics, below are some social media research paper topics to consider;

• Influencer culture and a modified model of mouth-to-mouth marketing
• The growth of video marketing on Instagram
• Social media managers as an essential part of online marketing
• A study on how social media stories are optimized for marketing
• An analysis of social media marketing and its impact on customer behavior
• An evaluation of target marketing on social media

There are so many topics to choose from in this aspect. Some social issues research paper topics to explore are;

• The growth of cyberattacks and cyberstalking in social media
• Social media and how it promotes an unrealistic idea of life
• Social media and the many impacts it has on users and businesses
• Social media detox: Importance of taking scheduled social media breaks
• How social media enable conversation on social challenges

Writing a research paper on social issues touches on various areas. Some are challenging, while others are easier to navigate.

Below are some of the easy social issues topics to choose from.

• The growing issue of women’s and trans people’s rights
• Religious bigotry and how it affects social progress
• Sustainable living and why it’s important to the society
• The social impact of climate change and global warming

Social science is a broad discipline. If you are looking for social science essay topics, below are some social science topics for research papers to look into;

• Consumerism and how it’s perpetrated on social media
• How religious beliefs impact social relationships
• Inflation and how it affects the economy of a nation
• A study of the limited availability of work opportunities for minority groups
• A look into the concept of “low wage” jobs

Research writing is not always technical or challenging. Sometimes, it can be fun to write. It all depends on your choice of topic. Below are some topics on social media that are fun to work on;

• The importance of social media branding for small businesses
• A look into the monetization of Instagram
• User engagement and how it can be converted into business leads
• The study of emojis and their role in social media engagement
• From Instagram to Tiktok: the poaching nature of social media apps

Research writing on social media networking studies social networking and its design and promotion on social media platforms. Some research papers on social media networking are;

• The impact of social media networking on business owners
• Social media networking and how it impacts influencer culture
• Social media and how it’s used to build and develop social relationships
• How social media made social networking services easier

Social media research writing is one of the most interesting research to conduct. It cuts across several interesting areas. The writer can handle almost every aspect of the dissertation or thesis statement about social media . But, students who find it challenging should seek professional help. You can reach out to  our expert team of writers to help you handle every element of your writing. We have the best on our team who are always ready to give you their best.

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234 Social Media Research Topics & Ideas

• Icon Calendar 18 May 2024
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Social media research encompasses a broad range of different topics that delve into the ever-evolving digital landscape. People investigate the impact of social platforms on society, exploring subjects, such as online identity formation, self-presentation, the psychology of virtual interactions, and others. Additionally, studies examine the influence of social media on politics, activism, and public opinion, uncovering patterns of information dissemination and polarization. Privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and online safety are also explored in-depth, seeking strategies to mitigate the associated risks. In this article, people can find many social media research topics, ideas, and examples.

Hot Social Media Research Topics

• Impacts of Social Media and Internet Algorithms on User Experience
• The Rise of TikTok: A Socio-Cultural Analysis
• Dealing With Cyberbullying: Strategies and Solutions
• Understanding the Phenomenon of Social Media ‘Cancel Culture’
• NFTs and Social Media: The Future of Digital Art?
• Ethical Concerns in the Era of Influencer Marketing
• Social Media’s Role in Accelerating E-Commerce Growth
• Impacts of Internet and Social Media on Journalism and News Reporting
• Understanding the Psychology of Viral Challenges on Social Platforms
• Cryptocurrency and Social Media: The Intersection
• Mitigating Misinformation and ‘Fake News’ on Social Media
• Augmented Reality (AR) in Social Media: A Game Changer?
• Evaluating the Impact of Social Media on Political Campaigns
• Social Media’s Influence on Fashion and Beauty Trends
• Privacy, Safety, and Security Concerns in the Age of Social Networking
• Roles of Free Access and Social Media in Promoting Sustainable Practices
• Implications of Social Media Addiction on Mental Health
• Examining Social Media’s Role in Crisis Communication
• The Power of User-Generated Content in Branding
• Influence of Social Media on Food Culture and Dining Trends

Easy Social Media Research Topics

• Impacts of Online Videos and Social Media on Mental Health
• Influencer Marketing: Efficacy and Ethical Concerns
• Evolution of Privacy Policies Across Social Platforms
• Understanding Virality: What Makes Content Shareable?
• Cyberbullying: Prevalence and Prevention Strategies
• Social Media and Political Polarization: An In-Depth Study
• Role of Social Media in Modern Business Strategies
• Effect of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships
• Social Platforms as Tools for Social Change
• Navigating Online Hate Speech: A Legal Perspective
• Emerging Trends in Social Media Advertising
• Online Identity Construction and Self-Presentation
• The Psychology of Social Media Addiction
• Social Media’s Role in Crisis Management and Communication
• Sentiment Analysis in Social Media and Its Implications
• Social Media Algorithms: Bias and Implications
• The Phenomenon of Cancel Culture on Social Platforms
• Cybersecurity Threats in the Era of Social Media
• Analyzing Adverse Impacts of Social Media on Consumer Behavior

Interesting Social Media Research Topics

• Evaluating the Effects of Social Media on Language and Communication
• Roles of Social Media in Fostering Political Engagement
• Misinformation and Propaganda Spread Through Social Platforms
• Analyzing the Shift From Traditional Media to Social Media
• Dark Patterns in Social Media: Hidden Manipulative Tactics
• Social Media and Digital Activism: Revolutionizing Advocacy
• Augmented Reality (AR) and Its Impact on Social Networking
• Exploring Cybersecurity Issues in Social Media Platforms
• Roles and Effects of Social Media and News in Mental Health Promotion
• Strategies for Effective Social Media Crisis Management
• The Power of Live Streaming for Brands and Influencers
• Using Social Media to Enhance Classroom Learning
• Analyzing the Influence of Memes on Internet Culture
• Impacts of Social Media Algorithms on User Behavior
• Assessing the Correlation Between Social Media and Loneliness
• Geotagging and Its Implications for Personal Privacy
• Social Media and E-commerce: A Cross-Industry Study
• The Ethics of Digital Advertising on Social Platforms
• Understanding the Psychology of Social Media Trolls
• The Cultural Shift Caused by Social Media Localization

Social Media Research Paper Topics for High School

• The Phenomenon of Cyberbullying: Prevention and Strategies
• How Does Social Media Influence Teen Body Image?
• Evaluating the Educational Potential of Social Media Platforms
• Impacts of Social Media on Adolescents’ Self-Esteem
• Roles of Free Connection and Social Media in Modern Political Activism
• Exploring the Concept of ‘Digital Citizenship’ Among Teenagers
• The Ethics of Social Media Privacy: User Rights and Responsibilities
• Social Media Addiction: Understanding Its Causes and Effects
• Influence of Social Media on Modern Communication Styles
• Analyzing Positive Roles of Social Media in Promoting Reading Culture
• Social Media and Mental Health: Correlation or Causation?
• The Role of Social Media in Global Environmental Awareness
• Examining Social Media’s Impact on Real-Life Social Skills
• Social Media Platforms: Tools for Personal Branding or Narcissism?
• Influence of Social Media Trends on Youth Fashion Choices
• Impacts of Social Media on Teenagers’ Sleep Patterns
• Online Safety: The Role of Parents and Schools in Social Media Usage
• How Does Social Media Influence Teenagers’ Views on Relationships?
• Social Media and Empathy: Does Online Interaction Decrease Compassion?

Social Media Research Paper Topics for College Students

• Evaluating the Impact of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Esteem
• The Influence of Social Media on Voting Patterns Among Young Adults
• Social Media as a Valid Tool for Social Change: A Case Study Approach
• Unveiling the Psychology of Social Media Addiction
• Social Media’s Role in Modern Journalism: Opportunities and Challenges
• Privacy Implications of Data Collection on Social Media Platforms
• Cyberbullying in the Age of Social Media: Scope and Solutions
• The Ethical Aspects of Social Media Influencer Marketing
• Roles and Effects of Social Media in Crisis Communication and Management
• Social Media and Its Effects on Interpersonal Communication Skills
• Analyzing Social Media Strategies of Successful Businesses
• Impacts of Internet Use and Social Media on Mental Health Among College Students
• The Roles That Social Media Has in Modern Political Campaigns
• Understanding the Social Media Algorithm: Bias and Implications
• Social Media and Consumer Behavior: The Power of Influencer Marketing
• Fake News, Authors, and Disinformation Spread Through Social Media Platforms
• Exploring Direct Links Between Social Media Use and Academic Performance
• Social Media’s Role in Promoting Sustainable Lifestyle Choices
• Regulation of Hate Speech and Offensive Content on Social Media
• The Power and Peril of Virality in the Age of Social Media

Social Media Research Paper Topics for University

• The Effect That Social Media Has on Global Politics
• The Ethics of Data Mining in Social Media
• Roles of Social Media in Business Marketing Strategies
• Social Media, Internet Use, and Their Impacts on Mental Health: A Systematic Review
• Algorithmic Bias in Social Media Platforms: Causes and Consequences
• The Influence of Colors and Social Media on Consumer Behavior
• Exploring Possible Relationships Between Social Media Use and Academic Performance
• Privacy, Morality, and Security Concerns in the Age of Social Media
• Social Media as a Platform for Digital Activism
• Impacts of Social Media on Interpersonal Communication and Relationships
• Cyberbullying on Social Media: Scope, Impact, and Preventive Measures
• The Role of Social Media in Spreading Health-Related Misinformation
• Analyzing the Effect of Social Media on Journalism Practices
• Understanding the Influence of Social Media on Body Image Perceptions
• Social Media’s Role in Crisis Management: Case Studies
• The Power and Effectiveness of Influencer Marketing on Social Media
• Fake News and Disinformation in the Social Media Age
• Regulatory Approaches to Hate Speech on Social Media Platforms
• The Economic Implications of Social Media: From Startups to Giants

Social Media Research Paper Topics for Masters

• Advanced Algorithms and Their Role in Shaping Social Media Interactions
• Evaluating the Impact of Social Media on Democratic Processes Globally
• The Intersection of Privacy, Data Mining, and Ethics in Social Media
• Quantitative Analysis of Social Media’s Impact on Consumer Buying Behavior
• Cybersecurity Threats in Social Media: Mitigation and Prevention Strategies
• Analyzing the Psychological Implications of Social Media Addiction
• Using Social Media Data to Predict Market Trends: An Econometric Approach
• Role of Social Media in Crisis Management: A Comparative Study
• The Sociolinguistic Impact of Social Media on Communication
• Machine Learning and AI in Social Media: An Examination of Emerging Trends
• Social Media as a Valid Tool for Public Health: Opportunities and Challenges
• Social Media’s Influence on Modern Journalism: A Critical Analysis
• Mapping Social Networks: A Graph Theory Approach
• Evaluating the Efficacy of Social Media Campaigns in Social Change Movements
• Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Corporate Reputation Management
• Data Privacy Laws and Social Media: A Comparative Study
• The Use of Small and Big Data Analytics in Social Media Marketing
• Social Media and Its Role in Strengthening Democracy: A Deep Dive
• The Impact of Social Media on Cultural Assimilation and Identity
• Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Social Media Content Moderation

Social Media Research Paper Topics for Ph.D.

• Analyzing the Impact of Social Media Algorithms on User Behavior and Perceptions
• Deciphering the Influence of Social Media on Political Campaign Strategies
• Examining the Role of Social Media in Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives
• Social Media and Mental Health: A Comprehensive Analysis of Recent Studies
• Effects of Social Media and Internet Use on Consumer Buying Behavior: An Econometric Approach
• Social Media and Digital Diplomacy: A Critical Analysis
• Ethical Implications of Data Mining Techniques in Social Media Platforms
• Unpacking the Psychological Mechanisms of Social Media Addiction
• Role of Social Media in Contemporary Journalism: Opportunities and Challenges
• Social Media and Privacy: A Comparative Study of Data Protection Laws
• Machine Learning and AI in Social Media: Identifying Future Trends
• Social Media’s Possible Influence on People, Body Image, and Self-Esteem: A Meta-Analysis
• Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Crisis Management and Communication
• Impacts of Social Media on Different Language and Communication Styles
• Cybersecurity in Social Media: An Analysis of Current Threats and Mitigation Strategies
• Social Media as a Good Tool for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
• Effects of Social Media on Children and Their Parents: Social Skills and Interpersonal Relationships
• Roles of Social Media in Promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Rights
• Social Media and its Influence on Cultural Assimilation and Identity Formation

Social Media Research Topics for Argumentative Papers

• Impacts of Social Media on Social and Political Discourses: Enhancing or Hindering Democratic Engagement?
• Social Media and Mental Health: Exploring the Association Between Excessive Usage and Psychological Well-Being
• Fostering Online Activism and Social Movements: The Role of Social Media
• Balancing Personal Information Sharing and Data Protection: Social Media and Privacy
• Exploring the Effects of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Esteem
• Social Media and Political Polarization: Reinforcing Echo Chambers or Encouraging Diverse Perspectives?
• Youth Culture and Identity Formation: The Influence of Social Media
• Fake News and Misinformation: Combating Inaccurate Information in the Era of Social Media
• Social Media and Cyberbullying: Examining the Impact on Mental Health and Well-Being
• The Ethics of Social Media Research: Privacy, Informed Consent, and Ethical Considerations
• Relationships in the Digital Age: Exploring the Influence of Social Media Use
• The Influence of Internet, Technology, and Social Media on Consumer Behavior and Buying Decisions
• Analyzing the Role of Online Platforms in Elections: Social Media and Political Campaigns
• Social Media in Education: Exploring the Benefits and Challenges of Integration in the Classroom
• Impacts of Social Media and Interface on News Consumption and Journalism Practices
• Body Politics in the Digital Space: Examining Representations of Gender, Race, and Body Image on Social Media
• Addressing Ethical and Security Concerns in the Digital Age: Social Media and Cybersecurity
• Shaping Consumer Behavior and Brand Perception: The Role of Social Media Influencers
• Civic Engagement in the Digital Era: Assessing the Role of Social Media Platforms
• The Influence of Social Media Algorithms on Information Consumption and Personalization

Social Media Research Topics for Persuasive Papers

• The Power of Social Media in Driving Social and Political Change
• Promoting Digital Literacy: Empowering Users to Navigate the Complexities of Social Media
• Social Media as a Catalyst for Social Justice Movements: Amplifying Marginalized Voices
• Countering Fake News and Misinformation on Social Media: Strategies for Critical Thinking
• Harnessing the Influence of Social Media for Environmental Activism and Sustainability
• The Dark Side of Social Media: Addressing Online Harassment and Cyberbullying
• Influencer Marketing: Ethical Considerations and Consumer Protection in the Digital Age
• Leveraging Social Media for Public Health Campaigns: Increasing Awareness and Behavioral Change
• Social Media and Mental Health: Promoting Well-Being in a Hyperconnected World
• Navigating the Privacy Paradox: Balancing Convenience and Personal Data Protection on Social Media
• Roles of Social Media and Internet in Fostering Civic Engagement and Democratic Participation
• Promoting Positive Body Image on Social Media: Redefining Beauty Standards and Empowering Individuals
• Enhancing Online Safety: Developing Policies and Regulations for Social Media Platforms
• Social Media and the Spread of Disinformation: Combating the Infodemic
• Roles of Social Media and Technology in Building and Sustaining Relationships: Connecting in a Digital Era
• Influencer Culture and Materialism: Examining the Impact on Consumer Behavior
• Social Media and Education: Maximizing Learning Opportunities and Bridging the Digital Divide
• The Power of Viral Hashtags: Exploring Social Movements and Online Activism
• Social Media and Political Polarization: Bridging Divides and Encouraging Constructive Dialogue

Social Media Topics for Pros and Cons Research Papers

• Examining the Social Effects of Digital Connectivity: Pros and Cons of Using Social Media
• Balancing Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age: Evaluating the Cons and Risks of Social Media Use
• Information Sharing in the Digital Era: Uncovering the Advantages of Social Media Platforms
• Building Online Communities: Analyzing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Media Interaction
• Navigating Political Discourse in the Digital Age: The Disadvantages of Social Media Engagement
• Mental Health in the Digital Sphere: Understanding the Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Media
• Combating Cyberbullying: Addressing the Negative Side of Online Social Interactions
• Personal Branding in the Digital Landscape: Empowerment vs. Self-Objectification on Social Media
• Establishing Meaningful Connections: Exploring the Pros and Cons of Social Media Relationships
• Leveraging the Educational Potential of Digital Platforms: Examining the Benefits of Social Media in Learning
• Body Image and Self-Esteem in the Age of Social Media: Weighing the Positives and Negatives
• From Digital Activism to Political Change: Assessing the Opportunities and Limitations of Social Media
• Unraveling the Influence: Social Media and Consumer Behavior in the Digital Marketplace
• Misinformation in the Digital Landscape: The Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Spread of Disinformation
• Crisis Communication in the Digital Age: Navigating the Benefits and Challenges of Social Media
• Tackling Fake News: Navigating Misinformation in the Era of Social Media
• Maximizing Business Opportunities: Evaluating the Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media Marketing
• The Psychology of Social Media: Analyzing the Upsides and Downsides of Digital Engagement
• Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Socialization: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Implications
• Online Activism: The Power and Limitations of Social Media Movements

Social Media Topics for Cause and Effect Research Papers

• Enhancing Political Activism: Exploring the Relationship Between Social Media and Civic Engagement
• The Psychological Effects of Digital Connectivity: Investigating the Relationship Between Mental Health of People and Social Media Use
• Political Polarization in the Online Sphere: Understanding the Impact of Digital Networks
• Disrupted Sleep Patterns in the Digital Era: Exploring the Role of Online Platforms
• Digital Distractions and Academic Performance: Analyzing the Effects of Online Engagement
• Navigating Online Relationships: Understanding the Impacts of Digital Interactions
• The Digital Marketplace: Exploring Consumer Behavior in the Age of Online Platforms
• The Loneliness Epidemic: Investigating the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Social Isolation
• Redefining Political Participation: The Influence of Digital Networks on Democracy
• Unmasking Digital Identities: The Psychological Effects of Social Media Use
• News Consumption in the Digital Era: Exploring the Impacts of Online Platforms
• Cyberbullying in the Virtual World: Analyzing the Effects of Online Interactions
• The Digital Campaign Trail: Investigating the Influence of Online Platforms on Voter Behavior
• Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) in the Digital Age: Exploring the Psychological Consequences
• Body Dissatisfaction in the Digital Sphere: Understanding the Impacts of Online Presence
• Information Overload: Coping With the Digital Deluge in the Information Age
• Privacy Concerns in the Online Landscape: Analyzing the Implications of Digital Footprints
• Unveiling the Dark Side: Exploring the Relationship Between Online Activities and Substance Abuse
• Bridging the Political Divide: The Impact of Digital Networks on Sociopolitical Polarization

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193 Great Social Media Research Topics For Successful Paper

Social media sites are those that facilitate the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through virtual networks or communities. Social media is internet-based and gives users effective electronic communication of content. On social media sites, you can send messages, images, documents, videos, or other forms of data. The various large social media networks include; Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.

Characteristics of a Good Social Media Research Paper

To write a good social media research paper, follow this procedure:

• Check The Instructions: Check the instructions on what is required. You also need to consult the professor to know what is expected. This will help you to choose the right topic that will lead to a proper research paper. You can check whether the essay needs to be persuasive, engaging, or argumentative.
• Choose A Topic: Choose a topic that is not too complex. Additionally, it should be something that you are passionate about. Browse various sample papers online to know the best topic to use.
• Research Well: Once you choose a topic and seek approval from your professor, you now need to do proper research. You can use scholarly articles, documentaries, films, and other data to find the relevant needed information.
• Draft It Out: Write out the key points and know how the introduction body and conclusion will be. If doing a project, thesis, or dissertation, write a great abstract. The draft should contain all the relevant information. Remember to write titles that correspond to the main points.
• Write The Final Paper: Once you are done, write the final paper and proofread to ensure that everything you’ve written is as it should be.

Social Media Research Topics

Social media is a great place to interact with friends, colleagues, family, bloggers, and even celebrities. They make the world seem a bit smaller with the amount of information you can get from it.

• The factors that lead to the growth of social media sites.
• Evaluate how social media fuels rebellion among teenagers.
• How are social network websites used for political affairs?
• The best ways to deal with children’s addiction in social sites.
• How can social media sites be used during certain country disasters?
• Evaluate how data protection is done on social media sites.
• In your own opinion, do you think there should be an age restriction on the use of social networks?
• Evaluate the various reasons that companies are opting to advertise more on Facebook.
• The major factors that lead to the popularity of social media sites like Instagram.
• Evaluate the growth of social media in the past 10 years – what has changed?
• Is there a relationship between social media and mental problems?
• Discuss how the major changes that have occurred in communication are due to social media sites.
• Evaluate the evolution of Twitter from its inception to date.
• The best tactics to build a strong social media presence.

Social Media Research Questions

Did you know that social media sites can play with the psychology of a teen? They will see society differently than they were used to.

• Which are the best ways to monitor children’s access to social media platforms?
• Among all the social media platforms, which is the best to use when starting a business?
• Which are the positive and negative effects of using social media sites?
• How do social networks make people commit suicide?
• Which are the negative effects of children using social media sites?
• How can addiction to social media occur? The best methods to use to curb it.
• Which are the advantages and disadvantages of parents monitoring their children’s social media presence?
• How do social media networks help whenever there is a disaster?
• How effective is Twitter when providing some information globally?
• Do you think that social media connects and disconnects people equally?
• How do social media networks facilitate kidnapping and assaults?
• How effective is the social media network when providing good PR?
• How effective is data protection on the internet?
• Is it safe to do a job on any of the social media platforms?

Research Papers On Social Media

Have you ever come across a social media political campaign? Well, yes, there are social media politics. A couple of politicians have gained popularity through social media exposure.

• Evaluate the changes that have occurred in human values after social media prevalence.
• Should there be a restriction on social media activities for both adults and children?
• Does social media enhance or prevent stereotyping?
• The best way to recognize valid advertisements and spam.
• The best way social media can help to stop racism.
• The effects of online games.
• The negative effects of social media on crime cases.
• The best way to manage social media pressure among celebrities globally.
• How do social media sites boost personal branding?
• The positive effects of social media on improving the corporate image.
• How does influence marketing help in boosting businesses?
• The influence of chatbots in boosting communication in companies.
• The best strategies to use to create a strong online presence.
• Evaluate the evolution of social media.

Interesting Social Media Research Topic

There is a close relationship between social media and relationships. This is because it plays a major role in how people relate. This is in families, couples, friends, and colleagues.

• The power of online communities.
• The impact of business branding in increasing sales.
• The major roles of images in boosting online communication.
• The best methods to use to monitor kids’ activities on social media.
• Social empowerment on the use of social media sites.
• The impact of social media in boosting spirituality in individuals.
• The major impacts of social media on job creation.
• The effects of cybercrime on different individuals.
• How do social media relationships occur?
• The safety of social media relationships in the modern age.
• The importance of social media in new products marketing.
• How does social media help in marketing?
• The negative and positive impacts of social media in religious missions.
• The role of social media in breaking news to the public.

Social Media Research Papers

Of late many people have been indulging in the social media business. This is because of its diversity. There is a lot of areas that still require exploration in the digital world.

• Evaluate the impact of social media on modern times.
• The effectiveness of government communication through social media.
• How has social media influenced education?
• The impact of social media in journalism.
• The effectiveness of mobile technology in marketing.
• The various regulations put in place for online activities.
• The most effective email marketing strategies.
• How is social media being used to boost food security?
• How does social media affect the behaviors of children at school and home?
• The global regulations on online activities.
• The various online marketing modes used by various social media marketers.
• The best way to use social media networks to boost your content visibility.
• How can startups use social media to boost their customer service experience?
• Do you think information overload influences our health?

More Social Media Research Paper Topics

Narcissism behaviors can also be seen easily on social media sites. These are some of the best social media research papers that you can start with. Therefore, use our research paper writing services to get a professional help with your papers. 

• How social media aids in fighting stereotypes?
• Do you think terrorists use social networks to recruit new members?
• Which kind of information should be restricted on social media sites?
• The best way social sites help to attract people’s attention to social problems.
• How do you think social media aids to make us educated?
• Why do you think people use more time using social media sites?
• The negative effects of information overload.
• Do you think social media is the best place to seek justice?
• How does social media stimulate mental issues?
• The effects of using women’s bodies for advertisements globally.
• Do you think social media sites are 100% effective for communication?
• The healthy ways of self-realization through social media.
• The best way to earn from social media sites.
• How can blogging help to boost the education system?

Research Topic On Social Media

These are some of the best media topics. You can also find some multimedia topics that you can use for your research paper. Digital media is interesting and you get a lot of information from it.

• Evaluate business growth in the past and present due to social media networks.
• How does social media help us to find inspiration?
• The amount of time to use when using social media sites.
• Why do you think people always crave likes on social media sites?
• Why do you think people are often aggressive when using social media sites?
• Why do you think cyberbullying is rampant on social media?
• What do you think makes marketing great on social media?
• Has social media influenced what is considered beautiful and what is not?
• The best way to depoliticize is through social media.
• The best ways to interact positively with people through social media.
• Do you think it is effective to find a relationship partner through social media?
• It is recommended for employers to always check the social media accounts of their employees?
• Do you think it is wise to check a candidate’s social media presence before hiring?
• The best way to boost your social media presence as a brand ambassador.

Informative Research Questions On Social Media

Are you looking for good and interesting research questions on social media? Look no further! You can start with these. Also, remember to do thorough research to meet the end goal.

• Which are the lessons gotten from social media network usage?
• The only time when children should be allowed to use social sites.
• The best way to raise funds for sick people using social media.
• The best ways social media can be used for acts of mercy.
• How social media is a new culture.
• Do you think social media makes us accept violence easily?
• How do you think social media sites are used to plan crimes?
• The relation between social media and violence.
• The relation between social media and culture.
• The most popular kinds of posts on social media sites.
• The influence of Instagram on women.
• The best way to find your perfect target audience.
• How are social media sites used to unite human beings?

Best Social Media Paper Ideas

It is important to submit high-quality work to your professor. Try our college paper writing service and discover the benefits of high-quality and cheap paper writing help. This will help you to gain top grades while in college.

• Why do some accounts gain more followers than others?
• How businesses can use social media in client service development?
• The best methods to stop cyberbullying on social media sites.
• Do you think it is recommended to trust bloggers’ views before making a purchase?
• How have social sites become a platform for new business destinies?
• The best methods to use to become a celebrity on media sites.
• Should teachers keep their accounts closed to prevent students from knowing them?
• The various professions emerged due to the developing of social media.
• How to find your perfect social media audience.
• Customer engagement on social media platforms.
• The best way social media can be used is to make students more aware of their surroundings.
• How can social media be used to track a lost person?
• The use of mass media on the development of the education system.
• Why do you think people love reading gossip on various social media sites?

Argumentative Research Topics About Social Media

These research topics about social media will make you think deeper and see the online world differently. Through research, you will also learn why the” future is digital.”

• How do social media sites help in enriching students with presentation skills?
• The best way social media can be used to educate students on real-life scenarios.
• The best way to reduce theft on social media sites.
• The best way to crowdsource different people to achieve something,
• How do social media sites invade people’s privacy?
• Which should be an age limit for using certain social media sites?
• The best way to learn through social media.
• The policies and regulations needed for social media usage.
• The effectiveness of social media sites during elections
• How has social media led to family breakups?
• How easy is it to get information online?
• Evaluate all the Twitter limitations.
• How do people fake it on social media?
• Evaluate how to make the online space safe.

Amazing Social Media Paper Topics

As a student, you need to strive to achieve diligently in your course units. Here are some amazing topics that you can use.

• The amount of bandwidth used when using social media.
• The negative effects of joining social media platforms when too young.
• The network connectivity issues that occur on social sites.
• The best legislations that can be put in place for social media
• The best way to earn through online games.
• The effectiveness of digital dating sites on boosting relationships.
• Data protection policies on social media sites.
• The best way start-ups can use to boost their companies online.
• Do you think social media networks are increasing suicide cases?
• The best way to gain followers on Twitter.
• The various causes of addiction on social media.
• The best way to reduce addiction to social media among the youth.
• The best way to improve social sites for all ages.
• The various ways Twitter has been used to save lives

Engaging Social Networks Topics

Social media emerged as a way to interact with family and friends. However, with time, businesses started to take advantage of the popular new communication method.

• The diverse relation between social sites and religion.
• Is it ethical to monitor your employee’s social networks?
• The various modes being used to improve interaction online.
• Is parent-child protection necessary while online to prevent bullying?
• The dangers of posting pictures online.
• Evaluate how social media is disconnecting people?
• The censorship policies that are being put in place for mass media.
• The mass media bias during elections.
• How does cyberbullying occur online?
• The business of mass media during elections in different regions of the world.
• The various important mass media ethics.
• Evaluate phone journalism
• How are images important when giving a story on social media sites?
• The interrelation between politics and media.
• The history of mass communication

Unique Social Networking Topics

Social media sites have made it easier to get real-time information fast. Additionally, you get to learn about the latest trends and technologies.

• The impact of fake news on modern society.
• How does accreditation of journalists occur online?
• Evaluate the currency of news.
• The advantages and disadvantages of mass communication.
• The relation between mental illnesses and social media
• The relation between media, ethics, and public relation.
• The relation between media, fashion, and aesthetics.
• The positive and negative effects of media cliché.
• How can media be used as an instrument of propaganda?
• The relation between terrorism and media.
• The common major media industries.
• The movement rules and politics about media.
• The relation between reality shows, privacy, and ethics
• How does media get information overloading?
• How are social media sites making us lonely?

Social Media Research Paper Thesis

Social media marketing has grown over time and is slowly gaining popularity. These are some of the best social media research papers that you can use for your thesis.

• The best way to protect children online.
• Evaluate the world-famous influencers on social media.
• The effect of social media on our relationships.
• Evaluate addiction in social media in different age groups.
• How does social media use lead to anxiety?
• The negative and positive effects of social media on the youth.
• The importance of social media presence on recruitment.
• The real value of social media
• The effects of social media on human beings.

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The Top 10 Most Interesting Social Media Research Topics

Finding social media research topics you’re interested in is tricky. Social media is a fairly new field, and the constant arrival of new technology means that it’s always evolving. So, students have a lot to think about in their search for topics.

In this article, we’re going to walk you through social media research paper topics that are timely and relevant. We’ll also show you examples of social media research topics you can get inspiration from. Lastly, we’re going to lay out some social media research questions you can ponder while formulating your topic.

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What makes a strong social media research topic.

A strong social media research topic requires clarity of focus. This means that your topic must be timely, relevant, and coherent. This allows your research topic to be compelling and easily understandable to others.

Tips for Choosing a Social Media Research Topic

• Know the trends. Learning what social media topics are trending allows you to know the relevant issues and emergent themes in the field of social media. This also lets you know what topics are well-researched and which ones are still emerging.
• Explore knowledge gaps. Knowing what previous researchers have written prevents you from repeating knowledge that has already been explored and shared. Nobody wants to reinvent the wheel when doing research. Exploring knowledge gaps lets you increase the impact of your work and identify opportunities for further research.
• Choose something that you’re interested in. Diving deep into a topic that you’re interested in motivates you to learn more about it. The research process becomes more engaging when you know you care about your topic.
• Be specific. Knowing what you want to research and what you don’t want to research are keys to the research process. This entails narrowing down your topic to a specific area, subject, theme, or relationship. You want to know the scope and the limitations of your study.
• Check your timeframe. Limiting your topic to a specific timeframe helps in narrowing down what you need to study. For example, you can decide to study a phenomenon that has emerged in just the last three years. By doing this, you’re making sure that your research is both specific and relevant.

What’s the Difference Between a Research Topic and a Research Question?

The difference between a research topic and a research question is in the scope. Research topics tend to be broader than research questions. Research topics focus on a specific area of study within a larger field, while a research question further narrows down what you are researching. A good research question allows you to write on your topic with greater precision.

How to Create Strong Social Media Research Questions

The key to creating strong social media research questions is learning enough about your topic to know where the gaps are. This means that you have to conduct a thorough social media literature review, reading previous studies until you have a handle on what’s been said and what questions are still unanswered. Your question will emerge from this preliminary research.

Top 10 Social Media Research Paper Topics

1. a comparative review of facebook, instagram, and tiktok as primary marketing platforms for small businesses.

A lot of small businesses have flocked to various social media sites to market their products and services. Social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok are platforms that deliver constant online content to their users. Comparing the marketing and advertising strategies of these online platforms will shed light on how social media helps businesses .

2. The Influence of Social Media on Mental Health

Mental health has been an important topic in social media research these past few years. Social media use and its connection to mental health has even been the subject of systematic reviews. This means that there’s a huge body of previous studies that you can look to when developing your research question.

Exploring both the positive effects and negative impacts of social media sites on mental health helps people and firms establish guidelines that help user communities. This research topic might also cover strategies for helping social media users improve their mental health.

3. The Role of Social Media in Political Campaigning

Social media is a new tool for political campaigning. Exploring what social media strategies have been conducted by politicians running for office helps in determining how social media aids in political campaigning. Studying new strategies like user-generated content for political campaigning allows you to know how voters interact with political candidates.

4. The Role of Social Media in Disinformation

The rise of fake news has coincided with the rise of social networking websites. This topic involves dissecting how social media technologies allow certain types of online content to thrive and make it easier for bad actors to spread disinformation.

5. How Social Media Can Benefit Communities

More and more social issues have been popularized through online content. Diving deep into how social media can facilitate organizational networking lets you compare the traditional and new organizing strategies being created in digital spaces. It also lets you understand how social media activity influences trends in virtual communities.

6. The Effects of Social Media Exposure on Child Development

Children also use social media sites. Some children use social networking sites under the supervision of their parents, and some do not. Social interaction, online or not, affects how children develop. Studying the psychological effects of social media exposure lets you know how social media may improve or derail the growth of children.

7. How Communication Has Evolved Through Social Media

Body language, tone of voice, and other non-verbal cues are absent in online forms of communication. In their place, emojis and other new ways to express thoughts and emotions have appeared. Learning how social media changes the way we talk to one another allows you to develop a theory of communication that takes into account the role of digital communities.

8. Social Media Platforms as Primary News Sources

A lot of people now are getting their daily dose of news and current events through social media. News networks have also established their social media presence on platforms that they can use to deliver news and current events to their audiences. Researching this topic lets you investigate the changes and innovations in information dissemination.

9. How Social Media Paves Way for Non-Traditional Advertising

Regular social media posts, advertisements, and other forms of online content aren’t the only ways businesses market to their audiences. Social media has paved the way for user-generated content and other non-traditional types of online marketing. With this topic, you can learn social media marketing strategies that have been capitalized on the social connection fostered by social networking websites.

10. Impacts of Social Media Presence on Corporate Image

More businesses increasingly build and curate their digital presence through various social networks. Knowing how a business can improve its corporate image through social media influence clarifies the role of technology in modern economics and online marketing.

Other Examples of Social Media Research Topics & Questions

Social media research topics.

• Social Media Addiction and Adolescent Mental Health
• The Rise of Social Media Influencers
• The Role of Social Media Sites as Political Organizing Tools Under Repressive Governments
• Social Media Influencers and Adolescent Mental Health
• How Social Media Is Used in Natural Disasters and Critical Events

Social Media Research Questions

• How was Facebook used as a political campaigning tool in the 2020 United States presidential election? 
• What social platforms are the most effective in influencing consumer behavior?
• How does user-generated content boost the credibility of a business?
• How do different types of online content disseminated through popular networks affect the attention span of people?
• What are the most effective forms of online content and social media strategies for increasing sales conversions for small businesses?

Choosing the Right Social Media Research Topic

Choosing the right social media research topic helps you create meaningful contributions to the discipline of social media studies. Knowing the most popular topics in the field can make you an expert on social media. By reading up on previous studies, you will not only be more informed but you will also be in a position to make a positive impact on future studies.

Studying the relationship between social media and different fields produces valuable knowledge. Even if you’re only interested in exploring one social platform or a single social media event or phenomenon, your research can help people better understand how social media engagement changes the face of social relationships in the world at large.

Social Media Research Topics FAQ

Social media is a computer-based technology that allows digital communities to exchange information through user networks. Various social media networks specialize in text, photo, or video transfer. All of these are ways for people on the Internet to share information and ideas with each other.

Social media research is important because it helps you contribute to the growing body of knowledge about digital social settings. In 2021, according to DataReportal, at least 4.88 billion people around the world use the Internet . The more that people connect with each other through the social media domain, the more their quality of life changes, for better or worse.

According to Statista, the most popular social media platforms right now are Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp , each of which has at least two billion users. These social networks allow users to share text, picture, and video content with one another.

People use social media to connect with each other, share information, and entertain themselves. Social media sites can broadly serve all of these purposes or be focused on just one of these functions.

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Social Media Research Paper Topics: 15+ Ideas to Get You Started

by  Antony W

November 26, 2023

Has your professor asked you to write a research paper on social media but hasn’t given you a title to explore? This is your opportunity to choose a research topic that fascinates you.

Social media is a wide field that’s constantly evolving, and, as such, there’s no limit to what you can write. Just remember that you can only choose one topic, and you want to make sure you give title selection the first best shot.

Don’t worry if you have no topic idea surrounding the social media theme. We’ve put together a list of 50+ Social Media research paper topics to make the ideation stage easier for you.

Key Takeaways

• A research paper topic that explores knowledge gaps in social media can earn you top grades. Such an approach allows you identify opportunities for future research. 
• You can choose a theme that focuses on the current trends in social media, so you can cover issues that emerge in the field.
• Ensure the topic is interesting enough to cover. It’s easier to write about something you love that something you don’t. 

If you already have a topic and you need writing help, you can hire a research writer at Help for Assessment at 15% discount. Our writers focus on in-depth research, custom writing, and timely delivery.

Social Media Research Paper Topics

The following is a list of social media research topic that may be worth investigating:

Political Campaign Topics

If you have logged on to Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn lately, it’s likely that you’ve seen and felt the political at atmosphere on these platforms. From media houses posting political issues on social to politicians actively participating on the platforms themselves, we can see a strong link between the government and social platforms.

Here are some interesting topics to cover if you wish to write a research paper in this area:

• What transformations have occurred in political campaigns in the past two decades?
• Is a transition to online voting a possibility in the near future?”
• What are the adverse effects of political media campaigns?
• Exploring the link between media campaigns and the propagation of stereotypes
• Analyzing PR missteps in the promotion of political media campaigns
• Effectiveness of online PR strategies during political campaigns
• The pivotal role of social networks in shaping political landscapes
• Examining political marketing research on politicians’ web platforms
• Public discourse on the American political landscape through Twitter
• Contrasting the impact of politics on social networks versus television

Social Media Topics Related to Mental Health

Spending too much time on social media can affect how we relate with people in real time. Such a phenomenon does have an effect on our social well-being, as well as mental health. Since mental health as it relates to social media is such an important issue, you can’t run out of topic ideas for your research project.

Here are some examples: 

• Understanding the influence of social media on mental well-being
• Examining social media addiction to understand why people become hooked
• Analyzing the relationship between loneliness and social networks
• Addressing mental health disorder caused by social media
• Online support communities for individuals with mental illness
• Exploring the association between depression, anxiety, and Instagram/Facebook
• Navigating the disconnection from reality caused by social media

Sociology Research Topics

Social media platforms contribute to the creation and development of the context of the present day culture. In fact, the internet has made it easy to find information about people and their relationships, all thanks to social media.

Here are some research topics to cover in this division:

• Discovering strategies to reach diverse age groups
• Evaluating the efficacy and skepticism surrounding learning networks
• Unraveling the loneliness phenomenon in online networks
• The growing dependency on social networks
• Examining the impact of romantic narratives on relationship expectations
• The feasibility of conducting web-based sample surveys

Social Media Research Topics on Teens

We’re living in strange times when teens want to act and feel like adults. They don’t want their access to social media restricted and they tend to feel somewhat intimidated if parents try to control their exposure to social networks.

The link between social media and teenagers, as well as how it affects parent-children social life are interesting enough to investigate.

Here are some topics worth exploring:

• The impact of social networks on adolescent rebellion
• Online networks and their influence on youth development
• Examining Instagram, TikTok, and social media addiction
• Media’s influence on the moral development of teens
• Pros and cons of early engagement with online networks
• Comparing social networks to academic resources for teenagers

Interesting Topics on Narcissism

Narcissism is a sensitive and equally controversial subject. The excessive interest admiration and interest in oneself has created a social media buzz. Anyone with this kind of virtue is chasing the numbers, and of course, there are psychological effects linked to this.

Undoubtedly, narcissism in relation to social media is such an interesting area to research. So here are some topic ideas to get you started:

• Why do online platforms encourage individuals to seek approval from their followers?
• How does concealing the count of likes impact users on Instagram?
• Nurturing a positive self-image during a digital detox
• Is it possible to succeed as a blogger without narcissism?
• Adolescents on the internet: Balancing narcissism and self-doubt

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About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

Advances in Social Media Research: Past, Present and Future

• Open access
• Published: 06 November 2017
• Volume 20 , pages 531–558, ( 2018 )

Cite this article

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• Kawaljeet Kaur Kapoor 1 ,
• Kuttimani Tamilmani 2 ,
• Nripendra P. Rana 2 ,
• Pushp Patil 2 ,
• Yogesh K. Dwivedi 2 &
• Sridhar Nerur 3  

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Social media comprises communication websites that facilitate relationship forming between users from diverse backgrounds, resulting in a rich social structure. User generated content encourages inquiry and decision-making. Given the relevance of social media to various stakeholders, it has received significant attention from researchers of various fields, including information systems. There exists no comprehensive review that integrates and synthesises the findings of literature on social media. This study discusses the findings of 132 papers (in selected IS journals) on social media and social networking published between 1997 and 2017. Most papers reviewed here examine the behavioural side of social media, investigate the aspect of reviews and recommendations, and study its integration for organizational purposes. Furthermore, many studies have investigated the viability of online communities/social media as a marketing medium, while others have explored various aspects of social media, including the risks associated with its use, the value that it creates, and the negative stigma attached to it within workplaces. The use of social media for information sharing during critical events as well as for seeking and/or rendering help has also been investigated in prior research. Other contexts include political and public administration, and the comparison between traditional and social media. Overall, our study identifies multiple emergent themes in the existing corpus, thereby furthering our understanding of advances in social media research. The integrated view of the extant literature that our study presents can help avoid duplication by future researchers, whilst offering fruitful lines of enquiry to help shape research for this emerging field.

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1 Introduction

Social media allows relationship forming between users from distinct backgrounds, resulting in a tenacious social structure. A prominent output of this structure is the generation of massive amounts of information, offering users exceptional service value proposition. However, a drawback of such information overload is sometimes evident in users’ inability to find credible information of use to them at the time of need. Social media sites are already so deeply embedded in our daily lives that people rely on them for every need, ranging from daily news and updates on critical events to entertainment, connecting with family and friends, reviews and recommendations on products/services and places, fulfilment of emotional needs, workplace management, and keeping up with the latest in hashion, to name but a few.

When we refer to social media, applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram often come to mind. These applications are driven by user-generated content, and are highly influential in a myriad of settings, from purchasing/selling behaviours, entrepreneurship, political issues, to venture capitalism (Greenwood and Gopal 2015 ). As of April 2017, Facebook enjoys the exalted position of being the market leader of the social media world, with 1.97 billion monthly users (Statista 2017 ). In addition to posts, social media sites are bombarded with photo and video uploads, and according to the recent numbers, about 400 million snaps a day have been recorded on Snapchat, with around 9000 photos being shared every second (Lister 2017 ). While 50 million businesses are active on Facebook business pages, two million businesses are using Facebook advertising. Apparently, 88% businesses use Twitter for marketing purposes (Lister 2017 ).

Academics and practitioners have explored and examined the many sides of social media over the past years. Organizations engage in social media mostly with the aim of obtaining feedback from stakeholders (Phang et al. 2015 ). Consumer reviews are another big part of social media, bringing issues of information quality, credibility, and authenticity to the forefront. To a large extent, online communities have been successful in bringing together people with similar interests and goals, making the concept of micro blogging very popular. While most messages exchanged on social media sites are personal statuses or updates on current affairs, some posts are support seeking, where people are looking for assistance and help. Interestingly, these have been recognized as socially exhausting posts that engender social overload, causing other members to experience negative behavioural and psychological consequences, because they feel compelled to respond (Maier et al. 2015a ).

Given the relevance of social media to various stakeholders, and the numerous consequences associated with its use, social media has attracted the attention of researchers from various fields, including information systems. This is evidenced by the large number of scholarly articles that have appeared in various outlets. Researchers have to expend an enormous amount of time and effort in collating, analysing, and synthesising findings from existing works before they embark on a new research project. Given the significant number of studies that have already been published, a comprehensive and systematic review can offer valuable assistance to researchers intending to engage in social medi research. Our literature search suggests that there are reviews on social media in the marketing context (see for example, AlAlwan et al. 2017 ; Dwivedi et al. 2017a ; Dwivedi et al. 2015 ; Ismagilova et al. 2017 ; Kapoor et al. 2016 ; Plume et al. 2016 ). However, there exists no comprehensive review that integrates and synthesises the findings from the articles published in Information Systems journals. Such an endeavour will not only provide a holistic view of the extant research on social media, but will also provide researchers a comprehensive intellectual platform that can be used to pursue fruitful lines of enquiry to help advance research in this rapidly expanding area. To fulfill this goal, this study reviewed relevant articles to elucidate the key thematic areas of research on social media, including its benefits and spill-over effects. The resulting review is expected to serve as a one-stop source, offering insight into what has been accomplished so far in terms of research on social media, what is currently being done, and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead. By doing so, this study explores the following aspects of existing research on social media:

How is social media defined in the IS literature?

How has social media literature evolved from a multidisciplinary perspective?

How have social media technologies, applications, practices, and research evolved over the past 20 years?

Which social media issues and themes have already been examined in IS research?

What are the major limitations of extant literature on social media?

The next section of this paper gives a brief overview of the method employed for carrying out the literature search. The succeeding section discusses citation and text analyses of social media publications. Subsequently, we outline the various ways in which scholars have defined social media. This is followed by a section that focuses on the evolution of social media research from an IS perspective. Next, we articulate the major themes emerging from prior research and use them as a backdrop for our review of the literature on social media. The ensuing section discusses our findings, followed by key conclusions and limitations of the study.

2 Literature Search Method

The literature search for this analysis was conducted in the following two phases: (1) keyword-based search and analysis to explore the overall evolution of social media literature; and (2) manual search across specific IS journals to understand the emerging IS perspectives on this topic.

2.1 Keywords Based Search and Analysis

In order to gain a deeper understanding of social media, we analyzed relevant abstracts that were downloaded from the Web of Science (WOS) database. Our search terms Footnote 1 yielded a total of 13,177 records, out of which 12,597 unique abstracts were obtained. The analysis of these records was undertaken in two steps. First, we used VOSviewer (Van Eck and Waltman 2011 ) to perform a co-citation analysis of first authors in the downloaded corpus. VOSviewer allows visualization of similarities in publications and authors through an examination of bibliometric networks. Furthermore, we used VOSviewer to analyze words derived from titles and abstracts. Second, we used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) (see Blei 2012 ) to extract key thematic areas latent in the literature on social media. Further details about these analyses and results are presented in section 3 .

2.2 Manual Search and Analysis

Given the inconsistencies in the use of keywords in social media research, a manual search, rather than a keyword-based one, was deemed to be more appropriate for identifying the existing literature on social media. Furthermore, since keywords in the social media literature tend to overlap with topics and/or theories in other related research areas, a keyword search may yield irrelevant articles. For instance, a keyword search for “Social network” returns articles related to social network theories, which are not necessarily part of social media. The articles reviewed in this study are from the following eight Senior Scholars’ Basket of Information Systems journals: European Journal of Information Systems (EJIS); Information Systems Journal (ISJ); Information Systems Research (ISR); Journal of the Association for Information Systems (JAIS); Journal of Information Technology (JIT); Journal of Management Information Systems (JMIS); Journal of Strategic Information Systems (JSIS) and Management Information Systems Quarterly (MISQ)). Along with these eight journals, we have also analysed relevant articles from Information Systems Frontier (ISF) journal. This is because it focuses on examining “new research and development at the interface of information systems (IS) and information technology (IT) from analytical, behavioural, and technological perspectives. It provides a common forum for both frontline industrial developments as well as pioneering academic research”. Footnote 2 ISF enjoys the reputation of a high quality journal across continents. For example, a journal quality ranking by Chartered Association of Business Schools, UK, has given it a three star (high ranking) quality rating, while journal ranking by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) has rated it as an ‘A’ class journal (the second highest quality journal category after A*, which is reserved for premier publications). In light of these observations, it was deemed appropriate to consider articles from ISF along with the aforementioned eight journals.

Relevant articles were then identified and downloaded from each of the target journals by going through their archives. Specifically, all volumes and issues published in these journals between 1997 and 2017 were considered in our analysis. Articles, research notes, introductions, research commentaries, and editorial overviews relevant to social media were downloaded and numbered to prepare an APA style reference list. The first literature search resulted in 181 articles that had some relevance to the social media domain. A closer examination of individual abstracts and full articles led to the elimination of 49 irrelevant articles, thus giving us a total of 132 articles pertinent to the domain of interest (i.e., social media).

3 Citation and Text Analyses of Social Media Publications

3.1 author co-citation analysis (aca).

Author Co-Citation Analysis (ACA) is a bibliometric technique that has been widely used to explicate the conceptual structure of disciplines (for example, see White and Griffith 1981 ; McCain 1984 ; Culnan 1986 ; Nerur et al. 2008 ). The underlying assumption in ACA is that authors who are frequently cited together tend to work on similar concepts. Thus, frequently co-cited authors are likely to cluster together when an ACA is performed. VOSviewer considers only first authors when it performs ACA. Only authors who had 50 or more citations were included in the analysis. Figure  1 shows the results of ACA.

Author clusters from ACA

VOSviewer identified seven distinct clusters:

Cluster 1: Authors in this cluster have contributed to research on Twitter (e.g., Sakaki), social network analysis (e.g., Wasserman), topic modeling (e.g., Blei), sociality and cognition (e.g., Dunbar), sentiment analysis of tweets (e.g., Thelwall), and other related topics.

Cluster 2: Authors in this cluster are well known for their work on technology adoption (e.g., Venkatesh), diffusion of technology (Rogers), culture (Hofstede), theory of planned behavior (Ajzen), marketing/consumer behavior (e.g., Hennig-Thurau), and statistical methods (e.g., Bagozzi, Fornell, Hair).

Cluster 3: This cluster comprises of authors who deal with a variety of issues related to social media (Facebook and Twitter) use. For example, Steinfied and Ellison examined social capital across Facebook; Kuss studied online/social networking addiction (e.g., gaming addiction), and Lenhart focused on teens and technology (e.g., mobile internet use), particularly in the use of social media. Other topics include Bandura’s self-efficacy, use and benefits of Twitter by scholars, and personality and social characteristics of Facebook users (e.g., Ross).

Cluster 4: Prominent social theorists/sociologists who have contributed to social capital theory, structuration theory and modern sociological theory are distinguished members of this cluster. These include Bourdieu, Coleman, Giddens, and Habermas. Papacharissi has written about a variety of topics including the exploration of factors that predict Internet use as well as users’ behaviors, identity, sense of community and culture on social media. Tufekci has studied privacy and disclosure on social media, as well as other topics, including how social networking sites such as Facebook might influence one’s decision to participate in protests.

Cluster 5: In this cluster, there is evidence of the influence of Vygotsky’s socio cultural learning theory as well as Lave and Wenger’s work on communities of practice. In addition to his work on collaborative learning, Kirschner has examined the relationship between Facebook and academic performance. Likewise, Selwyn has explored pedagogical and learning engendered by the use of information and computer technologies (ICT).

Cluster 6: This cluster appears to reflect two broad themes. The first is a range of topics related to medical Internet research, broadly referred to as e-health (Eysenbach) or online health (Duggan). Themes in this category include electronic support groups and health in virtual communities (Eysenbach), and policies and healthcare associated with social media, and professionals among medical students and physicians in the use of social media (Chretien, Greysen). The second main thematic area in this cluster deals with scholarship on social media, scholarly communication, and metrics for evaluating impact of articles on the web (e.g., Weller, Bormann, Priem).

Cluster 7: The dominant theme here is the nature and content of communication. In particular, scholars in this cluster have focused on communication and response in the face of crises (Coombs), including image restoration after a controversy (Benoit), analysis and reliability of content (Krippendorff), and the use of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter by government agencies and non-profit organizations to engage stakeholders (Waters).

3.2 Text Analysis of Words in Titles and Abstracts

VOSviewer was used to analyze terms (i.e., words) in the titles and abstracts of our corpus to obtain a two-dimensional map showing proximities of words that are likely to be related based on their co-occurrences. Specifically, VOSviewer relies on the Apache OpenNLP Toolkit to identify noun phrases, and then compares their overall co-occurrence distribution with their distribution across other noun phrases to compute a relevance score (Van Eck and Waltman 2011 ). The intuition is that frequently co-occurring noun phrases with high relevance are likely to unravel a topic or theme that is latent in the corpus. The term map from VOSviewer is shown in Fig.  2 . Only terms that occurred 50 times or more were included. Furthermore, relevance scores computed by VOSviewer for every term were used to select the top 80% that met the threshold.

Term map showing clusters of related words/noun phrases

VOSviewer identified five clusters here. It is evident from the clusters that research on social media has dealt with a broad range of topics, including but not restricted to diffusion of information and opinions, spread of diseases (e.g., influenza), identification of social and emotional health concerns and attendant interventions to deal with them, social media as an influence, the use of social media for marketing purposes, and the implications of social media as a tool for pedagogy (i.e., teaching and learning) and medical practice. These have been summarized in Table  1 .

It must be noted that the topics are broad and don’t reveal the nuances of research areas embodied in the abstracts examined in this study. The next sub-section presents the results of topic modeling, which has the potential to unravel more focused themes embodied in the large corpus that we analyzed.

3.3 Topic Modeling

The fact that our search terms yielded over 12,000 abstracts suggests that scholars are investing increased interest on research issues related to social media. While an informed researcher may have a general idea of the nature of research undertaken so far, it is humanly impossible to discern the thematic structure of all scholarly documents available on social media. Recent advances in topic modeling have made this task relatively easy. Topic modeling relies on algorithms and statistical methods to elicit the topics latent in a large corpus (Blei 2012 ). The term topic refers to a specific and often recognizable theme defined by a cohesive set of words that have a high probability of belonging to that topic. There are several options available for topic modeling: non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF), Latent Semantic Analysis/Indexing (LSA/LSI), and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). In this study, we use LDA, arguably the most widely used topic modeling algorithm. In order to perform topic modeling on a corpus, the researcher has to specify the number of topics to be extracted. In this study, we extracted the top 100 topics reflected in the scholarship on social media. LDA starts with the assumption that each abstract in our study reflects each of these topics to varying degrees (Blei 2012 ). Thus, each abstract has a distribution of the desired 100 topics. The 100 topics that were extracted from our abstracts are shown in Table  2 . The machine learning for language toolkit (MALLET) (McCallum 2002 ) was used for this purpose.

4 Analysis of Social Media Research from an IS Perspective

4.1 how is social media defined in the is literature.

In studying the existing literature on social media, it becomes apparent that the authors in this field have not focussed on defining social media. Of all the studies included in this review, only a handful of studies have come close to defining, or clarifying the concept of social media. For instance, Lundmark et al. ( 2016 , p3) suggest, “social media, as a unique form of communication, integrates multiple sources of legitimacy, and as a result, presents a unique and important context through which to study the topic. Indeed, social media are a means for the dissemination of both internally and externally generated information pertaining to firms, industries, and society in general.” According to Schlagwein and Hu ( 2016 ), social media constitutes internet-based communication and collaboration channels, widely in use since 2005, and, from an IS perspective, social media tools and their surrounding organizational and managerial structures constitute social information systems. Wakefield and Wakefield ( 2016 , p140) describe “social media technologies as an ensemble IS artefact composed of technical, informational, and relational subsystems that interact distinctly according to the context of use.” In their study, they also identify a “recent definition of social media and social networks referring to social media networks as specific types of social media platforms and Internet sites with common attributes such as (1) user profile (2) user access to digital content (3) a user list of relational ties, and (4) user ability to view and traverse relational ties” (Wakefield and Wakefield 2016 ; p144).

In a more relatable and simple definition, Miranda et al. ( 2016 ; p304) explain social media being “mainly conceived of as a medium wherein ordinary people in ordinary social networks (as opposed to professional journalists) can create user-generated news.” A few other authors like Spagnoletti et al. ( 2015 ) and Xu and Zhang ( 2013 ) commonly refer to social media as a set of interned-based technologies/applications, which are aimed at promoting the creation, modification, update and exchange of user-generated content, whilst establishing new links between the content creators themselves. Bharati et al. ( 2014 ; p258) refer to social media as a technology “not focussed on transactions but on collaboration and communication across groups both inside and outside the firm.” Lastly, Tang et al. ( 2012 ; p44) also identify social media as user-generated media, which is a source of “online information created, initiated, circulated, and used by consumers intent on educating each other about products, brands, services, personalities, and issues.”

All of the aforementioned descriptions clearly regard social media as communication tools supported by internet-based technologies for dissemination of information. Most of them acknowledge the high concentration of user generated content across such platforms. Based on our understanding of social media and the aforementioned definitions, we propose the following definition: Social media is made up of various user-driven platforms that facilitate diffusion of compelling content, dialogue creation, and communication to a broader audience. It is essentially a digital space created by the people and for the people, and provides an environment that is conducive for interactions and networking to occur at different levels (for instance, personal, professional, business, marketing, political,and societal) .

4.2 Evolution of Social Media Research in the IS Literature

In the past two decades, various issues related to social media have been examined in line with the rapid evolution of underlying technologies/applications and their appropriation to enable different types of social media usage. An analysis of 132 articles from selected IS journals suggests that publications until 2011 were still examining user-generated content as a new type of online content (Burgess et al. 2011 ). However, in the last six years, research in this field has made tremendous progress, not just in terms of its scope, but also in explicating the highs and lows associated with the use of social media. While it is difficult to pinpoint evolution on a yearly basis, it has been possible to identify the major aspects of social media research that have emerged over time. Publications between 1997 and 2017 have been reviewed here. Interestingly, only one publication of interest to this study (Griffiths and Light 2008 ) was identified between the period 1997 and 2009.

Out of the 132 studies individually reviewed here, about 21 studies examined the behavioural side of social media use. While most of the initial studies (for instance, Massari 2010 ; Garg et al. 2011 ) restricted interest to peer influence and information disclosure willingness (2010–2012), the latter studies (for instance, Gu et al. 2014 ; Krasnova et al. 2015 ) were seen to be more exploratory in examining the positive, dysfunctional, cognitive and affective, heterophily and homophily tendencies of social media users (2012–2016). There were 18 studies investigating the very popular aspect of reviews and recommendations on social networks, with 2013 being a popular year for such studies. Most of these studies (for instance, Hildebrand et al. 2013 ; Zhang and Piramuthu 2016 ) were interested in improving their understanding of the information quality of these reviews and the associated consequences (2010–2016). There were 17 studies (2011–2016) evaluating the integration of social media for varied organizational purposes . While some studies investigated the employee side (e.g., innovativeness, retention, and motivation) of social media use (for instance, Aggarwal et al. 2012 ; Miller and Tucker 2013 ), the others discussed the relationship between social enterprise systems and organizational networking (for instance, Trier and Richter 2015 ; Van Osch and Steinfield 2016 ).

Around 13 publications studied the use of social media as a marketing tool . The early studies here (2010–2013) explored consumer purchase behaviour and firm tactics, such as involving consumers in marketing strategies (for instance, García-Crespo et al. 2010 ; Goh et al. 2013 ). The later studies (2015–2016), however, became more focussed on studying social commerce across networking sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube (e.g., Chen et al. 2015 ; Sung et al. 2016 ). Ten studies were interested in online communities and blogging (see Singh et al. 2014 ; Dennis et al. 2016 ). These were mostly interested in blogger behaviours, reader retention, online content, contributing capacity, and blog visibility (2011–2016). Nine publications revealed the risks associated with the use of social media. These are either very early studies (2008–2010; for instance, Tow et al. 2010 ) or fairly recent (2014–2016) learning about scamming and farcing issues faced by users. They focus on combating issues of privacy and security, whilst trying to differentiate between fake and authentic online content (for instance, Zhang et al. 2016 ).

Up until 2015, about eight studies analysed the negative stigma attached to using social media at the workplace (for instance, Koch et al. 2013 ). While a couple of studies also revealed the positive side of social media (for instance, Lu et al. 2015 ), most were seen discussing its ill-effects on work outputs, routine performance, and clash of notions in the personal and professional space (for instance, Ali-Hassan et al. 2015 ). About seven studies were interested in exploring the relationship between social media use and value creation (for instance, Luo et al. 2013 ; Barrett et al. 2016 ) in terms of firm equity, customer retention, social position, and firm value (2010–2016). Another seven studies investigated the use of media sites to share and exchange information during natural disasters and critical events (2011–2015). Interestingly, most of the studies documenting this aspect of social media used Twitter data for their analyses (for instance, Oh et al. 2013 ; Lee et al. 2015a ). A very small percentage of studies (five studies) in 2014 and 2015 focussed on analysing the effects of social media posts that were seeking help/support from other social media users (for instance, Spagnoletti et al. 2015 ; Yan et al. 2015a ). Only a handful of studies (five studies), particularly in 2010 and 2016, were examined the use of social media in public administration and political contexts, such as open governance and transparency (for instance, Baur 2017 ; Rosenberger et al. 2017 ). Also, just about three studies (Wattal et al. 2010 ; Dewan and Ramaprasad 2014 ; Miranda et al. 2016 ) dedicated their efforts to comparing traditional media with social media . The last set of studies (2013–2016), around nine in total (for instance, Bharati et al. 2014 ; Chung et al. 2017 ), were identified as those limiting themselves to developing and testing social media constructs in relation to previously established theories and models (technology acceptance model, theory of planned behaviour, and others).

4.3 Literature Synthesis

As outlined in the previous section, social media research is evolving at a fast pace. In reviewing the shortlisted articles, various themes were identified based on the similarities observed across the issues addressed in social media research.

4.3.1 Social Media Use Behaviours and Consequences

Many scholars explore the behavioural side of social media, and interestingly, some find factors that prevent users from continuing its use. Turel and Serenko ( 2012 ) warn against excessive use of social media sites, which can result in strong pathological and maladaptive psychological dependency on social media. In a subsequent study, Turel ( 2015 ) used cognitive theory to reveal that guilt feelings associated with the use of a website can increase discontinuance intentions. Matook et al. ( 2015b ) show that online social networks can be linked with perceived loneliness, which depends on user’s active/passive engagement with social media. Krasnova et al. ( 2015 ) suggest that in response to social information consumption, envy plays a significant role in reducing cognitive and affective wellbeing of a user. However, Maier et al. ( 2015b ) disclose that, while social networking stress creators can increase discontinuance intentions, switching stress-creators and exhaustion (i.e. switching to alternatives) can reduce such intentions. Chang et al. ( 2014 ) find that dissatisfaction and regret, alternative attractiveness, and switching costs affect switching intentions. Xu et al. ( 2014 ) find that dissatisfaction from support and entertainment values, continuity cost and peer influence encourage switching between social networks.

Wakefield and Wakefield ( 2016 ) focus on Facebook and Twitter to show that excitement combined with passion acts as a favourable factor for increased social media engagement. Chiu and Huang ( 2015 ) use media communication theories to show that user gratification from social networking sites positively affects their social media usage intention. In studying virtual investment communities, Gu et al. ( 2014 ) reveal that despite benefits of heterophily, investors are allured by homophily in their interactions. Zeng and Wei ( 2013 ) analyse Flickr data and find that at the time of forming a social tie, members exhibit similar behaviour, which evolves differently later. Shi et al. ( 2014 ) examine retweet relationships and find that those with weak ties have a higher probability of engaging in content sharing. Kreps ( 2010 ) introduces poststructuralist critique to explore how closely an individual’s personality is reflected in their social media profile, such as Facebook.

Chen et al. ( 2014 ) find affective and continuance types of commitments to be good predictors of user behaviours on social media sites. Stieglitz and Dang-Xuan ( 2013 ) examine the relationship between user behaviour and sentiment to conclude that emotional Twitter messages have a higher retweet tendency. Khan and Jarvenpaa ( 2010 ) analyse event creation pages on Facebook to find that the social groups demonstrate differential interactive behaviour prior and post the midpoint of event creation. Chen and Sharma ( 2015 ) disclose that the extent of self-disclosure on social media sites depends on member attitude. Massari ( 2010 ) finds that MySpace users tend to disclose substantial personal details that put them at the risk of security and privacy breach. Xu et al. ( 2016 ) find that one’s image and moral beliefs combined with community policies and peer pressure act as deterrents to aggression on social media. Garg et al. ( 2011 ) measure peer influence in an online music community and find that peers can significantly increase music discovery. Susarla et al. ( 2012 ) examine video and user information dataset from YouTube, and find that the success of a video hugely depends on social interactions, which also determines its impact magnitude.

The review of studies related to this theme suggests that since 2010, IS researchers have focussed on examining the dysfunctional consequences of social media adoption, such as - addiction, stress, information overload, and others. Use behaviour was examined across a variety of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and Flickr. Media content, such as picture, video, and tweets have also been explored by the studies in this category.

4.3.2 Reviews and Recommendations on Social Media Sites

A predominant characteristic of social media networks is product/service reviews and recommendations. People are beginning to rely on others’ experiences, for instance, before making a purchase, visiting a place, or searching for accommodation.. Such online reviews complement product/service information. An early study on online travel information found that consumers invest higher trust in reviews published on government/tourism websites in comparison to those on a social media site (Burgess et al. 2011 ). Hwang et al. ( 2011 ) analysed the social bookmarking sites for impact of positive and negative reviews on collective wisdom and found that negative reviews are capable of stabilizing system performance. Dellarocas et al. ( 2010 ) suggest that online forums looking to increase reviews of lesser-known products should make information on previously posted reviews a less prominent feature. Cheung et al. ( 2012 ) empirically tested a consumer review website to conclude that argument quality, review consistency, and source are critical for assessing review credibility.

Chen et al. ( 2011 ) investigate the effect of moderation and reveal that the commentators generate high quality content to build a stronger reputation. Wei et al. ( 2013 ) developed a multi-collaborative filtering trust network algorithm for Web 2.0 with improved accuracy for filtering information based on user preferences and trusted peer users. Luo and Zhang ( 2013 ) refer to user-generated reviews and recommendations as consumer buzz to find that advocacy and consumer attitude can impact firm value. Hildebrand et al. ( 2013 ) use data from a European car manufacturer allowing self-designed products to reveal that feedback from other community members lessens uniqueness whilst increasing dissatisfaction. Centeno et al. ( 2015 ) address the skewed reputation rankings problem in movie ratings by suggesting the use of comparative user opinions. Ma et al. ( 2013 ) analyse data from Yelp to test bias in online reviews and find that frequent and longer reviews successfully combat such biases. Lukyanenko et al. ( 2014 ) demonstrate that participants tend to provide accurate information in classifying a phenomenon at a general level, and higher accuracy where they are allowed free form data. Shi and Whinston ( 2013 ) explore the possible impact of friend check-ins on social media, and find it has no positive effect in generating new user visits.

Goes et al. ( 2014 ) disclose that user popularity results in increased and objective reviews, while numeric ratings turn more varied and negative with it. Matook et al. ( 2015a ) use relationship theories to show that past recommendation experience, closeness, and excessive posting behaviour positively affect trust and person’s intention to act on the made recommendation. Yan et al. ( 2015b ) evaluate revisit intentions for restaurants, and find that food and service quality, price and value, and the atmosphere govern such intentions. Kuan et al. ( 2015 ) analysed Amazon reviews and observed that certain characteristics such as length, readability, valence, extremity, and reviewer credibility are more likely to be recognized. In a different study, Zhang and Piramuthu ( 2016 ) suggest that product/service information on seller’s websites are often limited, and propose a Latent Dirichlet Allocation model to reveal the useful complementary hidden information in customer reviews. In a parallel conversation, Wu and Gaytán 2013 suggest that buyers integrate product price with seller reviews in configuring their willingness to pay.

The review under this theme suggests that studies as early as 2010 focussed on evaluating the authenticity of product and service reviews/recommendations published online. Overall, these studies reveal that the effect of review volume is often moderated by a buyer’s risk attitude. Most studies identify that the combination of consumer’s interest and available reviews helps users choose products/services that offer best value to them.

4.3.3 Social Media and Associated Organizational Impact

Publications have also shown interest in investigating the effects of user-generated content on entrepreneurial behaviour. For instance, Greenwood and Gopal ( 2015 ) find that discourse in both traditional and user-generated media has a notable influence on IT firm founding rates. Lundmark et al. ( 2016 ) reveal that higher usage of Twitter, alongside follower numbers and retweets result in higher levels of under pricing for initial public offerings (IPO). Trier and Richter ( 2015 ) find that online organizational networking has many unbalanced multiplex relationships, mostly comprising of weak ties and temporal change. They attribute the uneven user contribution in social networking sites to discourse drivers and information retrievers. Schlagwein and Hu ( 2016 ) identify collaboration, broadcast, dialogue, sociability, and knowledge management as the social media types that serve varied organizational purposes. Claussen et al. ( 2013 ) study Facebook to conclude that social media networks can exercise management not only by excluding participants, but also by driving softer changes in incentive/reward systems.

Subramaniam and Nandhakumar ( 2013 ) study enterprise system users and find that integrating social media facilitates user interaction that helps embed relationship ties between virtual actors. Another study concerning social features in enterprise systems reveals that business interactions are less social, and highly context specific (Mettler and Winter 2016 ). Van Osch and Steinfield ( 2016 ) showed that the enterprise system user involved in social network posting will show differences in team boundary spanning activities based on their hierarchical position (leadership, team member, etc.). Benthaus et al. ( 2016 ) analyse Twitter data to find that social media management tools have a catalysing effect on employee output as they enrich the user engagement process. Gray et al. ( 2011 ) study the social bookmarking system to find that social diversity of information sources is a good predictor of employee innovativeness. Kuegler et al. ( 2015 ) show that using enterprise social networking within teams strongly influences task performance and employee innovativeness. Leonardi ( 2014 ) reveals that communication visibility increases meta-knowledge between organizations, which results in innovative products and services minus knowledge duplication. Aggarwal et al. ( 2012 ) interestingly reveal positive effects of negative employee posts on an organization’s reputation, given that such posts attract larger audience.

Miranda et al. ( 2015 ) suggest that diffusion of social media is based on an organization’s vision that offers a well-defined range of moves to choose from, with the freedom to improvise. Xu and Zhang ( 2013 ) regard Wikipedia as a social media platform and conclude that it improves information environment in the financial market and the value of information aggregation. Qiu et al. ( 2014 ) study prediction markets to find that users with increased social connections are less likely to invest in information acquisition from external sources. Miller and Tucker ( 2013 ) study the extent of social media managed by firms to report that most firm postings are centred on firm’s achievement and are not necessarily in clients’ interest. In summary, studies reviewed under this theme are focussed on analysing the impact of integrating social media within work roles in organizations. Effective management and utilization of social media is agreed to provoke employee activity, which helps in employee innovativeness, retention, and motivation. Studies also hint against ignoring social media engagement, which can reportedly have a negative impact on a company’s image.

4.3.4 Social Media for Marketing

Social media sites are now a huge part of marketing tactics, and the documented studies are a good showcase of the extent to which social media is being integrated in marketing strategies. García-Crespo et al. ( 2010 ) study the continuous interaction between customers and organizations, as it impacts the social web environment with implications for marketing and new product development. Goh et al. ( 2013 ) study the user and market generated content for engagement in social media brand community to find that it has a positive impact on purchase expenditures. Rishika et al. ( 2013 ) demonstrate how higher social media activity directly correlates with higher participation and customer patronage. Aggarwal and Singh ( 2013 ) find that blogs help managers with their products in the screening stage, and also offer leverage in negotiating better contract terms. Dou et al. ( 2013 ) research optimizing the strength of a network by adjusting the embedded social media features with the right market seeding and pricing strategies.

Oestreicher-Singer and Zalmanson ( 2013 ) reveal that the firms are more viable when they integrate social media in purchase and consumption experience, rather than using it as a substitute for soft online marketing. Lee et al. ( 2015b ) study the importance of social commerce in marketplace to find that Facebook likes increase sales, drive traffic, and introduce socialization in the shopping experience. Xie and Lee ( 2015 ) scan purchase records on Facebook to find that exposure to owned and earned social media activities positively impacts consumers’ likeliness to purchase brands. Chen et al. ( 2015 ) study music sales on MySpace to find that broadcasting, timing and content of the personal message has significant effect on sales. Qiu et al. ( 2015 ) study YouTube data to find that learning and network mechanisms statistically and economically impact video views. Sung et al. ( 2016 ) use Facebook data of universities and colleges across the US to show that people in the same class year or same major tend to form denser groups/networks. In a slightly different study, Oh et al. ( 2016 ) investigate the pricing models for an online newspaper, and find that charging for previously free online content has a disproportionate impact on word of mouth for niche and popular topics/articles. Susarla et al. ( 2016 ) find that social media initiatives succeed when a sustained conversation with likely adopters is maintained.

Studies within this theme focus on the role of community structure and structural patterns in using social media for marketing purposes. For successful social media implementation, it is important to effectively incorporate social computing with content delivery in the digital content industry with growing user population. Most studies identify meaningful conversations with customers as an important attribute of social media marketing. Also, identifying specific customer segments across social media site, for instance, members of a forum/group or organization, helps e-marketers to target specific customers based on demographic patterns and similar interests.

4.3.5 Social Media and Participation in Online Communities

There are many facets to developing and maintaining an online community, and user participation plays an integral role in it. Ray et al. ( 2014 ) identify that user engagement increases user intention to revisit an online community. Singh et al. ( 2014 ) analyse employee blog reading behaviour and show how reader attraction and retention are influenced by textual characteristics that appeal to reader sentiments. Butler and Wang ( 2012 ) find that changing content in an online discussion community affects member dynamics and community responsiveness, both positively and negatively. An early study on participation in online communities finds that different community commitments impact behaviours differently (Bateman et al. 2011 ). Chau and Xu ( 2012 ) develop a framework capable of gathering, extracting, and analyzing blog information that can be applied to any organization, topic, or product/service.

Goes et al. ( 2016 ) study goal setting and status hierarchy theories to find that glory-based incentives motivate users to contribute more user-generated content only before/until the goal is reached, with the contribution dropping significantly later. Khansa et al. ( 2015 ) examine Yahoo! Answers, and find that artefacts like incentives, membership tenure, and habit or past behaviour hugely influence active online participation. Tang et al. ( 2012 ) examine the concept of incentives on social media, particularly YouTube, for content contribution and find that a user is driven to contribute on social media based on their desire for revenue sharing, exposure, and reputation. Zhang and Wang ( 2012 ) use economic and social role theories in a Wikipedia context to show that in a collaborative network, the editor determines the total contribution towards collaborative work. Dennis et al. ( 2016 ) create a theoretical framework for corporate blogs and analyse Fortune 500 companies to find that a blog’s target audience and the alignment of blog content and its management significantly impact the visibility of that blog. Most of the studies under this theme focus on analyzing data on blogs. They highlight the importance of word of mouth, which is closely associated with user satisfaction. It also emerges from these studies that user engagement and consequent satisfaction play parallel and mediating roles within such online communities.

4.3.6 Risks and Concerns with the Use of Social Media

Social media and its associated risks have captured the attention of many authors. A very early study by Griffiths and Light ( 2008 ) focuses on the problem of media convergence, whereby a gaming website includes social media features, putting vulnerable young audience at the risk of scamming. An Australian study suggests that many users are unaware of the potential risks of disclosing personal information on social media site, or consider themselves as low risk targets (Tow et al. 2010 ). Krasnova et al. ( 2010 ) find that the ease of forming and maintaining relationships on an enjoyable social platform motivates users to disclose personal information. Their study shows that user trust in a service/network provider, and privacy control options on a networking site greatly dismiss user perceptions of associated risk. Vishwanath ( 2015 ) finds that farcing attacks on Facebook occur at two levels – victim to phishers with phony profiles and victim to phishers soliciting personal information directly from them.

To combat the privacy problem of photos, videos, and other content posted online, Fogués et al. ( 2014 ) developed a Best Friend Forever tool that automatically distinguishes friends on a user’s profile by assigning individual values based on relationship ties. Zhang et al. ( 2016 ) find that incorporating non-verbal features of reviewers can massively improve the performance of online fake review detection models. Gerlach et al. ( 2015 ) find that user perception of privacy risks has a mediating effect on the relationship between policy monetization and user willingness to share information. Burtch et al. ( 2016 ) analyse a large online crowd funding platform and report that when campaign contributors control/conceal visibility from public display, there is a negative impact on subsequent visitor’s conversion likelihood and average contributions. In a different study, Choi et al. ( 2015 ) find that information dissemination and network commonality has a high impact on individual’s perception of privacy invasion and relationship bonding that impedes transactional and interpersonal avoidances.

Studies reviewed here discuss a social contagion effect of risks associated with social media use. Recent studies (2014–2016) suggest educating audiences about the threats associated with the extent of personal information being disclosed on social media sites. They recommend government agencies to keep the users informed, and the social media sites to control some of their security features. It is necessary to define and control privacy settings across these many existing social networks.

4.3.7 Negative Stigma Attached to Social Media Use

Some studies suggest that there is a negative stigma associated with the use of social media in the workplace. In a typical case study, Koch et al. ( 2012 ) analyze three employee layers in an organization to find that new hires (users of social media sites) showed improved morale and employee engagement, some middle managers (non users) were frustrated and experienced isolation, while the senior execs were wary of social media use. In a contrasting case, Cao et al. ( 2015 ) suggest that social media has the potential to build employees’ social capital to positively influence their knowledge integration. In discussing the impact of social media on organizational life, Koch et al. ( 2013 ) find that conflicts can stem between workplace values and the values these employees ascribe to social media.

In a gender-based study on social network facilitated team collaboration, Shen et al. ( 2010 ) found that the collective intention in men was influenced by positive emotions, attitude and group norms, while the collective participation intention in women was affected by negative emotions and social identity. Huang et al. ( 2015 ) debate the concept of communicational ambidexterity to understand the conflicting demands of managing internal organization communication in contrast to open and distributed social media communication. Wu ( 2013 ) suggests information-rich networks enabled by social media tend to drive job security and employee performance. Lu et al. ( 2015 ) use the social network theory to conclude that structural and cognitive dimensions of social relationships positively impact job performance. Ali-Hassan et al. ( 2015 ) show social and cognitive use of social media has a positive influence on employee performance, while hedonic use of social media leaves a negative impact on routine performance.

These reviewed studies showcase that social networking encourages shared language and trust between employees in a workspace. Another emerging suggestion highlights that organizations should exercise policy, and use socialization and leadership-based mechanisms to counter any problems resulting from differing workplace values. Some of these studies show interest in the cognitive side of social ties that positively nurture social relationships and innovation performance.

4.3.8 Social Media and Value Creation

Studies in the extant literature have particularly focussed on the aspect of value creation within online communities. As Ridings and Wasko ( 2010 ) have observed, an online discussion group/community is a direct product of its social and structural dynamics. Porter et al. ( 2013 ) investigate firm value and find that a sponsor’s efforts are stronger with positive and direct effect on trust building. Luo et al. ( 2013 ) suggest that social media has faster predictive value than conventional online media, and that the embedded metrics like consumer ratings are leading indicators of a firm’s equity. Hu et al. ( 2015 ) develop a formative model with an aggregate online social value construct and identify factors to increase user benefits and satisfaction, ensuring customer retention via continued usage of online services. In a public organization study focussing on social networking system, Karoui et al. ( 2015 ) suggest that differing perceptions of social capital can result in actors adopting differing strategies for holding their social position within an organization. Barrett et al. ( 2016 ) find that value creation in online communities expands beyond the dyadic relationship between a firm and the community to include a more intricate relationship involving stakeholders of a wider ecosystem. Dong and Wu ( 2015 ) use data from Dell and Starbucks and find substantial evidence for online user innovation-enabled implementation increasing firm value. Overall, the studies on social media and value creation emphasize on influence of social and structural interplay on sustainability, which is visible over longitudinal examination of their relationship to one another.

4.3.9 Role of Social Media During Critical/Extreme Events

Certain authors are more interested in micro-blogging used at the time of critical/extreme events. In an attempt to filter real time news/updates from irrelevant personal messages and spam, Cheng et al. ( 2011 ) propose analysis of information diffusion patterns for a large set of micro-blogs that update emergency news. They claim that their approach (using Twitter data) outperforms other benchmark solutions to offer diverse user preferences and customized results during critical events. Cheong and Lee ( 2011 ) use Twitter data to propose a framework that is useful for Homeland Securities and Law enforcement agencies to record and respond to terror situations. Oh et al. ( 2013 ) also study Twitter data from three extreme events to find that information without any clear source is at the top, personal involvement comes second, with anxiety at third place in the list of rumour causing factors during social crisis events. Wang et al. ( 2014 ) affirm that news spreads widely through online portals. They find that news first posted even on a small news portal can be picked and reposted by a major news portal, forming a hotspot event for the news to rapidly spread over the Internet.

Lee et al. ( 2015a ) performed negative binomial analysis of the 2013 Boston marathon tragedy Tweets to find that follower numbers, reaction time, and hash tagging significantly affected the diffusion of Tweets. Oh et al. ( 2015 ) analysed Twitter data from the 2011 Egypt revolution and found that hash tags played a critical role in gathering information and maintaining situational awareness during such politically unstable phases. Ling et al. ( 2015 ) undertake a qualitative study of 2011 Thailand flooding data to conclude that social media can offer a community: structural, resource, and psychological empowerment to achieve collaborative control and collective participation. In summary, studies since 2011 have been particularly examining Twitter data, and have derived significant insights on their positive effect during critical/extreme events.

4.3.10 Social Media for Help/Support

Some users post updates on social media with an aim to seek help/support from online communities. Maier et al. ( 2015a ) find that such posts cause social overload for other users, and the psychological consequences include feelings of exhaustion, low user satisfaction, and high intentions of reducing/stopping the use of social media sites. Yan et al. ( 2015a ) find that healthcare traits of patients help them establish social connections online, which is influenced by their cognitive abilities. Spagnoletti et al. ( 2015 ) develop a user utility model for integrating social media in personalized elderly healthcare that is capable of challenging traditional organizational boundaries to transform the internal and external stakeholder engagement. Yan and Tan ( 2014 ) propose a partially observed Markov decision process model to find sufficient evidence suggesting emotional support is most significant in improving patient health. Kallinikos and Tempini ( 2014 ) study the ups and downs of having a large unsupervised social network based on patient self-reporting for gathering and examining data on patients’ health.

Limited number of studies has been recorded for this theme. These studies are fairly recent suggesting a new emerging trend, where health/support based communities are being formed. The expanse of such communities seems to be largely dependent on the information processing capacity and the range of social ties that the members of such networks can handle. Using social media to bring together people with similar health conditions suggests that informational and social support can have varying influence on patient health.

4.3.11 Public Bodies and Social Media Interaction

User-generated content from social media is becoming one of the important information channels across public administrative bodies and political contexts. Baur ( 2017 ) has developed a MarketMiner framework that massively improves the utilization of multi-source, multi-language social media content, which can be applied to areas such as open government. Rosenberger et al. ( 2017 ) use abstraction-based modelling to conceptualize the data structure, and conclude that wrapping social network application programming interfaces allow mutual integration of most user activities. Gonzalez-Bailon et al. ( 2010 ) show that political discussions in online networks are larger and deeper compared to other networks. Ameripour et al. ( 2010 ) analyse the restricted Iranian social networks, subject to surveillance and censorship to find that Internet conviviality is not an independent variable with deterministic outcomes, but is a technology shaped by economic and political forces. Although, not published in the list of journals included in this review, Kapoor and Dwivedi ( 2015 ) provided a detailed discussion on how social media was used intensively to transform electoral campaigns during India’s last general election. Similar use has also been reported in other contexts (for example, US presidential elections) by other studies.

Except one study (that is, Ameripour et al. 2010 ), the remaining reviewed under this category are very recent (2015–2016). These studies suggest the use of social media for increasing public engagement and transparency. Most of these studies used technical frameworks and modelling techniques to identify communication clusters and structures to derive insights relevant to open government and political campaigns.

4.3.12 Traditional v/s Social Media

Another set of studies investigate the differences between traditional and social media. A very early study by Wattal et al. ( 2010 ) compares the big money tactics for political campaigning with social media campaigning to reveal that Internet and the blogosphere can majorly influence campaigning and election results. Dewan and Ramaprasad ( 2014 ) examine the importance of new and old media within the music industry; they find radio positively and consistently affecting sales of songs and albums, and sales displacement from free online sampling overpowering positive word of mouth on sales. Miranda et al. ( 2016 ) compare traditional and social media to suggest that there are evils associated with the societal benefits of social media, and mass media has a detrimental effect on public discourse.

4.3.13 Testing Pre-Established Models

Some studies in literature restrict focus to pre-established models and relationships for evaluating varied aspects of social media. Fang et al. ( 2013 ) apply social network theories to suggest positive social influence on adoption probabilities. Levina and Arriaga ( 2014 ) use Bourdieu’s theory to explain the role of status markers and external sources in shaping social dynamics. Bharati et al. ( 2014 ) combine institutional theory and organizational innovation, whereby institutional pressures significantly predict absorptive capacity. Kekolahti et al. ( 2015 ) use Bayesian networks to indicate the decrease in perceived importance of communication with increase in age. Chang et al. ( 2015 ) integrate social distance with clustering methods to show shorter social distance results in satisfactory trust. Chung et al. ( 2017 ) employ the Technology Acceptance Model, and find positive effects between traveller readiness and ease of using geo-tagging. Zhao et al. ( 2016 ) use theory of planned behaviour and attribution theory to find that virtual rewards for sharing knowledge online undermine enjoyment. Yu et al. ( 2015 ) use the causation and heuristic theories to find that affect influences self disclosure indirectly by adjusting perceived benefits. Stanko ( 2016 ) employs Innovation Diffusion Theory, and finds that community interaction influences innovations that are used to aid a further innovation.

5 Discussion

In reviewing the publications gathered for this paper, commonalities have been observed in the myriad aspects of social media chosen for investigation. While many studies focussed their attention on understanding the behaviours of social media users, the others examined entrepreneurial participation and firm behaviour. A number of studies have focussed on the content being posted in online communities, several of which report on the repercussions of some of this content being used as an awareness medium during critical events and tragedies. Interesting revelations were made by authors studying the use of social media as a platform to render and/or receive help or support, and its incorporation in the field of healthcare and public administration. Value creation and the ill-effects associated with the use of social media at the workplace were also discussed. Several studies chose to test previously established hypotheses and models, while others compared traditional media with social media. Prior research has also provided insights into how firms have been using social media to market their products and services. These strategies run in parallel with the reviews and recommendations posted by users on social media sites, which have also received considerable attention in the literature. In summary, given that different types of social media platforms are emerging, and different consequences are associated with their use, research in this field will continue to evolve. This is also evidenced by the increased number of publications related to usage and impact over the past five years.

Social media platforms have essentially redefined the ways in which people choose to communicate and collaborate. An online community is a socio-technological space where a sense of communal identity drives engagement, which, in turn, enhances satisfaction (Ray et al. 2014 ). Intriguingly, social media are facilitating the emergence of virtual knowledge communities and self help networks. These web-based arrangements allow medical practice and research to access patient experience on a daily basis, which was not possible earlier. However, since research in this area is still in its early stages, it is difficult to assess the social complexity involved (e.g., stability of a networking platform that brings together patients with medical experts) in the process (Kallinikos and Tempini 2014 ).

Firms are recognizing social media as a prominent indicator of equity value that not only improves short-term performance, but also brings about long-term productivity benefits (Luo et al. 2013 ). The reviewed studies suggest that incorporatin social media in firms increases meta-knowledge (who’s who in an organization and who does what), which helps avoid knowledge duplication and promotes new ways of managing work (Leonardi 2014 ). Active management of social media has been observed to be more effective when those inside rather than outside a firm are engaged (Miller and Tucker 2013 ).

A specific line of research focuses on consumers, who substantially rely on online reviews before making any purchase decision. The research papers reviewed in this study exhibit diversity in studying authenticity of reviews for travel sites, social bookmarking and review sites, movie ratings, car manufacturing, and social media check-ins. Studies concur that there has been an exponential increase in the number of fake reviews, which is severely damaging the credibility of online reviews and putting business values at risk (Zhang et al. 2016 ). Some studies have also empirically identified consumers’ social media participation as a key metric contributing to the profitability of a business (Rishika et al. 2013 ). There evidently exists a direct correlation between consumer engagement on social media sites and their shopping intentions, which makes the issue of legitimate reviews all the more important for businesses and consumers. Although some studies have proposed models and algorithms that claim to filter authentic reviews from the rest, there is no single and straightforward solution reported yet that can fully combat this problem.

The issue of negative posts has received considerable attention in the literature. Prior research suggests that, overall, the impact of negative posts or electronic word of mouth is much higher than the positive ones that increase readership (Aggarwal et al. 2012 ). This problem is also prevalent in organizations. According to the studies reviewed here, organizations either prohibit employees from posting controversial content online, or employees themselves refrain from doing so, fearing negative repercussions. The same employees also share positive posts, and the adverse effect of the few negative posts is offset by positive ones. It is in a firm’s interests to encourage free will enterprise blogging to break down knowledge silos and yield higher employee productivity (Singh et al. 2014 ).

Businesses looking to monetize online content and social search rely heavily on substantial understanding of consumer behaviour in terms of their interaction and participation in social settings (Susarla et al. 2012 ). As consumers gain access to social platforms that offer free content consumption without an obligatory payment, the relationship between sampling and sales becomes all the more important (Dewan and Ramaprasad 2014 ). There is much research supporting the belief that online word of mouth has a critical role to play in a firm’s overall performance, and introducing a pay-wall (for previously free content) can significantly reduce the volume of word of mouth for popular content in comparison to niche content (Oh et al. 2016 ). Determining consumers’ social influence in an online community is of critical interest to managers, who seek to gain some leverage from the potential of social media (Shi et al. 2014 ). Some researchers find it difficult to distinguish social influence from users’ self selection preferences. From an analysis point of view, it then becomes necessary to separate factors affecting user membership in a social network from various types of social influence (Susarla et al. 2012 ).

The findings on the use of social media in emergencies suggests that a general user response in an online community is very different from that during a crisis, as those responses then become more reflexive. It has been observed that in times of crisis, lack of information sources coupled with too many situation reports being shared by the users of a social media platform can precipitate a rumour mill. It thus becomes incumbent on emergency responders to release reliable information, whilst trying to control collective anxiety in the community, to suppress the rumour threads (Oh et al. 2013 ). Furthermore, security concerns are increasingly common with involuntary online exposure on social media, and research on this subject suggests that information dissemination with network commonality affects privacy invasion and user bonding (Choi et al. 2015 ). It has been learnt that an individual’s or firm’s decision to withhold information in the interest of privacy can have both positive and negative effects on their utility (Burtch et al. 2016 ).

In reviewing the 132 publications on social media and social networking, it was observed that many studies relied primarily on social exchange theory, network theory and organization theory. Table  3 , shown below, lists other theories that have been used by at least two publications. There were several other theories that were used by at least once, including social role theory, game theory, structural holes theory, management and commitment theories, institutional theory, deterrence and mitigation theories, and self determination and self categorization theories. It is noteworthy that dominant IS adoption theories such as Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (Dwivedi et al. 2017b , c ; Rana et al. 2017 ; Venkatesh et al. 2003 ), Technology Acceptance Model (Davis 1989 ) and Innovation Diffusion Theory (Kapoor et al. 2015 ) are less widely utilised.

In addition, our review of the literature on social media identified dominant research methods employed by scholars. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods were used by most of these studies. Closer scrutiny of the 132 publications reviewed in this study revealed the multitude of techniques applied for gathering data. Quantitative methods employed in these studies mostly adopted analytical techniques and surveys (Table  4 ). On the other hand, publications using qualitative methods mainly used case studies and interviews to gather the required data (Table 4 ). As expected, studies employing mixed methods used a combination of analytical and conceptual techniques, alongside surveys and content analysis (Table 4 ). Table 4 summarizes the various research approaches used by publications in our corpus.

The reviewed publications were also analyzed to determine the nature of the social network that were studied. Precisely 46 websites emerged, with Facebook, online communities, Twitter, Blogs and YouTube being most frequently targeted. Networks analysed by at least two or more studies have been identified in Table  5 . The other networks that received attention from the reviewed publications include Ebay, Flickr, Flixster, Gtalk, microsoft, MSN Space, Patientslikeme, New York Times, TripAdvisor.com , and Boxofficemojo.com . Studies also focussed on websites related to online news, Q&A websites, discussion groups and forums, online radio and television, and medical sites such as Webmd.com .

5.1 Limitations and Future Research Directions

Studies, such as the one by Cheung et al. ( 2012 ), that examine aspects of popular websites, warn against consumer perceptions being under the influence of brand equity of those websites. They recommend exercising caution while generalizing such findings in the context of other websites (Cheung et al. 2012 ). Rosenberger et al. ( 2017 ) identify a similar problem with relying on publicly available data, in that the underlying abstraction makes findings valid only for the specific social media site that was analyzed, whilst significantly restricting its generalizability to other sites. In a similar vein, other studies (Krasnova et al. 2015 ; Khan and Jarvenpaa 2010 ; Tow et al. 2010 ) have acknowledged the limitation of restricting their research to a single social media site, and recommend future researchers to adopt a cross-platform perspective for drawing significant inferences.

Mettler and Winter ( 2016 ) suggest that there is a paucity of studies on Enterprise Social Systems because of its novelty, and urge researchers to fill this void. Turel and Serenko ( 2012 ) identify the lack of conceptualization in the notion of technology addiction; they recognize that the process of defining it is still in the early stages, and is being debated across communities. For researchers interested in examining aspects of Twitter, Cheng et al. ( 2011 ) recommend incorporating the location metric focused on Twitter’s geo location feature allowing users to trace the latitude and longitude of Tweets. Another recommendation for Twitter related studies comes from Benthaus et al. ( 2016 ), where they suggest researchers should study user involvement differently, based on how often users choose to ‘like’ the content of a company. As for use of social media for marketing in firms, the literature has restricted focus to the resulting marketing benefits, with limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of social platforms for enhancing employee communications (Miller and Tucker 2013 ).

For behavioural studies, researchers need to be wary of the fact that motivation for users to adopt social media is different, often contingent on their culture (Chiu and Huang 2015 ; Shen et al. 2010 . It is also important to note that behavioural reactions are susceptible to change over time, and changing habits have a role to play (Chiu and Huang 2015 ). Longitudinal research is thus always expected to offer a better understanding of the research problem when the intended behavioural reactions transfer into behaviour with time (Maier et al. 2015a ). In studying online reviews and recommendations, researchers can assume that these reviews are independent of one another and remain static over time; however, Zhang and Piramuthu ( 2016 ) suggest that this may not be true and future researchers should now concentrate on how this has evolved, and if herding behaviour exists on such online platforms. In studying behaviours, it has also emerged that users develop discontinuance intentions after continuance intentions, with the latter never being completely replaced by the former. Turel ( 2015 ) thus recommends studying the initiation of discontinuance intentions, whilst identifying the factors leading to its dominance and actual discontinuance attempts.

Matook et al. ( 2015a ) identify that there is a need to study the aspect of trust formation between individuals on social media, where no personal relationships exist (unlike sites such as Facebook). Chung et al. ( 2017 ) identify that researchers often associate the use of certain social media with young users (for instance, Maier et al. 2015b ), and fail to study the usage perceptions across various ages (Vishwanath 2015 ). Van Osch and Steinfield ( 2016 ) suggest that future researchers should explore the potential of Enterprise Social Media to gain insights into the tools that support disentanglement of team boundary spanning. Finally, researchers have established that the lifecycle of information and communication technologies tend to be emancipatory in their infancy but eventually evolve into hegemonic tools. They warn social media policymakers to be wary of reproducing this pattern with digital media; the recommendation is to involve more citizens in the development of Internet governance framework, rather than resting decisions with the members of political or economic power (Miranda et al. 2016 ).

6 Conclusions

This paper discusses the findings of 132 publications contributing to the literature on social media. Multiple emergent themes in this body of literature have been identified to enhance understanding of the advances in social media research. By building on empirical findings of previous social media research, many new studies have been successful in theorizing the nature of most social media platforms. User-generated content allows collective understanding, which is a massive machine-human knowledge processing function capable of managing chaotic volumes of information. Some key conclusions relevant to stakeholders, including researchers, have been identified here.

Social media technologies are no longer perceived just as platforms for socialization and congregation, but are being acknowledged for their ability to encourage aggregation.

In reviewing the 132 publications on social media and social networking, it was observed that most studies used social exchange theory, network theory and organization theory to support their studies.

Facebook, online communities, and twitter are the three most popular networks targeted by publications in the field of social media research.

Publications in 2011 were still reporting user-generated content as a new type of online content. However, the last six years have seen tremendous scholarly progression in discussing the many applications of social networking, highlighting the highs and lows associated with its use.

Majority of the publications reviewed in this study are focussed on behavioural side of social media, reviews, and integration of social media for marketing and organizational purposes.

Many publications in the year 2013 concentrated their efforts in investigating the very popular aspect of reviews and recommendations on social networks.

Publications have become more focussed on studying social commerce across networking sites, particularly, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and so on between 2015 and 2016.

Publications have not shown much interest in support-seeking posts and negative stigma attached to social media use after the year 2015.

Most studies unanimously acknowledge social media for its information sharing and information exchange capabilities, with a focussed group of studies recognizing its effectiveness during natural disasters and critical events.

Almost all publications studying information sharing during natural disasters and critical events focus on Twitter data.

Publications on administration and political contexts were particularly found in 2010 and 2016, with no interest expressed in these contexts between 2011 and 2015.

With information systems now expanding beyond organizational peripheries to become a part of the larger societal context, it is important for strategic information systems research to delve into the competitive setting of dynamic social systems. Online communities are introducing extrinsic rewards that do not limit users’ intrinsic motivations. Research on such communities should expand to study the interplay between extrinisic and intrinsic rewards, particularly in terms of their ability to cultivate and sustain users’ intrinsic motivations. From an organizational perspective, research on social media should move past the conventional dyadic view of the relationship between an online community and a firm, and focus on reconceptualising online users as an ecosystem of stakeholders. Social media has re-established the dynamics between organizations, employees, and consumers. Given the rise in number of publications focussing on workplace setting since 2014, future researchers should aim to analyze stakeholders’ potential in adopting social media tools to successfully accomplish their work goals. As for the limitations of this collective review, publications reviewed here were limited to only nine journals. This potentially means studies with significant contributions to social media literature published in other journals have been overlooked. Future researchers can look to overcome such exclusions and focus on the overall review of literature on social media platforms. Future reviews may focus on reviewing articles published in a larger number of IS journals related to a specific type of social media (i.e. social networking sites, blogs), or specific issues related to social media use, such as information load, stress, and impact on productivity. Despite these limitations, our study provides a comprehensive and robust intellectual framework for social media research that would be of value to adacemics and practitioners alike.

TITLE: (“Social Media” or “social networking” or “facebook” or “linkedin” or “instagram” or “twitter”)

Refined by: DOCUMENT TYPES: (ARTICLE OR PROCEEDINGS PAPER)

Timespan: All years. Indexes: SCI-EXPANDED, SSCI, A&HCI, CPCI-S, CPCI-SSH, ESCI.

http://www.springer.com/business+%26+management/business+information+systems/journal/10796

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Kuttimani Tamilmani, Nripendra P. Rana, Pushp Patil & Yogesh K. Dwivedi

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43+ Latest Social Media Research Topics for College Students

• Post author By Ankit
• February 7, 2024

Did you know that over 4.5 billion people actively use social media worldwide? That’s like half of the entire world’s people! With billions logging on daily, social media has changed how we communicate. As college students living in this digital time, we must know how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram shape society. 

Studying social media isn’t just about oversharing selfies – it helps us learn about human behavior, marketing techniques, cyberbullying, privacy issues, and more. 

This blog shares the most exciting social media research topics for college students. 

Table of Contents

Latest Social Media Research Topics For College Students

Check out the latest social media research topics for college students in tabular form.

Social Impact

1. Mental Health Awareness: Explore how social media can help spread understanding about mental health among teens. Look into campaigns and posts that help reduce stigma and offer support.

2. Activism Movements: See how social media helps people organize for causes they believe in. Look at examples of successful campaigns and the challenges activists face online.

3. Political Opinions: Study how social media affects young people’s political opinions. Look at how people only hear opinions they agree with and how false information spreads.

4. Community Building: Learn how social media helps different groups connect. Look at how these online groups offer support and share ideas.

5. Self-Esteem & Body Image: How social media affects teenagers’ feelings about themselves and their bodies. Explore how seeing idealized images can make people feel bad about themselves.

Also Read: 211+ Sociology Research Topics for College Students [2024]

Technical & Algorithmic Aspects

6. Content Algorithms: Understand how social media decides what to show you. Learn about the things that affect how posts appear in your feed.

7. Data Privacy: Explore how social media keeps your information safe. See how your data is collected, stored, and used for ads.

8. Artificial Intelligence: Learn how computers moderate what’s posted online. Look into how they can find and remove harmful content.

9. Personalized Advertising: See how ads on social media are tailored to you. Learn about how ads are based on what you’re interested in.

10. Misinformation Detection: Understand how social media tries to stop fake news. Learn how sites check if something is true before letting it spread.

Specific Platforms & Communities

11. TikTok Trends: Explore what’s popular on TikTok and how it spreads. Learn about the dances, challenges, jokes that get shared and discover strategies to boost your TikTok views .

12. Instagram Creativity: See how people express themselves on Instagram. Learn about the filters, tags, and stories they use.

13. Twitter Discourse: Learn about the conversations happening on Twitter. See how topics become trending and how people share their thoughts.

14. Reddit Subcultures: Explore the different groups on Reddit. Learn how people share interests and vote on what they like.

15. Facebook Groups: See how people connect on Facebook. Learn how groups help people talk about shared interests and issues.

Privacy & Security

16. Data Protection Laws: Understand laws that protect your personal information online.

17. Online Safety Tips: Learn how to stay safe from scams and cyberbullying on social media.

18. Two-Factor Authentication: Explore adding extra security to your social media accounts.

19. Privacy Settings: Understand how to control who sees your posts and information on social media.

20. Identity Theft Awareness: Learn the risks of sharing too much personal information online.

Education & Learning

21. Online Courses: Explore how social media platforms offer educational content and courses.

22. Study Groups: See how students use social media to collaborate and study together.

23. Learning Communities: Join online communities focused on specific subjects or skills.

24. Educational Resources: Find and share educational resources and materials on social media.

25. Teacher Collaboration: Explore how teachers use social media to connect and share teaching strategies.

Entertainment & Media

26. Fan Communities: Explore online communities dedicated to fandoms and fan culture.

27. Content Creation: Learn how people create and share content on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

28. Livestreaming: Explore the world of live video streaming on platforms like Instagram Live and Facebook Live.

29. Viral Trends: Explore popular trends and challenges that go viral on social media.

30. Digital Art & Creativity: Discover how artists use social media to showcase their work and connect with fans.

Health & Wellness

31. Fitness Communities: Explore online communities focused on fitness and wellness.

32. Healthy Living Tips: Discover tips and advice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle shared on social media.

33. Mental Health Support: Find resources and communities that support mental health challenges.

34. Nutrition & Diet: Learn about nutrition and diet tips shared by health experts and influencers on social media.

35. Self-Care Practices: Explore self-care routines and practices individuals share on social media platforms.

Travel & Exploration

36. Travel Inspiration: Explore travel photos and stories travelers share on social media.

37. Travel Planning Tips: Discover tips and advice for planning trips shared by travel influencers.

38. Destination Guides: Find and share destination guides and recommendations on social media.

39. Solo Travel Communities: Connect with other solo travelers and share experiences and tips.

40. Adventure Activities: Discover adventure activities and experiences thrill-seekers share on social media.

Fashion & Style

41. Fashion Trends: Explore the latest fashion trends and styles showcased on social media platforms.

42. Style Tips: Discover styling tips and advice fashion influencers and bloggers share.

43. DIY Fashion: Learn how to create your fashion pieces through DIY tutorials shared on social media.

44. Fashion Communities: Connect with other fashion enthusiasts and share outfit ideas and inspirations.

45. Sustainable Fashion: Explore sustainable fashion practices and brands promoted on social media.

Career & Professional Development

46. Job Opportunities: Explore job postings and career opportunities shared on social media platforms like LinkedIn.

47. Networking Tips: Discover tips for networking and building professional connections on social media.

48. Resume Building: Learn how to create an effective resume and showcase your skills on social media profiles.

49. Interview Preparation: Find resources and advice for preparing for job interviews shared by career experts.

50. Freelancing Communities: Connect with other freelancers and share tips and advice for succeeding in the gig economy.

Hence, these are the trending Social Media Research Topics for College Students from which you can pick one.

Also Read: Top 11+ Career Benefits of Studying Abroad

How Do You Choose The Perfect Social Media Research Topics?

Social media is a significant aspect of our daily existence. There are so many exciting research topics for your college paper or project. Picking the right one can be tricky, but here is how to narrow it down.

1. Think About Your Interests

Start by brainstorming what social media platforms and topics interest you. Are you into Instagram trends? Facebook analytics? Snapchat filters? Knowing your interests will help you pick a topic you want to research and learn about.

2. Consider Current Events

Look at what’s happening right now in the social media world. Are people debating about privacy settings? Is a new platform getting popular? Current events and controversies make cool research topics.

3. Look for Gaps in Research

Search online to see what other studies have already been done. Then, you can find gaps where more research is needed. Filling those gaps by studying something new can lead to incredible discoveries.

4. Talk to Your Teacher

Your teacher will know good topics related to what you’re studying in class. See if they have suggestions based on what would work for the assignment. Their guidance can help narrow your choices.

5. Start Broad, Then Narrow Down

Begin with a broad subject like “Social Media and Culture,” then gradually narrow it down as you go. Add details about the specific platform, users, or effects you want to focus on for a defined topic.

6. Consider Your Research Method

Will you do surveys, interviews, observations, or experiments? Some topics work better with certain research methods. Think about how you’ll conduct the study when weighing your options.

7. Pick a Topic That’s Manageable

Make sure you pick a focused enough topic to research and reasonably write about within the time frame. A subject that’s too broad can be hard to tackle.

8. Write Down a List of Ideas

Keep a running list of all your potential topic ideas. Cross off the ones that don’t work. Circle your top choices. Taking notes helps to arrange your ideas.

9. Discuss Ideas with Classmates

Your classmates might have great suggestions you haven’t thought of. Or they can help you decide between topic options. Talking it through can give you a fresh perspective.

10. Don’t Forget About Your Passion!

Most importantly, choose a topic that you genuinely care about and excites you. Your enthusiasm will motivate you through the research process.

Hopefully, these tips will make it easier to pick the perfect social media research topic for your project. 

What Makes A Perfect Social Media Research Topic?

Take into account the following factors to make sure your topic is powerful and exciting:

First, your topic should be super easy to understand so people understand what you’re discussing. Choose something that’s not confusing or vague.

Trend Relevancy

Second, it should relate to what’s happening now with social media and not be about old platforms or trends no one cares about anymore. Look at what sites and apps are popular today to pick a topic that matters.

New Insights

Finally, your research should uncover stuff people don’t already know. If there’s already a ton of studies on the same thing, it won’t be that interesting. Look for gaps in our knowledge so your work teaches us something new.

Researching social media is so essential for students today. We practically live our lives on sites like Instagram and TikTok. We could learn much about how social media impacts society, relationships, and mental health. 

The possibilities are endless for research topics! Don’t be afraid to dive in and choose something you feel passionate about. Your research can create real change and impact. You have control over what happens next, so make it meaningful.

How does social media influence politics and democracy?

Social media enables the spread of misinformation, impacts voting, and polarizes political discourse.

How does social media affect body image and self-perception?

Social media imagery fosters unrealistic beauty standards, negative social comparisons, and poor body image.

What are the privacy risks of social media data mining?

User data collection raises issues around consent, transparency, profiling, and exploitation.

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CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS article

The effect of social media on the development of students’ affective variables.

• 1 Science and Technology Department, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China
• 2 School of Marxism, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
• 3 Government Enterprise Customer Center, China Mobile Group Jiangsu Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China

The use of social media is incomparably on the rise among students, influenced by the globalized forms of communication and the post-pandemic rush to use multiple social media platforms for education in different fields of study. Though social media has created tremendous chances for sharing ideas and emotions, the kind of social support it provides might fail to meet students’ emotional needs, or the alleged positive effects might be short-lasting. In recent years, several studies have been conducted to explore the potential effects of social media on students’ affective traits, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and so on. The present paper reviews the findings of the exemplary published works of research to shed light on the positive and negative potential effects of the massive use of social media on students’ emotional well-being. This review can be insightful for teachers who tend to take the potential psychological effects of social media for granted. They may want to know more about the actual effects of the over-reliance on and the excessive (and actually obsessive) use of social media on students’ developing certain images of self and certain emotions which are not necessarily positive. There will be implications for pre- and in-service teacher training and professional development programs and all those involved in student affairs.

Introduction

Social media has turned into an essential element of individuals’ lives including students in today’s world of communication. Its use is growing significantly more than ever before especially in the post-pandemic era, marked by a great revolution happening to the educational systems. Recent investigations of using social media show that approximately 3 billion individuals worldwide are now communicating via social media ( Iwamoto and Chun, 2020 ). This growing population of social media users is spending more and more time on social network groupings, as facts and figures show that individuals spend 2 h a day, on average, on a variety of social media applications, exchanging pictures and messages, updating status, tweeting, favoring, and commenting on many updated socially shared information ( Abbott, 2017 ).

Researchers have begun to investigate the psychological effects of using social media on students’ lives. Chukwuere and Chukwuere (2017) maintained that social media platforms can be considered the most important source of changing individuals’ mood, because when someone is passively using a social media platform seemingly with no special purpose, s/he can finally feel that his/her mood has changed as a function of the nature of content overviewed. Therefore, positive and negative moods can easily be transferred among the population using social media networks ( Chukwuere and Chukwuere, 2017 ). This may become increasingly important as students are seen to be using social media platforms more than before and social networking is becoming an integral aspect of their lives. As described by Iwamoto and Chun (2020) , when students are affected by social media posts, especially due to the increasing reliance on social media use in life, they may be encouraged to begin comparing themselves to others or develop great unrealistic expectations of themselves or others, which can have several affective consequences.

Considering the increasing influence of social media on education, the present paper aims to focus on the affective variables such as depression, stress, and anxiety, and how social media can possibly increase or decrease these emotions in student life. The exemplary works of research on this topic in recent years will be reviewed here, hoping to shed light on the positive and negative effects of these ever-growing influential platforms on the psychology of students.

Significance of the study

Though social media, as the name suggests, is expected to keep people connected, probably this social connection is only superficial, and not adequately deep and meaningful to help individuals feel emotionally attached to others. The psychological effects of social media on student life need to be studied in more depth to see whether social media really acts as a social support for students and whether students can use social media to cope with negative emotions and develop positive feelings or not. In other words, knowledge of the potential effects of the growing use of social media on students’ emotional well-being can bridge the gap between the alleged promises of social media and what it actually has to offer to students in terms of self-concept, self-respect, social role, and coping strategies (for stress, anxiety, etc.).

Exemplary general literature on psychological effects of social media

Before getting down to the effects of social media on students’ emotional well-being, some exemplary works of research in recent years on the topic among general populations are reviewed. For one, Aalbers et al. (2018) reported that individuals who spent more time passively working with social media suffered from more intense levels of hopelessness, loneliness, depression, and perceived inferiority. For another, Tang et al. (2013) observed that the procedures of sharing information, commenting, showing likes and dislikes, posting messages, and doing other common activities on social media are correlated with higher stress. Similarly, Ley et al. (2014) described that people who spend 2 h, on average, on social media applications will face many tragic news, posts, and stories which can raise the total intensity of their stress. This stress-provoking effect of social media has been also pinpointed by Weng and Menczer (2015) , who contended that social media becomes a main source of stress because people often share all kinds of posts, comments, and stories ranging from politics and economics, to personal and social affairs. According to Iwamoto and Chun (2020) , anxiety and depression are the negative emotions that an individual may develop when some source of stress is present. In other words, when social media sources become stress-inducing, there are high chances that anxiety and depression also develop.

Charoensukmongkol (2018) reckoned that the mental health and well-being of the global population can be at a great risk through the uncontrolled massive use of social media. These researchers also showed that social media sources can exert negative affective impacts on teenagers, as they can induce more envy and social comparison. According to Fleck and Johnson-Migalski (2015) , though social media, at first, plays the role of a stress-coping strategy, when individuals continue to see stressful conditions (probably experienced and shared by others in media), they begin to develop stress through the passage of time. Chukwuere and Chukwuere (2017) maintained that social media platforms continue to be the major source of changing mood among general populations. For example, someone might be passively using a social media sphere, and s/he may finally find him/herself with a changed mood depending on the nature of the content faced. Then, this good or bad mood is easily shared with others in a flash through the social media. Finally, as Alahmar (2016) described, social media exposes people especially the young generation to new exciting activities and events that may attract them and keep them engaged in different media contexts for hours just passing their time. It usually leads to reduced productivity, reduced academic achievement, and addiction to constant media use ( Alahmar, 2016 ).

The number of studies on the potential psychological effects of social media on people in general is higher than those selectively addressed here. For further insights into this issue, some other suggested works of research include Chang (2012) , Sriwilai and Charoensukmongkol (2016) , and Zareen et al. (2016) . Now, we move to the studies that more specifically explored the effects of social media on students’ affective states.

Review of the affective influences of social media on students

Vygotsky’s mediational theory (see Fernyhough, 2008 ) can be regarded as a main theoretical background for the support of social media on learners’ affective states. Based on this theory, social media can play the role of a mediational means between learners and the real environment. Learners’ understanding of this environment can be mediated by the image shaped via social media. This image can be either close to or different from the reality. In the case of the former, learners can develop their self-image and self-esteem. In the case of the latter, learners might develop unrealistic expectations of themselves by comparing themselves to others. As it will be reviewed below among the affective variables increased or decreased in students under the influence of the massive use of social media are anxiety, stress, depression, distress, rumination, and self-esteem. These effects have been explored more among school students in the age range of 13–18 than university students (above 18), but some studies were investigated among college students as well. Exemplary works of research on these affective variables are reviewed here.

In a cross-sectional study, O’Dea and Campbell (2011) explored the impact of online interactions of social networks on the psychological distress of adolescent students. These researchers found a negative correlation between the time spent on social networking and mental distress. Dumitrache et al. (2012) explored the relations between depression and the identity associated with the use of the popular social media, the Facebook. This study showed significant associations between depression and the number of identity-related information pieces shared on this social network. Neira and Barber (2014) explored the relationship between students’ social media use and depressed mood at teenage. No significant correlation was found between these two variables. In the same year, Tsitsika et al. (2014) explored the associations between excessive use of social media and internalizing emotions. These researchers found a positive correlation between more than 2-h a day use of social media and anxiety and depression.

Hanprathet et al. (2015) reported a statistically significant positive correlation between addiction to Facebook and depression among about a thousand high school students in wealthy populations of Thailand and warned against this psychological threat. Sampasa-Kanyinga and Lewis (2015) examined the relationship between social media use and psychological distress. These researchers found that the use of social media for more than 2 h a day was correlated with a higher intensity of psychological distress. Banjanin et al. (2015) tested the relationship between too much use of social networking and depression, yet found no statistically significant correlation between these two variables. Frison and Eggermont (2016) examined the relationships between different forms of Facebook use, perceived social support of social media, and male and female students’ depressed mood. These researchers found a positive association between the passive use of the Facebook and depression and also between the active use of the social media and depression. Furthermore, the perceived social support of the social media was found to mediate this association. Besides, gender was found as the other factor to mediate this relationship.

Vernon et al. (2017) explored change in negative investment in social networking in relation to change in depression and externalizing behavior. These researchers found that increased investment in social media predicted higher depression in adolescent students, which was a function of the effect of higher levels of disrupted sleep. Barry et al. (2017) explored the associations between the use of social media by adolescents and their psychosocial adjustment. Social media activity showed to be positively and moderately associated with depression and anxiety. Another investigation was focused on secondary school students in China conducted by Li et al. (2017) . The findings showed a mediating role of insomnia on the significant correlation between depression and addiction to social media. In the same year, Yan et al. (2017) aimed to explore the time spent on social networks and its correlation with anxiety among middle school students. They found a significant positive correlation between more than 2-h use of social networks and the intensity of anxiety.

Also in China, Wang et al. (2018) showed that addiction to social networking sites was correlated positively with depression, and this correlation was mediated by rumination. These researchers also found that this mediating effect was moderated by self-esteem. It means that the effect of addiction on depression was compounded by low self-esteem through rumination. In another work of research, Drouin et al. (2018) showed that though social media is expected to act as a form of social support for the majority of university students, it can adversely affect students’ mental well-being, especially for those who already have high levels of anxiety and depression. In their research, the social media resources were found to be stress-inducing for half of the participants, all university students. The higher education population was also studied by Iwamoto and Chun (2020) . These researchers investigated the emotional effects of social media in higher education and found that the socially supportive role of social media was overshadowed in the long run in university students’ lives and, instead, fed into their perceived depression, anxiety, and stress.

Keles et al. (2020) provided a systematic review of the effect of social media on young and teenage students’ depression, psychological distress, and anxiety. They found that depression acted as the most frequent affective variable measured. The most salient risk factors of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression based on the systematic review were activities such as repeated checking for messages, personal investment, the time spent on social media, and problematic or addictive use. Similarly, Mathewson (2020) investigated the effect of using social media on college students’ mental health. The participants stated the experience of anxiety, depression, and suicidality (thoughts of suicide or attempts to suicide). The findings showed that the types and frequency of using social media and the students’ perceived mental health were significantly correlated with each other.

The body of research on the effect of social media on students’ affective and emotional states has led to mixed results. The existing literature shows that there are some positive and some negative affective impacts. Yet, it seems that the latter is pre-dominant. Mathewson (2020) attributed these divergent positive and negative effects to the different theoretical frameworks adopted in different studies and also the different contexts (different countries with whole different educational systems). According to Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions ( Fredrickson, 2001 ), the mental repertoires of learners can be built and broadened by how they feel. For instance, some external stimuli might provoke negative emotions such as anxiety and depression in learners. Having experienced these negative emotions, students might repeatedly check their messages on social media or get addicted to them. As a result, their cognitive repertoire and mental capacity might become limited and they might lose their concentration during their learning process. On the other hand, it should be noted that by feeling positive, learners might take full advantage of the affordances of the social media and; thus, be able to follow their learning goals strategically. This point should be highlighted that the link between the use of social media and affective states is bi-directional. Therefore, strategic use of social media or its addictive use by students can direct them toward either positive experiences like enjoyment or negative ones such as anxiety and depression. Also, these mixed positive and negative effects are similar to the findings of several other relevant studies on general populations’ psychological and emotional health. A number of studies (with general research populations not necessarily students) showed that social networks have facilitated the way of staying in touch with family and friends living far away as well as an increased social support ( Zhang, 2017 ). Given the positive and negative emotional effects of social media, social media can either scaffold the emotional repertoire of students, which can develop positive emotions in learners, or induce negative provokers in them, based on which learners might feel negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. However, admittedly, social media has also generated a domain that encourages the act of comparing lives, and striving for approval; therefore, it establishes and internalizes unrealistic perceptions ( Virden et al., 2014 ; Radovic et al., 2017 ).

It should be mentioned that the susceptibility of affective variables to social media should be interpreted from a dynamic lens. This means that the ecology of the social media can make changes in the emotional experiences of learners. More specifically, students’ affective variables might self-organize into different states under the influence of social media. As for the positive correlation found in many studies between the use of social media and such negative effects as anxiety, depression, and stress, it can be hypothesized that this correlation is induced by the continuous comparison the individual makes and the perception that others are doing better than him/her influenced by the posts that appear on social media. Using social media can play a major role in university students’ psychological well-being than expected. Though most of these studies were correlational, and correlation is not the same as causation, as the studies show that the number of participants experiencing these negative emotions under the influence of social media is significantly high, more extensive research is highly suggested to explore causal effects ( Mathewson, 2020 ).

As the review of exemplary studies showed, some believed that social media increased comparisons that students made between themselves and others. This finding ratifies the relevance of the Interpretation Comparison Model ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ; Stapel, 2007 ) and Festinger’s (1954) Social Comparison Theory. Concerning the negative effects of social media on students’ psychology, it can be argued that individuals may fail to understand that the content presented in social media is usually changed to only represent the attractive aspects of people’s lives, showing an unrealistic image of things. We can add that this argument also supports the relevance of the Social Comparison Theory and the Interpretation Comparison Model ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ; Stapel, 2007 ), because social media sets standards that students think they should compare themselves with. A constant observation of how other students or peers are showing their instances of achievement leads to higher self-evaluation ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ). It is conjectured that the ubiquitous role of social media in student life establishes unrealistic expectations and promotes continuous comparison as also pinpointed in the Interpretation Comparison Model ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ; Stapel, 2007 ).

Implications of the study

The use of social media is ever increasing among students, both at school and university, which is partly because of the promises of technological advances in communication services and partly because of the increased use of social networks for educational purposes in recent years after the pandemic. This consistent use of social media is not expected to leave students’ psychological, affective and emotional states untouched. Thus, it is necessary to know how the growing usage of social networks is associated with students’ affective health on different aspects. Therefore, we found it useful to summarize the research findings in recent years in this respect. If those somehow in charge of student affairs in educational settings are aware of the potential positive or negative effects of social media usage on students, they can better understand the complexities of students’ needs and are better capable of meeting them.

Psychological counseling programs can be initiated at schools or universities to check upon the latest state of students’ mental and emotional health influenced by the pervasive use of social media. The counselors can be made aware of the potential adverse effects of social networking and can adapt the content of their inquiries accordingly. Knowledge of the potential reasons for student anxiety, depression, and stress can help school or university counselors to find individualized coping strategies when they diagnose any symptom of distress in students influenced by an excessive use of social networking.

Admittedly, it is neither possible to discard the use of social media in today’s academic life, nor to keep students’ use of social networks fully controlled. Certainly, the educational space in today’s world cannot do without the social media, which has turned into an integral part of everybody’s life. Yet, probably students need to be instructed on how to take advantage of the media and to be the least affected negatively by its occasional superficial and unrepresentative content. Compensatory programs might be needed at schools or universities to encourage students to avoid making unrealistic and impartial comparisons of themselves and the flamboyant images of others displayed on social media. Students can be taught to develop self-appreciation and self-care while continuing to use the media to their benefit.

The teachers’ role as well as the curriculum developers’ role are becoming more important than ever, as they can significantly help to moderate the adverse effects of the pervasive social media use on students’ mental and emotional health. The kind of groupings formed for instructional purposes, for example, in social media can be done with greater care by teachers to make sure that the members of the groups are homogeneous and the tasks and activities shared in the groups are quite relevant and realistic. The teachers cannot always be in a full control of students’ use of social media, and the other fact is that students do not always and only use social media for educational purposes. They spend more time on social media for communicating with friends or strangers or possibly they just passively receive the content produced out of any educational scope just for entertainment. This uncontrolled and unrealistic content may give them a false image of life events and can threaten their mental and emotional health. Thus, teachers can try to make students aware of the potential hazards of investing too much of their time on following pages or people that publish false and misleading information about their personal or social identities. As students, logically expected, spend more time with their teachers than counselors, they may be better and more receptive to the advice given by the former than the latter.

Teachers may not be in full control of their students’ use of social media, but they have always played an active role in motivating or demotivating students to take particular measures in their academic lives. If teachers are informed of the recent research findings about the potential effects of massively using social media on students, they may find ways to reduce students’ distraction or confusion in class due to the excessive or over-reliant use of these networks. Educators may more often be mesmerized by the promises of technology-, computer- and mobile-assisted learning. They may tend to encourage the use of social media hoping to benefit students’ social and interpersonal skills, self-confidence, stress-managing and the like. Yet, they may be unaware of the potential adverse effects on students’ emotional well-being and, thus, may find the review of the recent relevant research findings insightful. Also, teachers can mediate between learners and social media to manipulate the time learners spend on social media. Research has mainly indicated that students’ emotional experiences are mainly dependent on teachers’ pedagogical approach. They should refrain learners from excessive use of, or overreliance on, social media. Raising learners’ awareness of this fact that individuals should develop their own path of development for learning, and not build their development based on unrealistic comparison of their competences with those of others, can help them consider positive values for their activities on social media and, thus, experience positive emotions.

At higher education, students’ needs are more life-like. For example, their employment-seeking spirits might lead them to create accounts in many social networks, hoping for a better future. However, membership in many of these networks may end in the mere waste of the time that could otherwise be spent on actual on-campus cooperative projects. Universities can provide more on-campus resources both for research and work experience purposes from which the students can benefit more than the cyberspace that can be tricky on many occasions. Two main theories underlying some negative emotions like boredom and anxiety are over-stimulation and under-stimulation. Thus, what learners feel out of their involvement in social media might be directed toward negative emotions due to the stimulating environment of social media. This stimulating environment makes learners rely too much, and spend too much time, on social media or use them obsessively. As a result, they might feel anxious or depressed. Given the ubiquity of social media, these negative emotions can be replaced with positive emotions if learners become aware of the psychological effects of social media. Regarding the affordances of social media for learners, they can take advantage of the potential affordances of these media such as improving their literacy, broadening their communication skills, or enhancing their distance learning opportunities.

A review of the research findings on the relationship between social media and students’ affective traits revealed both positive and negative findings. Yet, the instances of the latter were more salient and the negative psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and stress have been far from negligible. These findings were discussed in relation to some more relevant theories such as the social comparison theory, which predicted that most of the potential issues with the young generation’s excessive use of social media were induced by the unfair comparisons they made between their own lives and the unrealistic portrayal of others’ on social media. Teachers, education policymakers, curriculum developers, and all those in charge of the student affairs at schools and universities should be made aware of the psychological effects of the pervasive use of social media on students, and the potential threats.

It should be reminded that the alleged socially supportive and communicative promises of the prevalent use of social networking in student life might not be fully realized in practice. Students may lose self-appreciation and gratitude when they compare their current state of life with the snapshots of others’ or peers’. A depressed or stressed-out mood can follow. Students at schools or universities need to learn self-worth to resist the adverse effects of the superficial support they receive from social media. Along this way, they should be assisted by the family and those in charge at schools or universities, most importantly the teachers. As already suggested, counseling programs might help with raising students’ awareness of the potential psychological threats of social media to their health. Considering the ubiquity of social media in everybody’ life including student life worldwide, it seems that more coping and compensatory strategies should be contrived to moderate the adverse psychological effects of the pervasive use of social media on students. Also, the affective influences of social media should not be generalized but they need to be interpreted from an ecological or contextual perspective. This means that learners might have different emotions at different times or different contexts while being involved in social media. More specifically, given the stative approach to learners’ emotions, what learners emotionally experience in their application of social media can be bound to their intra-personal and interpersonal experiences. This means that the same learner at different time points might go through different emotions Also, learners’ emotional states as a result of their engagement in social media cannot be necessarily generalized to all learners in a class.

As the majority of studies on the psychological effects of social media on student life have been conducted on school students than in higher education, it seems it is too soon to make any conclusive remark on this population exclusively. Probably, in future, further studies of the psychological complexities of students at higher education and a better knowledge of their needs can pave the way for making more insightful conclusions about the effects of social media on their affective states.

Suggestions for further research

The majority of studies on the potential effects of social media usage on students’ psychological well-being are either quantitative or qualitative in type, each with many limitations. Presumably, mixed approaches in near future can better provide a comprehensive assessment of these potential associations. Moreover, most studies on this topic have been cross-sectional in type. There is a significant dearth of longitudinal investigation on the effect of social media on developing positive or negative emotions in students. This seems to be essential as different affective factors such as anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and the like have a developmental nature. Traditional research methods with single-shot designs for data collection fail to capture the nuances of changes in these affective variables. It can be expected that more longitudinal studies in future can show how the continuous use of social media can affect the fluctuations of any of these affective variables during the different academic courses students pass at school or university.

As already raised in some works of research reviewed, the different patterns of impacts of social media on student life depend largely on the educational context. Thus, the same research designs with the same academic grade students and even the same age groups can lead to different findings concerning the effects of social media on student psychology in different countries. In other words, the potential positive and negative effects of popular social media like Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, etc., on students’ affective conditions can differ across different educational settings in different host countries. Thus, significantly more research is needed in different contexts and cultures to compare the results.

There is also a need for further research on the higher education students and how their affective conditions are positively and negatively affected by the prevalent use of social media. University students’ psychological needs might be different from other academic grades and, thus, the patterns of changes that the overall use of social networking can create in their emotions can be also different. Their main reasons for using social media might be different from school students as well, which need to be investigated more thoroughly. The sorts of interventions needed to moderate the potential negative effects of social networking on them can be different too, all requiring a new line of research in education domain.

Finally, there are hopes that considering the ever-increasing popularity of social networking in education, the potential psychological effects of social media on teachers be explored as well. Though teacher psychology has only recently been considered for research, the literature has provided profound insights into teachers developing stress, motivation, self-esteem, and many other emotions. In today’s world driven by global communications in the cyberspace, teachers like everyone else are affecting and being affected by social networking. The comparison theory can hold true for teachers too. Thus, similar threats (of social media) to self-esteem and self-worth can be there for teachers too besides students, which are worth investigating qualitatively and quantitatively.

Probably a new line of research can be initiated to explore the co-development of teacher and learner psychological traits under the influence of social media use in longitudinal studies. These will certainly entail sophisticated research methods to be capable of unraveling the nuances of variation in these traits and their mutual effects, for example, stress, motivation, and self-esteem. If these are incorporated within mixed-approach works of research, more comprehensive and better insightful findings can be expected to emerge. Correlational studies need to be followed by causal studies in educational settings. As many conditions of the educational settings do not allow for having control groups or randomization, probably, experimental studies do not help with this. Innovative research methods, case studies or else, can be used to further explore the causal relations among the different features of social media use and the development of different affective variables in teachers or learners. Examples of such innovative research methods can be process tracing, qualitative comparative analysis, and longitudinal latent factor modeling (for a more comprehensive view, see Hiver and Al-Hoorie, 2019 ).

Author contributions

Both authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.

This study was sponsored by Wuxi Philosophy and Social Sciences bidding project—“Special Project for Safeguarding the Rights and Interests of Workers in the New Form of Employment” (Grant No. WXSK22-GH-13). This study was sponsored by the Key Project of Party Building and Ideological and Political Education Research of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications—“Research on the Guidance and Countermeasures of Network Public Opinion in Colleges and Universities in the Modern Times” (Grant No. XC 2021002).

Conflict of interest

Author XX was employed by China Mobile Group Jiangsu Co., Ltd.

The remaining author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

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Keywords : affective variables, education, emotions, social media, post-pandemic, emotional needs

Citation: Chen M and Xiao X (2022) The effect of social media on the development of students’ affective variables. Front. Psychol. 13:1010766. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1010766

Received: 03 August 2022; Accepted: 25 August 2022; Published: 15 September 2022.

Reviewed by:

Copyright © 2022 Chen and Xiao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Miao Chen, [email protected] ; Xin Xiao, [email protected]

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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Research trends in social media addiction and problematic social media use: A bibliometric analysis

Alfonso pellegrino.

1 Sasin School of Management, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

Alessandro Stasi

2 Business Administration Division, Mahidol University International College, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

Veera Bhatiasevi

Associated data.

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors.

Despite their increasing ubiquity in people's lives and incredible advantages in instantly interacting with others, social media's impact on subjective well-being is a source of concern worldwide and calls for up-to-date investigations of the role social media plays in mental health. Much research has discovered how habitual social media use may lead to addiction and negatively affect adolescents' school performance, social behavior, and interpersonal relationships. The present study was conducted to review the extant literature in the domain of social media and analyze global research productivity during 2013–2022. Bibliometric analysis was conducted on 501 articles that were extracted from the Scopus database using the keywords social media addiction and problematic social media use. The data were then uploaded to VOSviewer software to analyze citations, co-citations, and keyword co-occurrences. Volume, growth trajectory, geographic distribution of the literature, influential authors, intellectual structure of the literature, and the most prolific publishing sources were analyzed. The bibliometric analysis presented in this paper shows that the US, the UK, and Turkey accounted for 47% of the publications in this field. Most of the studies used quantitative methods in analyzing data and therefore aimed at testing relationships between variables. In addition, the findings in this study show that most analysis were cross-sectional. Studies were performed on undergraduate students between the ages of 19–25 on the use of two social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram. Limitations as well as research directions for future studies are also discussed.

Introduction

Social media generally refers to third-party internet-based platforms that mainly focus on social interactions, community-based inputs, and content sharing among its community of users and only feature content created by their users and not that licensed from third parties ( 1 ). Social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are prominent examples of social media that allow people to stay connected in an online world regardless of geographical distance or other obstacles ( 2 , 3 ). Recent evidence suggests that social networking sites have become increasingly popular among adolescents following the strict policies implemented by many countries to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, including social distancing, “lockdowns,” and quarantine measures ( 4 ). In this new context, social media have become an essential part of everyday life, especially for children and adolescents ( 5 ). For them such media are a means of socialization that connect people together. Interestingly, social media are not only used for social communication and entertainment purposes but also for sharing opinions, learning new things, building business networks, and initiate collaborative projects ( 6 ).

Among the 7.91 billion people in the world as of 2022, 4.62 billion active social media users, and the average time individuals spent using the internet was 6 h 58 min per day with an average use of social media platforms of 2 h and 27 min ( 7 ). Despite their increasing ubiquity in people's lives and the incredible advantages they offer to instantly interact with people, an increasing number of studies have linked social media use to negative mental health consequences, such as suicidality, loneliness, and anxiety ( 8 ). Numerous sources have expressed widespread concern about the effects of social media on mental health. A 2011 report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) identifies a phenomenon known as Facebook depression which may be triggered “when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression” ( 9 ). Similarly, the UK's Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) claims that there is a clear evidence of the relationship between social media use and mental health issues based on a survey of nearly 1,500 people between the ages of 14–24 ( 10 ). According to some authors, the increase in usage frequency of social media significantly increases the risks of clinical disorders described (and diagnosed) as “Facebook depression,” “fear of missing out” (FOMO), and “social comparison orientation” (SCO) ( 11 ). Other risks include sexting ( 12 ), social media stalking ( 13 ), cyber-bullying ( 14 ), privacy breaches ( 15 ), and improper use of technology. Therefore, social media's impact on subjective well-being is a source of concern worldwide and calls for up-to-date investigations of the role social media plays with regard to mental health ( 8 ). Many studies have found that habitual social media use may lead to addiction and thus negatively affect adolescents' school performance, social behavior, and interpersonal relationships ( 16 – 18 ). As a result of addiction, the user becomes highly engaged with online activities motivated by an uncontrollable desire to browse through social media pages and “devoting so much time and effort to it that it impairs other important life areas” ( 19 ).

Given these considerations, the present study was conducted to review the extant literature in the domain of social media and analyze global research productivity during 2013–2022. The study presents a bibliometric overview of the leading trends with particular regard to “social media addiction” and “problematic social media use.” This is valuable as it allows for a comprehensive overview of the current state of this field of research, as well as identifies any patterns or trends that may be present. Additionally, it provides information on the geographical distribution and prolific authors in this area, which may help to inform future research endeavors.

In terms of bibliometric analysis of social media addiction research, few studies have attempted to review the existing literature in the domain extensively. Most previous bibliometric studies on social media addiction and problematic use have focused mainly on one type of screen time activity such as digital gaming or texting ( 20 ) and have been conducted with a focus on a single platform such as Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat ( 21 , 22 ). The present study adopts a more comprehensive approach by including all social media platforms and all types of screen time activities in its analysis.

Additionally, this review aims to highlight the major themes around which the research has evolved to date and draws some guidance for future research directions. In order to meet these objectives, this work is oriented toward answering the following research questions:

• (1) What is the current status of research focusing on social media addiction?
• (2) What are the key thematic areas in social media addiction and problematic use research?
• (3) What is the intellectual structure of social media addiction as represented in the academic literature?
• (4) What are the key findings of social media addiction and problematic social media research?
• (5) What possible future research gaps can be identified in the field of social media addiction?

These research questions will be answered using bibliometric analysis of the literature on social media addiction and problematic use. This will allow for an overview of the research that has been conducted in this area, including information on the most influential authors, journals, countries of publication, and subject areas of study. Part 2 of the study will provide an examination of the intellectual structure of the extant literature in social media addiction while Part 3 will discuss the research methodology of the paper. Part 4 will discuss the findings of the study followed by a discussion under Part 5 of the paper. Finally, in Part 7, gaps in current knowledge about this field of research will be identified.

Literature review

Social media addiction research context.

Previous studies on behavioral addictions have looked at a lot of different factors that affect social media addiction focusing on personality traits. Although there is some inconsistency in the literature, numerous studies have focused on three main personality traits that may be associated with social media addiction, namely anxiety, depression, and extraversion ( 23 , 24 ).

It has been found that extraversion scores are strongly associated with increased use of social media and addiction to it ( 25 , 26 ). People with social anxiety as well as people who have psychiatric disorders often find online interactions extremely appealing ( 27 ). The available literature also reveals that the use of social media is positively associated with being female, single, and having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), or anxiety ( 28 ).

In a study by Seidman ( 29 ), the Big Five personality traits were assessed using Saucier's ( 30 ) Mini-Markers Scale. Results indicated that neurotic individuals use social media as a safe place for expressing their personality and meet belongingness needs. People affected by neurosis tend to use online social media to stay in touch with other people and feel better about their social lives ( 31 ). Narcissism is another factor that has been examined extensively when it comes to social media, and it has been found that people who are narcissistic are more likely to become addicted to social media ( 32 ). In this case users want to be seen and get “likes” from lots of other users. Longstreet and Brooks ( 33 ) did a study on how life satisfaction depends on how much money people make. Life satisfaction was found to be negatively linked to social media addiction, according to the results. When social media addiction decreases, the level of life satisfaction rises. But results show that in lieu of true-life satisfaction people use social media as a substitute (for temporary pleasure vs. longer term happiness).

Researchers have discovered similar patterns in students who tend to rank high in shyness: they find it easier to express themselves online rather than in person ( 34 , 35 ). With the use of social media, shy individuals have the opportunity to foster better quality relationships since many of their anxiety-related concerns (e.g., social avoidance and fear of social devaluation) are significantly reduced ( 36 , 37 ).

Problematic use of social media

The amount of research on problematic use of social media has dramatically increased since the last decade. But using social media in an unhealthy manner may not be considered an addiction or a disorder as this behavior has not yet been formally categorized as such ( 38 ). Although research has shown that people who use social media in a negative way often report negative health-related conditions, most of the data that have led to such results and conclusions comprise self-reported data ( 39 ). The dimensions of excessive social media usage are not exactly known because there are not enough diagnostic criteria and not enough high-quality long-term studies available yet. This is what Zendle and Bowden-Jones ( 40 ) noted in their own research. And this is why terms like “problematic social media use” have been used to describe people who use social media in a negative way. Furthermore, if a lot of time is spent on social media, it can be hard to figure out just when it is being used in a harmful way. For instance, people easily compare their appearance to what they see on social media, and this might lead to low self-esteem if they feel they do not look as good as the people they are following. According to research in this domain, the extent to which an individual engages in photo-related activities (e.g., taking selfies, editing photos, checking other people's photos) on social media is associated with negative body image concerns. Through curated online images of peers, adolescents face challenges to their self-esteem and sense of self-worth and are increasingly isolated from face-to-face interaction.

To address this problem the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) has been used by some scholars ( 41 , 42 ). These scholars have used criteria from the DSM-V to describe one problematic social media use, internet gaming disorder, but such criteria could also be used to describe other types of social media disorders. Franchina et al. ( 43 ) and Scott and Woods ( 44 ), for example, focus their attention on individual-level factors (like fear of missing out) and family-level factors (like childhood abuse) that have been used to explain why people use social media in a harmful way. Friends-level factors have also been explored as a social well-being measurement to explain why people use social media in a malevolent way and demonstrated significant positive correlations with lower levels of friend support ( 45 ). Macro-level factors have also been suggested, such as the normalization of surveillance ( 46 ) and the ability to see what people are doing online ( 47 ). Gender and age seem to be highly associated to the ways people use social media negatively. Particularly among girls, social media use is consistently associated with mental health issues ( 41 , 48 , 49 ), an association more common among older girls than younger girls ( 46 , 48 ).

Most studies have looked at the connection between social media use and its effects (such as social media addiction) and a number of different psychosomatic disorders. In a recent study conducted by Vannucci and Ohannessian ( 50 ), the use of social media appears to have a variety of effects “on psychosocial adjustment during early adolescence, with high social media use being the most problematic.” It has been found that people who use social media in a harmful way are more likely to be depressed, anxious, have low self-esteem, be more socially isolated, have poorer sleep quality, and have more body image dissatisfaction. Furthermore, harmful social media use has been associated with unhealthy lifestyle patterns (for example, not getting enough exercise or having trouble managing daily obligations) as well as life threatening behaviors such as illicit drug use, excessive alcohol consumption and unsafe sexual practices ( 51 , 52 ).

A growing body of research investigating social media use has revealed that the extensive use of social media platforms is correlated with a reduced performance on cognitive tasks and in mental effort ( 53 ). Overall, it appears that individuals who have a problematic relationship with social media or those who use social media more frequently are more likely to develop negative health conditions.

Social media addiction and problematic use systematic reviews

Previous studies have revealed the detrimental impacts of social media addiction on users' health. A systematic review by Khan and Khan ( 20 ) has pointed out that social media addiction has a negative impact on users' mental health. For example, social media addiction can lead to stress levels rise, loneliness, and sadness ( 54 ). Anxiety is another common mental health problem associated with social media addiction. Studies have found that young adolescents who are addicted to social media are more likely to suffer from anxiety than people who are not addicted to social media ( 55 ). In addition, social media addiction can also lead to physical health problems, such as obesity and carpal tunnel syndrome a result of spending too much time on the computer ( 22 ).

Apart from the negative impacts of social media addiction on users' mental and physical health, social media addiction can also lead to other problems. For example, social media addiction can lead to financial problems. A study by Sharif and Yeoh ( 56 ) has found that people who are addicted to social media tend to spend more money than those who are not addicted to social media. In addition, social media addiction can also lead to a decline in academic performance. Students who are addicted to social media are more likely to have lower grades than those who are not addicted to social media ( 57 ).

Research methodology

Bibliometric analysis.

Merigo et al. ( 58 ) use bibliometric analysis to examine, organize, and analyze a large body of literature from a quantitative, objective perspective in order to assess patterns of research and emerging trends in a certain field. A bibliometric methodology is used to identify the current state of the academic literature, advance research. and find objective information ( 59 ). This technique allows the researchers to examine previous scientific work, comprehend advancements in prior knowledge, and identify future study opportunities.

To achieve this objective and identify the research trends in social media addiction and problematic social media use, this study employs two bibliometric methodologies: performance analysis and science mapping. Performance analysis uses a series of bibliometric indicators (e.g., number of annual publications, document type, source type, journal impact factor, languages, subject area, h-index, and countries) and aims at evaluating groups of scientific actors on a particular topic of research. VOSviewer software ( 60 ) was used to carry out the science mapping. The software is used to visualize a particular body of literature and map the bibliographic material using the co-occurrence analysis of author, index keywords, nations, and fields of publication ( 61 , 62 ).

Data collection

After picking keywords, designing the search strings, and building up a database, the authors conducted a bibliometric literature search. Scopus was utilized to gather exploration data since it is a widely used database that contains the most comprehensive view of the world's research output and provides one of the most effective search engines. If the research was to be performed using other database such as Web Of Science or Google Scholar the authors may have obtained larger number of articles however they may not have been all particularly relevant as Scopus is known to have the most widest and most relevant scholar search engine in marketing and social science. A keyword search for “social media addiction” OR “problematic social media use” yielded 553 papers, which were downloaded from Scopus. The information was gathered in March 2022, and because the Scopus database is updated on a regular basis, the results may change in the future. Next, the authors examined the titles and abstracts to see whether they were relevant to the topics treated. There were two common grounds for document exclusion. First, while several documents emphasized the negative effects of addiction in relation to the internet and digital media, they did not focus on social networking sites specifically. Similarly, addiction and problematic consumption habits were discussed in relation to social media in several studies, although only in broad terms. This left a total of 511 documents. Articles were then limited only to journal articles, conference papers, reviews, books, and only those published in English. This process excluded 10 additional documents. Then, the relevance of the remaining articles was finally checked by reading the titles, abstracts, and keywords. Documents were excluded if social networking sites were only mentioned as a background topic or very generally. This resulted in a final selection of 501 research papers, which were then subjected to bibliometric analysis (see Figure 1 ).

Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) flowchart showing the search procedures used in the review.

After identifying 501 Scopus files, bibliographic data related to these documents were imported into an Excel sheet where the authors' names, their affiliations, document titles, keywords, abstracts, and citation figures were analyzed. These were subsequently uploaded into VOSViewer software version 1.6.8 to begin the bibliometric review. Descriptive statistics were created to define the whole body of knowledge about social media addiction and problematic social media use. VOSViewer was used to analyze citation, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrences. According to Zupic and Cater ( 63 ), co-citation analysis measures the influence of documents, authors, and journals heavily cited and thus considered influential. Co-citation analysis has the objective of building similarities between authors, journals, and documents and is generally defined as the frequency with which two units are cited together within the reference list of a third article.

The implementation of social media addiction performance analysis was conducted according to the models recently introduced by Karjalainen et al. ( 64 ) and Pattnaik ( 65 ). Throughout the manuscript there are operational definitions of relevant terms and indicators following a standardized bibliometric approach. The cumulative academic impact (CAI) of the documents was measured by the number of times they have been cited in other scholarly works while the fine-grained academic impact (FIA) was computed according to the authors citation analysis and authors co-citation analysis within the reference lists of documents that have been specifically focused on social media addiction and problematic social media use.

Results of the study presented here include the findings on social media addiction and social media problematic use. The results are presented by the foci outlined in the study questions.

Volume, growth trajectory, and geographic distribution of the literature

After performing the Scopus-based investigation of the current literature regarding social media addiction and problematic use of social media, the authors obtained a knowledge base consisting of 501 documents comprising 455 journal articles, 27 conference papers, 15 articles reviews, 3 books and 1 conference review. The included literature was very recent. As shown in Figure 2 , publication rates started very slowly in 2013 but really took off in 2018, after which publications dramatically increased each year until a peak was reached in 2021 with 195 publications. Analyzing the literature published during the past decade reveals an exponential increase in scholarly production on social addiction and its problematic use. This might be due to the increasingly widespread introduction of social media sites in everyday life and the ubiquitous diffusion of mobile devices that have fundamentally impacted human behavior. The dip in the number of publications in 2022 is explained by the fact that by the time the review was carried out the year was not finished yet and therefore there are many articles still in press.

Annual volume of social media addiction or social media problematic use ( n = 501).

The geographical distribution trends of scholarly publications on social media addiction or problematic use of social media are highlighted in Figure 3 . The articles were assigned to a certain country according to the nationality of the university with whom the first author was affiliated with. The figure shows that the most productive countries are the USA (92), the U.K. (79), and Turkey ( 63 ), which combined produced 236 articles, equal to 47% of the entire scholarly production examined in this bibliometric analysis. Turkey has slowly evolved in various ways with the growth of the internet and social media. Anglo-American scholarly publications on problematic social media consumer behavior represent the largest research output. Yet it is interesting to observe that social networking sites studies are attracting many researchers in Asian countries, particularly China. For many Chinese people, social networking sites are a valuable opportunity to involve people in political activism in addition to simply making purchases ( 66 ).

Global dispersion of social networking sites in relation to social media addiction or social media problematic use.

Analysis of influential authors

This section analyses the high-impact authors in the Scopus-indexed knowledge base on social networking sites in relation to social media addiction or problematic use of social media. It provides valuable insights for establishing patterns of knowledge generation and dissemination of literature about social networking sites relating to addiction and problematic use.

Table 1 acknowledges the top 10 most highly cited authors with the highest total citations in the database.

Highly cited authors on social media addiction and problematic use ( n = 501).

a Total link strength indicates the number of publications in which an author occurs.

Table 1 shows that MD Griffiths (sixty-five articles), CY Lin (twenty articles), and AH Pakpour (eighteen articles) are the most productive scholars according to the number of Scopus documents examined in the area of social media addiction and its problematic use . If the criteria are changed and authors ranked according to the overall number of citations received in order to determine high-impact authors, the same three authors turn out to be the most highly cited authors. It should be noted that these highly cited authors tend to enlist several disciplines in examining social media addiction and problematic use. Griffiths, for example, focuses on behavioral addiction stemming from not only digital media usage but also from gambling and video games. Lin, on the other hand, focuses on the negative effects that the internet and digital media can have on users' mental health, and Pakpour approaches the issue from a behavioral medicine perspective.

Intellectual structure of the literature

In this part of the paper, the authors illustrate the “intellectual structure” of the social media addiction and the problematic use of social media's literature. An author co-citation analysis (ACA) was performed which is displayed as a figure that depicts the relations between highly co-cited authors. The study of co-citation assumes that strongly co-cited authors carry some form of intellectual similarity ( 67 ). Figure 4 shows the author co-citation map. Nodes represent units of analysis (in this case scholars) and network ties represent similarity connections. Nodes are sized according to the number of co-citations received—the bigger the node, the more co-citations it has. Adjacent nodes are considered intellectually similar.

Two clusters, representing the intellectual structure of the social media and its problematic use literature.

Scholars belonging to the green cluster (Mental Health and Digital Media Addiction) have extensively published on medical analysis tools and how these can be used to heal users suffering from addiction to digital media, which can range from gambling, to internet, to videogame addictions. Scholars in this school of thought focus on the negative effects on users' mental health, such as depression, anxiety, and personality disturbances. Such studies focus also on the role of screen use in the development of mental health problems and the increasing use of medical treatments to address addiction to digital media. They argue that addiction to digital media should be considered a mental health disorder and treatment options should be made available to users.

In contrast, scholars within the red cluster (Social Media Effects on Well Being and Cyberpsychology) have focused their attention on the effects of social media toward users' well-being and how social media change users' behavior, focusing particular attention on the human-machine interaction and how methods and models can help protect users' well-being. Two hundred and two authors belong to this group, the top co-cited being Andreassen (667 co-citations), Pallasen (555 co-citations), and Valkenburg (215 co-citations). These authors have extensively studied the development of addiction to social media, problem gambling, and internet addiction. They have also focused on the measurement of addiction to social media, cyberbullying, and the dark side of social media.

Most influential source title in the field of social media addiction and its problematic use

To find the preferred periodicals in the field of social media addiction and its problematic use, the authors have selected 501 articles published in 263 journals. Table 2 gives a ranked list of the top 10 journals that constitute the core publishing sources in the field of social media addiction research. In doing so, the authors analyzed the journal's impact factor, Scopus Cite Score, h-index, quartile ranking, and number of publications per year.

Top 10 most cited and more frequently mentioned documents in the field of social media addiction.

The journal Addictive Behaviors topped the list, with 700 citations and 22 publications (4.3%), followed by Computers in Human Behaviors , with 577 citations and 13 publications (2.5%), Journal of Behavioral Addictions , with 562 citations and 17 publications (3.3%), and International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction , with 502 citations and 26 publications (5.1%). Five of the 10 most productive journals in the field of social media addiction research are published by Elsevier (all Q1 rankings) while Springer and Frontiers Media published one journal each.

Documents citation analysis identified the most influential and most frequently mentioned documents in a certain scientific field. Andreassen has received the most citations among the 10 most significant papers on social media addiction, with 405 ( Table 2 ). The main objective of this type of studies was to identify the associations and the roles of different variables as predictors of social media addiction (e.g., ( 19 , 68 , 69 )). According to general addiction models, the excessive and problematic use of digital technologies is described as “being overly concerned about social media, driven by an uncontrollable motivation to log on to or use social media, and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs other important life areas” ( 27 , 70 ). Furthermore, the purpose of several highly cited studies ( 31 , 71 ) was to analyse the connections between young adults' sleep quality and psychological discomfort, depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction and the severity of internet and problematic social media use, since the health of younger generations and teenagers is of great interest this may help explain the popularity of such papers. Despite being the most recent publication Lin et al.'s work garnered more citations annually. The desire to quantify social media addiction in individuals can also help explain the popularity of studies which try to develop measurement scales ( 42 , 72 ). Some of the highest-ranked publications are devoted to either the presentation of case studies or testing relationships among psychological constructs ( 73 ).

Keyword co-occurrence analysis

The research question, “What are the key thematic areas in social media addiction literature?” was answered using keyword co-occurrence analysis. Keyword co-occurrence analysis is conducted to identify research themes and discover keywords. It mainly examines the relationships between co-occurrence keywords in a wide variety of literature ( 74 ). In this approach, the idea is to explore the frequency of specific keywords being mentioned together.

Utilizing VOSviewer, the authors conducted a keyword co-occurrence analysis to characterize and review the developing trends in the field of social media addiction. The top 10 most frequent keywords are presented in Table 3 . The results indicate that “social media addiction” is the most frequent keyword (178 occurrences), followed by “problematic social media use” (74 occurrences), “internet addiction” (51 occurrences), and “depression” (46 occurrences). As shown in the co-occurrence network ( Figure 5 ), the keywords can be grouped into two major clusters. “Problematic social media use” can be identified as the core theme of the green cluster. In the red cluster, keywords mainly identify a specific aspect of problematic social media use: social media addiction.

Frequency of occurrence of top 10 keywords.

Keywords co-occurrence map. Threshold: 5 co-occurrences.

The results of the keyword co-occurrence analysis for journal articles provide valuable perspectives and tools for understanding concepts discussed in past studies of social media usage ( 75 ). More precisely, it can be noted that there has been a large body of research on social media addiction together with other types of technological addictions, such as compulsive web surfing, internet gaming disorder, video game addiction and compulsive online shopping ( 76 – 78 ). This field of research has mainly been directed toward teenagers, middle school students, and college students and university students in order to understand the relationship between social media addiction and mental health issues such as depression, disruptions in self-perceptions, impairment of social and emotional activity, anxiety, neuroticism, and stress ( 79 – 81 ).

The findings presented in this paper show that there has been an exponential increase in scholarly publications—from two publications in 2013 to 195 publications in 2021. There were 45 publications in 2022 at the time this study was conducted. It was interesting to observe that the US, the UK, and Turkey accounted for 47% of the publications in this field even though none of these countries are in the top 15 countries in terms of active social media penetration ( 82 ) although the US has the third highest number of social media users ( 83 ). Even though China and India have the highest number of social media users ( 83 ), first and second respectively, they rank fifth and tenth in terms of publications on social media addiction or problematic use of social media. In fact, the US has almost double the number of publications in this field compared to China and almost five times compared to India. Even though East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia make up the top three regions in terms of worldwide social media users ( 84 ), except for China and India there have been only a limited number of publications on social media addiction or problematic use. An explanation for that could be that there is still a lack of awareness on the negative consequences of the use of social media and the impact it has on the mental well-being of users. More research in these regions should perhaps be conducted in order to understand the problematic use and addiction of social media so preventive measures can be undertaken.

From the bibliometric analysis, it was found that most of the studies examined used quantitative methods in analyzing data and therefore aimed at testing relationships between variables. In addition, many studies were empirical, aimed at testing relationships based on direct or indirect observations of social media use. Very few studies used theories and for the most part if they did they used the technology acceptance model and social comparison theories. The findings presented in this paper show that none of the studies attempted to create or test new theories in this field, perhaps due to the lack of maturity of the literature. Moreover, neither have very many qualitative studies been conducted in this field. More qualitative research in this field should perhaps be conducted as it could explore the motivations and rationales from which certain users' behavior may arise.

The authors found that almost all the publications on social media addiction or problematic use relied on samples of undergraduate students between the ages of 19–25. The average daily time spent by users worldwide on social media applications was highest for users between the ages of 40–44, at 59.85 min per day, followed by those between the ages of 35–39, at 59.28 min per day, and those between the ages of 45–49, at 59.23 per day ( 85 ). Therefore, more studies should be conducted exploring different age groups, as users between the ages of 19–25 do not represent the entire population of social media users. Conducting studies on different age groups may yield interesting and valuable insights to the field of social media addiction. For example, it would be interesting to measure the impacts of social media use among older users aged 50 years or older who spend almost the same amount of time on social media as other groups of users (56.43 min per day) ( 85 ).

A majority of the studies tested social media addiction or problematic use based on only two social media platforms: Facebook and Instagram. Although Facebook and Instagram are ranked first and fourth in terms of most popular social networks by number of monthly users, it would be interesting to study other platforms such as YouTube, which is ranked second, and WhatsApp, which is ranked third ( 86 ). Furthermore, TikTok would also be an interesting platform to study as it has grown in popularity in recent years, evident from it being the most downloaded application in 2021, with 656 million downloads ( 87 ), and is ranked second in Q1 of 2022 ( 88 ). Moreover, most of the studies focused only on one social media platform. Comparing different social media platforms would yield interesting results because each platform is different in terms of features, algorithms, as well as recommendation engines. The purpose as well as the user behavior for using each platform is also different, therefore why users are addicted to these platforms could provide a meaningful insight into social media addiction and problematic social media use.

Lastly, most studies were cross-sectional, and not longitudinal, aiming at describing results over a certain point in time and not over a long period of time. A longitudinal study could better describe the long-term effects of social media use.

This study was conducted to review the extant literature in the field of social media and analyze the global research productivity during the period ranging from 2013 to 2022. The study presents a bibliometric overview of the leading trends with particular regard to “social media addiction” and “problematic social media use.” The authors applied science mapping to lay out a knowledge base on social media addiction and its problematic use. This represents the first large-scale analysis in this area of study.

A keyword search of “social media addiction” OR “problematic social media use” yielded 553 papers, which were downloaded from Scopus. After performing the Scopus-based investigation of the current literature regarding social media addiction and problematic use, the authors ended up with a knowledge base consisting of 501 documents comprising 455 journal articles, 27 conference papers, 15 articles reviews, 3 books, and 1 conference review.

The geographical distribution trends of scholarly publications on social media addiction or problematic use indicate that the most productive countries were the USA (92), the U.K. (79), and Turkey ( 63 ), which together produced 236 articles. Griffiths (sixty-five articles), Lin (twenty articles), and Pakpour (eighteen articles) were the most productive scholars according to the number of Scopus documents examined in the area of social media addiction and its problematic use. An author co-citation analysis (ACA) was conducted which generated a layout of social media effects on well-being and cyber psychology as well as mental health and digital media addiction in the form of two research literature clusters representing the intellectual structure of social media and its problematic use.

The preferred periodicals in the field of social media addiction and its problematic use were Addictive Behaviors , with 700 citations and 22 publications, followed by Computers in Human Behavior , with 577 citations and 13 publications, and Journal of Behavioral Addictions , with 562 citations and 17 publications. Keyword co-occurrence analysis was used to investigate the key thematic areas in the social media literature, as represented by the top three keyword phrases in terms of their frequency of occurrence, namely, “social media addiction,” “problematic social media use,” and “social media addiction.”

This research has a few limitations. The authors used science mapping to improve the comprehension of the literature base in this review. First and foremost, the authors want to emphasize that science mapping should not be utilized in place of established review procedures, but rather as a supplement. As a result, this review can be considered the initial stage, followed by substantive research syntheses that examine findings from recent research. Another constraint stems from how 'social media addiction' is defined. The authors overcame this limitation by inserting the phrase “social media addiction” OR “problematic social media use” in the search string. The exclusive focus on SCOPUS-indexed papers creates a third constraint. The SCOPUS database has a larger number of papers than does Web of Science although it does not contain all the publications in a given field.

Although the total body of literature on social media addiction is larger than what is covered in this review, the use of co-citation analyses helped to mitigate this limitation. This form of bibliometric study looks at all the publications listed in the reference list of the extracted SCOPUS database documents. As a result, a far larger dataset than the one extracted from SCOPUS initially has been analyzed.

The interpretation of co-citation maps should be mentioned as a last constraint. The reason is that the procedure is not always clear, so scholars must have a thorough comprehension of the knowledge base in order to make sense of the result of the analysis ( 63 ). This issue was addressed by the authors' expertise, but it remains somewhat subjective.

Implications

The findings of this study have implications mainly for government entities and parents. The need for regulation of social media addiction is evident when considering the various risks associated with habitual social media use. Social media addiction may lead to negative consequences for adolescents' school performance, social behavior, and interpersonal relationships. In addition, social media addiction may also lead to other risks such as sexting, social media stalking, cyber-bullying, privacy breaches, and improper use of technology. Given the seriousness of these risks, it is important to have regulations in place to protect adolescents from the harms of social media addiction.

Regulation of social media platforms

One way that regulation could help protect adolescents from the harms of social media addiction is by limiting their access to certain websites or platforms. For example, governments could restrict adolescents' access to certain websites or platforms during specific hours of the day. This would help ensure that they are not spending too much time on social media and are instead focusing on their schoolwork or other important activities.

Another way that regulation could help protect adolescents from the harms of social media addiction is by requiring companies to put warning labels on their websites or apps. These labels would warn adolescents about the potential risks associated with excessive use of social media.

Finally, regulation could also require companies to provide information about how much time each day is recommended for using their website or app. This would help adolescents make informed decisions about how much time they want to spend on social media each day. These proposed regulations would help to protect children from the dangers of social media, while also ensuring that social media companies are more transparent and accountable to their users.

Parental involvement in adolescents' social media use

Parents should be involved in their children's social media use to ensure that they are using these platforms safely and responsibly. Parents can monitor their children's online activity, set time limits for social media use, and talk to their children about the risks associated with social media addiction.

Education on responsible social media use

Adolescents need to be educated about responsible social media use so that they can enjoy the benefits of these platforms while avoiding the risks associated with addiction. Education on responsible social media use could include topics such as cyber-bullying, sexting, and privacy breaches.

Research directions for future studies

A content analysis was conducted to answer the fifth research questions “What are the potential research directions for addressing social media addiction in the future?” The study reveals that there is a lack of screening instruments and diagnostic criteria to assess social media addiction. Validated DSM-V-based instruments could shed light on the factors behind social media use disorder. Diagnostic research may be useful in order to understand social media behavioral addiction and gain deeper insights into the factors responsible for psychological stress and psychiatric disorders. In addition to cross-sectional studies, researchers should also conduct longitudinal studies and experiments to assess changes in users' behavior over time ( 20 ).

Another important area to examine is the role of engagement-based ranking and recommendation algorithms in online habit formation. More research is required to ascertain how algorithms determine which content type generates higher user engagement. A clear understanding of the way social media platforms gather content from users and amplify their preferences would lead to the development of a standardized conceptualization of social media usage patterns ( 89 ). This may provide a clearer picture of the factors that lead to problematic social media use and addiction. It has been noted that “misinformation, toxicity, and violent content are inordinately prevalent” in material reshared by users and promoted by social media algorithms ( 90 ).

Additionally, an understanding of engagement-based ranking models and recommendation algorithms is essential in order to implement appropriate public policy measures. To address the specific behavioral concerns created by social media, legislatures must craft appropriate statutes. Thus, future qualitative research to assess engagement based ranking frameworks is extremely necessary in order to provide a broader perspective on social media use and tackle key regulatory gaps. Particular emphasis must be placed on consumer awareness, algorithm bias, privacy issues, ethical platform design, and extraction and monetization of personal data ( 91 ).

From a geographical perspective, the authors have identified some main gaps in the existing knowledge base that uncover the need for further research in certain regions of the world. Accordingly, the authors suggest encouraging more studies on internet and social media addiction in underrepresented regions with high social media penetration rates such as Southeast Asia and South America. In order to draw more contributions from these countries, journals with high impact factors could also make specific calls. This would contribute to educating social media users about platform usage and implement policy changes that support the development of healthy social media practices.

The authors hope that the findings gathered here will serve to fuel interest in this topic and encourage other scholars to investigate social media addiction in other contexts on newer platforms and among wide ranges of sample populations. In light of the rising numbers of people experiencing mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, food disorders, and substance addiction) in recent years, it is likely that the number of papers related to social media addiction and the range of countries covered will rise even further.

Data availability statement

Author contributions.

AP took care of bibliometric analysis and drafting the paper. VB took care of proofreading and adding value to the paper. AS took care of the interpretation of the findings. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Social Media Research: Thesis Titles and Research Topics about Social Media

If you are conducting a research or writing a thesis on social media there are already several work done in this area. Social media, over the past decade, has become an increasingly integral part of modern life.

There are contemporary research topics on or related to social media that you can work on whether from the social, psychological, business/marketing, statistical angles etc. So no matter your discipline we hope you can find relevant research titles and ideas on social media from our research database.

To search for possible title for thesis about social media or social media research topics follow the steps below

• Go to the Afribary Research Database
• Enter your relevant keyword(s) eg – social media, social media research, social media effects etc
• Browse through the results to choose any of the research thesis, papers etc that catch your interest

However we have picked several of the research titles on social media available on the database. You can check through below;

(1) Influence of Social Media on Performance of Secondary School Student as Perceived by Teachers in Ilorin West, Kwara State

The study examined the influence of social media on performance of secondary school students as perceived by teachers in Ilorin west local government area of Kwara State. The data for the study was collected through the use of questionnaire, which was administer to selected teachers in (10) selected secondary schools of studies area. And frequency count and percentage were used to answer research question, while t-test statistical tool was used to test the two hypothesis at alpha =0.05 significally level. | 82 pages | See full work

(2) The Influence of Social Media Utilisation on Sexual Behaviour of Private Secondary School Students in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State

Today, the advancements in the field of communication technology created a world with no boundary or limitations. We have witnessed the immense power of the internet and social networking sites are redefining the field of communication, which in conjunction with other communication media and technology, turned the world into a global village, thereby, diffusing both time and space. Over the past two decades, studies have shown an overall increase in the number of portrayals of and the amount of discussion about sex in these social media and an increase in the explicitness of these portrayals. Little is known, however, of the relationship between the social media and young people’s sexual behavior in Nigeria, because of the dearth of studies in this area. | 62 pages | See full work

(3) Social Media and Marketing Effectiveness in Selected Bottling Companies in Kampala, Uganda

The social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have become very instrumental in enhancing the marketing capabilities of several bottling companies in Uganda. However, there is no academic documentation of whether these bottling companies such as Century Bottling Company Limited or Crown Bottling Company Limited (Pepsi) assesses marketing effectiveness of social media as their choicest tool in marketing. This study investigated whether using social media as a marketing tool promotes marketing effectiveness in terms of advertising effectiveness, promotional effectiveness and brand awareness for century bottling company limited and crown bottling company limited (Pepsi), Kampala. | 88 pages | See full work

(4) Effect of Social Media on the Church

There is no doubt that social media has gained wider acceptability and usability and it is also becoming probably the most important communication tools among people. Church is simply a particular Christian denomination or group of Christian believers. There is perceived effect of social media on the church. Several authors had considered the pro and con of social media on the Church. However it is necessary to view the effect from a scientific point of view. The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that affect the use of social media and determine the percentage contribution of the factors to the success or failure of the church. It is also to evolve a standard metric for planning, management and assessment of social media program in the church. | 34 pages | See full work

(5) Choice As A Constraint To Decision Efficiency: The Social Media Perspective

Social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube have become important sources of information. However, the dynamics between the volume of information on social media and the quality of choices consumers make remain unclear in literature. While some social media users complain of choice overload affecting the quality of choices and post purchase dissonance, others believe that information on social media is of quality and sufficient for effective decision making. Therefore, this study formulated four objectives to investigate and understand this phenomenon. The first objective sought to explore how consumers use social media tools in decision making | 134 pages | See full work

(6) Application Of Social Media Analytics To Business Intelligence In Namibia

Social media use within the business and branding spheres has exploded globally over the past few years. While Namibian SMEs are actively involved in social media marketing, there is a lack of deeper knowledge of audience analysis, campaign analytics and proper strategic planning for full benefit extraction. This is compounded by the relative lack of locally produced and published research within the field of social media that explicitly tackles the topic of analytics and social media strategy. Furthermore, existing frameworks present some challenges towards implementation, such as a lack of focus on contextual environmental advantages that might inform creative strategy. | 218 pages | See full work

(7) Social Media Advertising And Consumer Decision Making In The Fashion Industry

Social media advertising is a powerful tool in contemporary times. The study sought to explore the effectiveness of firms’ social media advertising of fashion brands on consumer decision making with the mediating effect of consumer engagement in Ghana. Three constructs in assessing the effectiveness of firms’ social media advertising which included emotional appeal, informativeness and advertising creativity were used. There were two objectives of the study. The first objective was to determine the relationship between social media advertising constructs and consumer decision-making. Another objective was to determine the mediating role of consumer engagement on social media advertising constructs and consumer decision making. | 143 Pages | See full work

(8) Social Media Utilization Among Breastfeeding Mothers In The Accra Metropolitan Area

Good breastfeeding practices provide infants with the nutrients they need for optimal growth and development. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of infection and also has significant health benefits to the mother as well. Health communication is important to support good breastfeeding practices. However, communication through the health system alone is not sufficient enough to reach everyone who needs breastfeeding information. Social media could serve as an inexpensive way of receiving information. This study examined the use of social media to access breastfeeding information by breastfeeding women. The study used a cross-sectional design. | 90 pages | See full work

(9) Political Marketing in Ghana: The Role of Social Media

As the political and media landscape become complex, political parties and candidates all over the world and for that matter Ghana keep exploring new ways and ideas to effectively communicate their political messages to the target audience. Social media tools nevertheless have unfolded new possibilities for politicians to engage with citizens. The primary objective of this study therefore is to examine the extent to which political message dissemination on social media by politicians in Ghana influence young voters’ political knowledge, efficacy, and participation. The mass media have played an integral role in the success of political marketing throughout the political history of Ghana. | 126 pages | See full work

(10) Social Media As An Advertising Platform: A Case Of Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd

Social media has become extremely popular in Ghana and various organisations of all sizes are experimenting with social media advertising. Despite this increasing usage there is currently limited research on how social media is used in specific Ghanaian industries. This study was conducted to ascertain why and how Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) uses social media for advertising. The study focused on specific Guinness Ghana Limited brands –Guinness and Malta Guinness. The study adopted a qualitative research approach. To be specific, in – depth interviews and textual analysis were used to gather data. The study revealed that GGBL relied on social media primarily for the following reasons: brand awareness, communication and interaction with key audiences, social media presence, website traffic and cost effectiveness. | 74 pages | See full work

(11) Effects of Social Media Marketing on Business Performance in the Pension Fund Sector

The primary objective of this research work is to investigate the positive effects of social media on business performance and its influence in the Pensions Fund sector. Using both the quantitative and qualitative means, this study strives to investigate how social media can benefit PFAs in optimizing their overall performance through the appropriate usage of this internet. This research investigates how social media has been beneficial to the case study organization Pensions Alliance Limited which is one of the first PFAs licensed by the National Pensions Commission (PenCom) in 2006. | 93 pages | See full work

(12) Drivers And Outcomes of Social Media Advertising Engagement; A Survey of The Students of University of Ghana

Increasingly, advertisers and marketers have taken advantage of social media platforms to complement marketing and advertising. Social media offer firms a cheaper alternative to target prospective customers and as such firms are devising ways to trigger engagement from social media users since these users are mostly online for a plethora of reasons. This research was guided by the Elaboration Likelihood Model to examine drivers and outcomes of social media advertising engagement. Survey responses from 180 students of the University of Ghana were collected and a regression model was used to test four hypotheses. Findings indicated that social media addiction, market mavenism and product involvement were drivers of social media advertising engagement. | 73 pages | See full work

(13) The Role of Social Media in the Daily Routines of Radio Journalists in Accra

This exploratory study investigated the role of social media in radio journalism at Accra-based radio stations. It was inspired by the steady evolution of radio in Ghana‘s democratic space and the insurgence of social media through increasing internet connectivity in Accra. The study combined both qualitative and quantitative methods. From a sampling frame of 33 radio stations, the study used a healthy combination of random sampling methods; purposive sampling and snowballing for its data collection. In selecting and determining the radio stations that made the cut for the research, primary data was collected from 7 social media platforms. Each social media platform was given particular weighted averages based on the total numbers gathered from each of the radio station‘s social media accounts. | 49 pages | See full work

(14) Social Media As A Tool For Social Activism: A Study Of The “Occupy Flagstaff House Movement” (OFSHM)

This study examined how social media is used as a tool for social activism by the Occupy Flagstaff House Movement. Underpinned by the theories of technological determinism and the social network theory, the researcher interviewed three members of the leadership of Occupy Flagstaff House Movement and conducted a quantitative content analysis of the messages sent out by the movement on the social media platforms, Facebook and Twitter. The study established that the primary reasons why Occupy Flagstaff House Movement used social media were its effectiveness and efficiency, relatively low costs, and the ability of social media to help them reach and interact with their target audiences. | 81 pages | See full work

(15) The Effect of Social Media on Voting Behaviour in Nassarawa Ward One in Chicken Local Government Area of Kaduna State

The influence of the use of social media on people’s behavior has recently become more visible than before. Stakeholders in several democracies have since harnessed the utility of social media in their electoral process. This study examined the effect of social media on voting behaviour in Nassarawa Ward “ONE” in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The study adopted voting behaviour theory as theoretical framework. This study also adopted both primary and secondary sources of data to explain the effect of social media on voting behaviour in Nassarawa Ward “ONE” in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. | 72 pages | See full work

(16) Impact Of Social Media Influencers On Social Brand Communication For Kenyan Tech Brands On Instagram

More than half of the world’s population now uses the Internet, making it an integral part of our everyday life. For this reason, Internet growth continues to accelerate around the world with user numbers increasing by the day. A 2017 study by  ‘We are Social’  and  ‘Hootsuite’ on the use of the Internet, social media and mobile throughout Africa reveals that visiting social network sites remains the most performed online activity on the Internet all over the world (Kemp, 2017). According to Kemp (2017), up to 2.8 billion people worldwide are now using social media at least once every month with more than 91% accessing social media via their mobile devices. | 97 pages | See full work

(17) The Role of Social Media in Promoting Education in Kampala City”A Case Study of Kampala International University

The study on “the role of social media on promoting education was conducted in Kampala International University, Uganda. The study employed a cross sectional research design. It included 90 respondents. The study was based on research objectives which included; establishing the different t~es of social media sites used in education in Uganda; to find out the impact of social media on education in Uganda; to find out the challenges in the adoption of social media on education in Uganda. | 47 pages | See full work

(18) Social Media Marketing Acceptability Among Restaurants On Customers Relationship In Katsina State, Nigeria

Social Media has become a good marketing and quality management tool for restaurants and other hospitality sectors. Restaurants continue to be a difficult place for entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities, but by understanding common challenges, owners may be able to develop unique strategies to increase their chances of success on maintaining customer relationship. The major aim of the study was to identify how acceptable social media is in creating restaurant employees and customers’ relationship. The state is made up of three zones namely; Katsina, Funtua and Daura zones. | 222 pages | See full work

(19) Ghana’s 2016 Presidential Election: A Study of Electoral Campaigns in the Age of Social Media.

Political Parties across the world have in recent time’s integrated social media as part of their campaign strategy to woo voters online. This is because social media has proven to be an effective medium for electoral communication given its several features like photo sharing, status update, tags, post sharing, likes, live videos, video sharing among others. Most importantly, social media facilitates access to political information and its networked structure enables users to create interest groups, interact with each other and engage in political debates. This study explores the various ways social media is revolutionizing political campaigns in Ghana using the 2016 election campaigns as a case study. | 131 pages | See full details

We hope you find enough relevant social media focused research titles.

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Many Israelis say social media content about the Israel-Hamas war should be censored

Most Israeli adults do not post or share about political and social issues online – including the war between Israel and Hamas, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted from March 3 to April 4, 2024.

And at least half of Israeli adults say certain kinds of social media posts related to the war should not be allowed, such as content that is graphic, incites violence or expresses support for Hamas.

This Pew Research Center analysis focuses on Israelis’ social media use and their views of censorship of social media content related to the Israel-Hamas war.

The data is from a survey of 1,001 Israeli adults conducted face-to-face from March 3 to April 4, 2024. Interviews were conducted in Hebrew and Arabic, and the survey is representative of the adult population ages 18 and older, excluding those in East Jerusalem and unsanctioned outposts. (The survey also did not cover the West Bank or Gaza.) The survey included an oversample of Arabs in Israel. It was subsequently weighted to be representative of the Israeli adult population with the following variables: gender by ethnicity, age by ethnicity, education, region, urbanicity and probability of selection of respondent.

Prior to 2024, combined totals were based on rounded topline figures. For all analyses beginning in 2024, totals are based on unrounded topline figures, so combined totals might be different than in previous years. Refer to the 2024 topline to see our new rounding procedures applied to past years’ data.

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

Few Israelis discuss political or social issues, war in Gaza on social media

About three-quarters of Israelis (74%) use social media. But fewer than a quarter (22%) say they post or share about political and social issues often or sometimes. Roughly half (51%) say they rarely or never do.

We asked Israelis who use social media and post or share about these issues often, sometimes or rarely whether they post or share about the Israel-Hamas war. Just 18% of Israeli adults say they do so with any regularity.

While Israelis’ overall social media use has not changed much since 2022, the percentage who say they post or share about social or political issues at least sometimes has decreased from 36% to 22% in that time.

Arab Israelis are more likely than Jewish Israelis to say they post or share about political or social issues at least sometimes (28% vs. 20%). However, Jews are about twice as likely as Arabs to do so about the Israel-Hamas war specifically (20% vs. 11%). About a quarter of Arab Israelis (24%, a plurality among those asked) say they never post or share content about the war. Only 6% of Jewish Israelis say the same.

Since October, Israeli authorities have detained dozens of Arab citizens over their social media posts related to the war. Many others have faced disciplinary measures at work or school for things they shared online, according to rights groups based in Israel.    

Many Israelis feel social media content about the war should not be allowed

Whether they post on social media themselves or not, pluralities of Israelis believe that posting certain kinds of content related to the Israel-Hamas war should not be allowed.

• About nine-in-ten Israelis say posts that call for violence (92%) or express support for Hamas (87%) have no place on social media.
• 72% of Israelis want posts that include videos or images of violence in the war to be censored. Only 20% say graphic content should be allowed.
• The share of Israelis who say posts that express sympathy for civilians in Gaza should be kept off social media (59%) is about double the share who say these posts are acceptable (30%).
• Israelis are most divided on posts that criticize their government’s actions in the war. Half say those posts should be censored, while 41% disagree. Supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government are much more likely than nonsupporters to say posts criticizing the government should not be allowed (69% vs. 39%).

Jewish and Arab Israelis feel differently about social media content related to the war

Jews and Arabs in Israel have different views of social media posts about the war. This is especially true of posts that show sympathy for civilians in Gaza: While 70% of Jews say these posts should not be allowed, just 18% of Arabs agree.

Similarly, 55% of Israeli Jews say posts that criticize the government’s handling of the war should be censored, compared with only 31% of Israeli Arabs. A 58% majority of Arabs say posts that are critical of Israel’s government are acceptable.

(This survey was conducted from March 3 to April 4, 2024. Read more about Israelis’ views of the Israel-Hamas war in our May report and June report .)

Majorities of Jews and Arabs support censoring posts that show graphic violence (76% and 57%) or express support for Hamas (91% and 70%). When asked about the latter, 20% of Arabs either said they did not know or declined to respond.

Ideological differences in views of social media posts about the war in Gaza

There are also differences between Israelis on the ideological right, center and left in their views of social media posts about the war.

The gap is largest for posts that are sympathetic to Gazan civilians: 76% of those on the right believe these posts should not be allowed, while only 25% of those on the left agree. Among those in the center, 53% say this content should be censored, 26% disagree and 21% did not answer the question.

Most Israelis on the right (62%) believe posts that criticize the country’s right-wing government and its actions in the war should not be allowed. That is more than double the share on the left who feel this way (29%). Israelis in the center fall in between, with 44% saying these posts should be censored.

Eight-in-ten Israelis on the right believe that posts that show violence in the war are not acceptable. Smaller majorities of Israelis in the center (68%) and on the left (61%) feel similarly.

At least 90% of Israelis in all the demographic groups we looked at – Jews and Arabs, and ideological right, left and center – say posts that incite violence should not be allowed. 

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

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Maria Smerkovich is a research associate focusing on global attitudes research at Pew Research Center .

WhatsApp and Facebook dominate the social media landscape in middle-income nations

Germans stand out for their comparatively light use of social media, majorities in most countries surveyed say social media is good for democracy, social media fact sheet, americans’ social media use, most popular.

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THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC POLICY IN MEDAN CITY

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From L to R: Albert Kim (Co-PI), Yasin Yilmaz (Co-PI), Ashok Kumar (PI), Srinivas Katkoori (Co-PI) and Norma Alcantar (Co-PI) in Cleanroom Facilities at USF Nanotechnology Research and Education Center (NREC)

USF receives $3 million for interdisciplinary NSF research traineeship award to advance semiconductor research and education

• August 26, 2024

The NSF Research Traineeship Program (NRT) awarded a five-year, $3 million funding grant to the University of South Florida (USF) for the development and implementation of a comprehensive and experiential learning-based education, research, training and skills development program in semiconductor design, manufacturing and packaging for graduate students. The NRT is a prestigious, national program that supports annual cohorts of trainees in developing the skills, knowledge and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The program is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high- priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.

Principal Investigator, Professor Ashok Kumar (Mechanical Engineering), along with Co-Principal Investigators, Professor Srinivas Katkoori (Computer Science & Engineering), Associate Professor Albert Kim (Medical Engineering), Associate Professor Yasin Yilmaz (Electrical Engineering), and Professor Norma Alcantar (Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering) were awarded the grant for a project entitled “NRT: Science, Technology, Engineering, Program for Upward Partnership (STEP-UP) for Advancing Microelectronics Education and Training.” This grant will provide approximately 23 graduate (15 doctoral and 8 master) student fellowships to advance research in the much-needed field of semiconductor technologies.

“Much-publicized semiconductor chips shortage has impacted several critical industries. A skilled and diverse pipeline of workers is critical to building a sustainable domestic semiconductor industry and to achieving the CHIPS Act economic and national security goals. This NRT grant will provide to better prepare master’s and doctoral students for the interdisciplinary talents required in semiconductor chip development,” said Ashok Kumar, the principal investigator of the NSF NRT project.

“USF’s STEP-UP NRT program is a unique cutting-edge training program that not only trains a graduate student in interdisciplinary technical skills and novel convergent approaches but also emphasizes on all-round trainee development in terms of communication, teamwork, project management, ethics and leadership to create tomorrow’s world leaders in the semiconductor field.” said Srinivas Katkoori, Co-investigator of the NRT project. 

“Semiconductor industries are very reluctant to hire students without having any hands-on experience in semiconductor standard clean room facilities,” said Senior Personnel Robert Tufts and Rich Everly from the Nanotechnology Research and Education Center (NREC). They will be involved in providing the basic semiconductor fundamentals, processing, and design concept in fabrication of functional semiconductor devices in class 1000 clean room facilities at NREC.

Senior personnel Steve Kozlowski (Psychology Department), Grandon Gill (Muma College of Business), Sudeep Sarkar (Computer Science & Engineering Department) and Joanna Burchfield (College of Engineering) will be involved in comprehensive education and training activities for NRT Fellows in leadership, communication, teamwork, ethics, entrepreneurship skills, etc. 

“This NSF-funded NRT program will be a model for a future interdisciplinary graduate program at USF and it brings significant benefit to our institution. It forges a convergent and innovative program to train graduates in Semiconductor Technology,” said Ruth Bahr, Dean of Graduate Studies, USF (Tampa Campus).

“USF’s ability to provide advanced semiconductor training to graduate students in a teaching clean room will strengthen the U.S. technical workforce. USF will increase capacity-building of skilled graduate scholars through strategic public-private collaborations and partnerships with government agencies, national laboratories, and academia.” said Sylvia Thomas, USF Vice President of Research and Innovation.

“The NSF Research Traineeship Award will significantly impact the quality of graduate education at USF and will bring a wide range of benefits to the research scholars we serve,” said Prasant Mohapatra, Provost and Executive Vice President. “At USF, we believe highly integrative graduate research training equips students with the skills and knowledge to tackle complex, real-world challenges. These programs foster critical thinking, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, which are vital for addressing the pressing issues of our time

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Dealing with Revenge Porn and “Sextortion”

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How does social media affect mental health?

The pros of social media, the cons of social media, what’s driving your social media use, signs that social media is impacting your mental health, how to change your social media use, step 1: reduce time online, step 2: change your focus, step 3: spend more time with offline friends, step 4: express gratitude, helping a child or teen with unhealthy social media use, social media and mental health are you addicted to social media.

While many of us enjoy staying connected on social media, excessive use can fuel feelings of addiction, anxiety, depression, isolation, and FOMO. Here’s how to modify your habits and improve your mood.

Human beings are social creatures. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to your mental and emotional health.

In today’s world, many of us rely on social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to find and connect with each other. While each has its benefits, it’s important to remember that social media can never be a replacement for real-world human connection. It requires in-person contact with others to trigger the hormones that alleviate stress and make you feel happier, healthier, and more positive. Ironically for a technology that’s designed to bring people closer together, spending too much time engaging with social media can actually make you feel more lonely and isolated—and exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

If you’re spending an excessive amount of time on social media and feelings of sadness, dissatisfaction, frustration, or loneliness are impacting your life, it may be time to re-examine your online habits and find a healthier balance.  

Speak to a Licensed Therapist

BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours.

While virtual interaction on social media doesn’t have the same psychological benefits as face-to-face contact, there are still many positive ways in which it can help you stay connected and support your wellbeing.

Social media enables you to:

• Communicate and stay up to date with family and friends around the world.
• Find new friends and communities; network with other people who share similar interests or ambitions.
• Join or promote worthwhile causes; raise awareness on important issues.
• Seek or offer emotional support during tough times.
• Find vital social and professional connections (such as online therapy ) if you live in a remote area, for example, or have limited independence, social anxiety, or are part of a marginalized group.
• Find an outlet for your creativity and self-expression.
• Discover (with care) sources of valuable information and learning.

Since it’s a relatively new technology, there’s little research to establish the long-term consequences, good or bad, of social media use. However, multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm , and even suicidal thoughts .

Social media may promote negative experiences such as:

Inadequacy about your life or appearance . Even if you know that images you’re viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what’s going on in your own life. Similarly, we’re all aware that other people tend to share just the highlights of their lives, rarely the low points that everyone experiences. But that doesn’t lessen those feelings of envy and dissatisfaction when you’re scrolling through a friend’s airbrushed photos of their tropical beach holiday or reading about their exciting new promotion at work.

Fear of missing out (FOMO) and social media addiction . While FOMO has been around far longer than social media, sites such as Facebook and Instagram seem to exacerbate feelings that others are having more fun or living better lives than you are. The idea that you’re missing out on certain things can impact your self-esteem, trigger anxiety, and fuel even greater social media use, much like an addiction. FOMO can compel you to pick up your phone every few minutes to check for updates, or compulsively respond to each and every alert—even if that means taking risks while you’re driving, missing out on sleep at night, or prioritizing social media interaction over real world relationships. 

Isolation . A study at the University of Pennsylvania found that high usage of Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram increases rather decreases feelings of loneliness . Conversely, the study found that reducing social media usage can actually make you feel less lonely and isolated and improve your overall wellbeing.

Depression and anxiety . Human beings need face-to-face contact to be mentally healthy. Nothing reduces stress and boosts your mood faster or more effectively than eye-to-eye contact with someone who cares about you. The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationships, the more you’re at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression .

Cyberbullying. About 10 percent of teens report being bullied on social media and many other users are subjected to offensive comments. Social media platforms such as Twitter can be hotspots for spreading hurtful rumors, lies, and abuse that can leave lasting emotional scars.

Self-absorption.  Sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create an unhealthy self-centeredness and distance you from real-life connections.

These days, most of us access social media via our smartphones or tablets. While this makes it very convenient to keep in touch, it also means that social media is always accessible. This round-the-clock, hyper connectivity can trigger impulse control problems, the constant alerts and notifications affecting your concentration and focus, disturbing your sleep, and making you a slave to your phone .

Social media platforms are designed to snare your attention, keep you online, and have you repeatedly checking your screen for updates. It’s how the companies make money. But, much like a gambling compulsion or an addiction to nicotine, alcohol, or drugs, social media use can create psychological cravings. When you receive a like, a share, or a favorable reaction to a post, it can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain, the same “reward” chemical that follows winning on a slot machine, taking a bite of chocolate, or lighting up a cigarette, for example. The more you’re rewarded, the more time you want to spend on social media, even if it becomes detrimental to other aspects of your life.

Other causes of unhealthy social media use

A fear of missing out (FOMO) can keep you returning to social media over and over again. Even though there are very few things that can’t wait or need an immediate response, FOMO will have you believing otherwise. Perhaps you’re worried that you’ll be left out of the conversation at school or work if you miss the latest news or gossip on social media? Or maybe you feel that your relationships will suffer if you don’t immediately like, share, or respond to other people’s posts? Or you could be worried you’ll miss out on an invitation or that other people are having a better time than you.

Many of us use social media as a “security blanket”. Whenever we’re in a social situation and feel anxious, awkward, or lonely, we turn to our phones and log on to social media. Of course, interacting with social media only denies you the face-to-face interaction that can help to ease anxiety .

Your heavy social media use could be masking other underlying problems , such as stress, depression, or boredom. If you spend more time on social media when you’re feeling down, lonely, or bored, you may be using it as a way to distract yourself from unpleasant feelings or self-soothe your moods. While it can be difficult at first, allowing yourself to feel can open you up to finding healthier ways to manage your moods .

The vicious cycle of unhealthy social media use

Excessive social media use can create a negative, self-perpetuating cycle:

• When you feel lonely, depressed, anxious, or stressed, you use social media more often—as a way to relieve boredom or feel connected to others.
• Using social media more often, though, increases FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation.
• In turn, these feelings negatively affect your mood and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
• These worsening symptoms cause you to use social media even more, and so the downward spiral continues.

Everyone is different and there is no specific amount of time spent on social media, or the frequency you check for updates, or the number of posts you make that indicates your use is becoming unhealthy. Rather, it has to do with the impact time spent on social media has on your mood and other aspects of your life, along with your motivations for using it.

For example, your social media use may be problematic if it causes you to neglect face-to-face relationships, distracts you from work or school, or leaves you feeling envious, angry, or depressed. Similarly, if you’re motivated to use social media just because you’re bored or lonely, or want to post something to make others jealous or upset, it may be time to reassess your social media habits.

Indicators that social media may be adversely affecting your mental health include:

Spending more time on social media than with real world friends . Using social media has become a substitute for a lot of your offline social interaction. Even if you’re out with friends, you still feel the need to constantly check social media, often driven by feelings that others may be having more fun than you.

Comparing yourself unfavorably with others on social media . You have low self-esteem or negative body image. You may even have patterns of disordered eating.

Experiencing cyberbullying . Or you worry that you have no control over the things people post about you.

Being distracted at school or work . You feel pressure to post regular content about yourself, get comments or likes on your posts, or respond quickly and enthusiastically to friends’ posts.

Having no time for self-reflection . Every spare moment is filled by engaging with social media, leaving you little or no time for reflecting on who you are, what you think, or why you act the way that you do—the things that allow you to grow as a person.

Engaging in risky behavior in order to gain likes , shares, or positive reactions on social media. You play dangerous pranks, post embarrassing material, cyberbully others, or access your phone while driving or in other unsafe situations.  

[ Read: Dealing with Revenge Porn and “Sextortion” ]

Suffering from sleep problems . Do you check social media last thing at night, first thing in the morning, or even when you wake up in the night? The light from phones and other devices can disrupt your sleep , which in turn can have a serious impact on your mental health.

Worsening symptoms of anxiety or depression . Rather than helping to alleviate negative feelings and boost your mood, you feel more anxious, depressed, or lonely after using social media.

If you feel that your social media use has become an addiction, or it’s fueling your levels of anxiety, depression, FOMO, or sense of isolation, the following steps can help you modify your habits :

A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. But you don’t need to cut back on your social media use that drastically to improve your mental health. The same study concluded that just being more mindful of your social media use can have beneficial results on your mood and focus.  

While 30 minutes a day may not be a realistic target for many of us—let alone a full “social media detox”— we can still benefit from reducing the amount of time we spend on social media. For most of us, that means reducing how much we use our smartphones. The following tips can help:

• Use an app to track how much time you spend on social media each day. Then set a goal for how much you want to reduce it by.
• Turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as when you’re driving, in a meeting, at the gym, having dinner, spending time with offline friends, or playing with your kids. Don’t take your phone with you to the bathroom.
• Don’t bring your phone or tablet to bed . Turn devices off and leave them in another room overnight to charge.
• Disable social media notifications. It’s hard to resist the constant buzzing, beeping, and dinging of your phone alerting you to new messages. Turning off notifications can help you regain control of your time and focus.
• Limit checks. If you compulsively check your phone every few minutes, wean yourself off by limiting your checks to once every 15 minutes. Then once every 30 minutes, then once an hour. There are apps that can automatically limit when you’re able to access your phone.
• Try removing social media apps from your phone so you can only check Facebook, Twitter and the like from your tablet or computer. If this sounds like too drastic a step, try removing one social media app at a time to see how much you really miss it.

For more tips on reducing your overall phone use, read Smartphone Addiction .

Many of us access social media purely out of habit or to mindlessly kill moments of downtime. But by focusing on your motivation for logging on, you can not only reduce the time you spend on social media, you can also improve your experience and avoid many of the negative aspects.

If you’re accessing social media to find specific information, check on a friend who’s been ill, or share new photos of your kids with family, for example, your experience is likely to be very different than if you’re logging on simply because you’re bored, you want to see how many likes you got from a previous post, or to check if you’re missing out on something.

Next time you go to access social media, pause for a moment and clarify your motivation for doing so.

Are you using social media as a substitute for real life? Is there a healthier substitute for your social media use? If you’re lonely, for example, invite a friend out for coffee instead. Feeling depressed? Take a walk or go to the gym. Bored? Take up a new hobby. Social media may be quick and convenient, but there are often healthier, more effective ways to satisfy a craving.

Are you an active or a passive user on social media? Passively scrolling through posts or anonymously following the interaction of others on social media doesn’t provide any meaningful sense of connection. It may even increase feelings of isolation. Being an active participant, though, will offer you more engagement with others.

Does social media leave you feeling inadequate or disappointed about your life? You can counter symptoms of FOMO by focusing on what you have, rather than what you lack. Make a list of all the positive aspects of your life and read it back when you feel you’re missing out on something better. And remember: no one’s life is ever as perfect as it seems on social media. We all deal with heartache, self-doubt, and disappointment, even if we choose not to share it online.  

We all need the face-to-face company of others to be happy and healthy. At its best, social media is a great tool for facilitating real-life connections. But if you’ve allowed virtual connections to replace real-life friendships in your life, there are plenty of ways to build meaningful connections without relying on social media.

Set aside time each week to interact offline with friends and family. Try to make it a regular get-together where you always keep your phones off.

If you’ve neglected face-to-face friendships, reach out to an old friend (or an online friend) and arrange to meet up. If you both lead busy lives, offer to run errands or exercise together .

Join a club . Find a hobby, creative endeavor, or fitness activity you enjoy and join a group of like-minded individuals that meet on a regular basis.

Don’t let social awkwardness stand in the way . Even if you’re shy, there are proven techniques to  overcome insecurity and build friendships .

If you don’t feel that you have anyone to spend time with, reach out to acquaintances . Lots of other people feel just as uncomfortable about making new friends as you do—so be the one to break the ice. Invite a coworker out for lunch or ask a neighbor or classmate to join you for coffee.

Interact with strangers . Look up from your screen and connect with people you cross paths with on public transport, at the coffee shop, or in the grocery store. Simply smiling or saying hello will improve how you feel—and you never know where it may lead.

Feeling and expressing gratitude about the important things in your life can be a welcome relief to the resentment, animosity, and discontent sometimes generated by social media.

Take time for reflection . Try keeping a gratitude journal or using a gratitude app. Keep track of all the great memories and positives in your life—as well as those things and people you’d miss if they were suddenly absent from your life. If you’re more prone to venting or negative posts, you can even express your gratitude on social media—although you may benefit more from private reflection that isn’t subject to the scrutiny of others. 

[Read: Gratitude: The Benefits and How to Practice It]

Practice mindfulness . Experiencing FOMO and comparing yourself unfavorably to others keeps you dwelling on life’s disappointments and frustrations. Instead of being fully engaged in the present, you’re focused on the “what ifs” and the “if onlys” that prevent you from having a life that matches those you see on social media. By practicing mindfulness , you can learn to live more in the present moment, lessen the impact of FOMO, and improve your overall mental wellbeing.

Volunteer . Just as human beings are hard-wired to seek social connection, we’re also hard-wired to give to others. Helping other people or animals not only enriches your community and benefits a cause that’s important to you, but it also makes you feel happier and more grateful.

Childhood and the teenage years can be filled with developmental challenges and social pressures. For some kids, social media has a way of exacerbating those problems and fueling anxiety, bullying , depression , and issues with self-esteem.

If you’re worried about your child’s social media use, it can be tempting to simply confiscate their phone or other device. But that can create further problems, separating your child from their friends and the positive aspects of social media. Instead, there are other ways to help your child use TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms in a more responsible way.

Monitor and limit your child’s social media use. The more you know about how your child is interacting on social media, the better you’ll be able to address any problems. Parental control apps can help limit your child’s data usage or restrict their phone use to certain times of the day. You can also adjust privacy settings on the different platforms to limit their potential exposure to bullies or predators.

Talk to your child about underlying issues. Problems with social media use can often mask deeper issues. Is your child having problems fitting in at school? Are they suffering from shyness or social anxiety? Are problems at home causing them stress?

Enforce “social media” breaks. For example, you could ban social media until your child has completed their homework in the evening, not allow phones at the dinner table or in their bedroom, and plan family activities that preclude the use of phones or other devices. To prevent sleep problems, always insist phones are turned off at least one hour before bed.

Teach your child how social media is not an accurate reflection of people’s lives. They shouldn’t compare themselves or their lives negatively to others on social media. People only post what they want others to see. Images are manipulated or carefully posed and selected. And having fewer friends on social media doesn’t make your child less popular or less worthy.

Encourage exercise and offline interests. Get your child away from social media by encouraging them to pursue physical activities and hobbies that involve real-world interaction. Exercise is great for relieving anxiety and stress , boosting self-esteem, and improving mood—and is something you can do as a family. The more engaged your child is offline, the less their mood and sense of self-worth will be dependent on how many friends, likes, or shares they have on social media. 

More Information

• Study into wellbeing and social media - Details study linking time spent on social media with decreased wellbeing. (Penn Today, University of Pennsylvania)
• Impact on the mental health of young people - Briefing paper analyzing the impact of social media. (Centre for Mental Health)
• Linking child depression - How heavy Instagram and Facebook use may be affecting kids negatively. (Child Mind Institute)
• Hunt, Melissa G., Rachel Marx, Courtney Lipson, and Jordyn Young. “No More FOMO: Limiting Social Media Decreases Loneliness and Depression.” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 37, no. 10 (December 2018): 751–68. Link
• Riehm, Kira E., Kenneth A. Feder, Kayla N. Tormohlen, Rosa M. Crum, Andrea S. Young, Kerry M. Green, Lauren R. Pacek, Lareina N. La Flair, and Ramin Mojtabai. “Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth.” JAMA Psychiatry 76, no. 12 (December 1, 2019): 1266. Link
• Anderson, Monica. (2018, September 27). A majority of teens have been the target of cyberbullying, with name-calling and rumor-spreading being the most common forms of harassment. Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. Link
• Kross, Ethan, Philippe Verduyn, Emre Demiralp, Jiyoung Park, David Seungjae Lee, Natalie Lin, Holly Shablack, John Jonides, and Oscar Ybarra. “Facebook Use Predicts Declines in Subjective Well-Being in Young Adults.” PLOS ONE 8, no. 8 (August 14, 2013): e69841. Link
• Twenge, Jean M., Thomas E. Joiner, Megan L. Rogers, and Gabrielle N. Martin. “Increases in Depressive Symptoms, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Suicide Rates Among U.S. Adolescents After 2010 and Links to Increased New Media Screen Time.” Clinical Psychological Science 6, no. 1 (January 1, 2018): 3–17. Link
• Ilakkuvan, Vinu, Amanda Johnson, Andrea C. Villanti, W. Douglas Evans, and Monique Turner. “Patterns of Social Media Use and Their Relationship to Health Risks Among Young Adults.” Journal of Adolescent Health 64, no. 2 (February 2019): 158–64. Link
• Primack, Brian A., Ariel Shensa, Jaime E. Sidani, Erin O. Whaite, Liu Yi Lin, Daniel Rosen, Jason B. Colditz, Ana Radovic, and Elizabeth Miller. “Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 53, no. 1 (July 2017): 1–8. Link

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