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Problematic social media use is associated with increased risk-aversion after negative outcomes in the Balloon
Dar Meshi1, Ezgi Ulusoy2, Ceylan Özdem-Mertens1
1Department of Advertising and Public Relations, Michigan State University.
Problematic social networking site (SNS) use is linked to addictive behaviors. Contrary to expectations, this study found that individuals with higher problematic SNS use exhibited less risk-taking behavior, particularly after negative feedback.
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Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Addiction
- Decision Making
Background:
- Problematic social networking site (SNS) use shares similarities with substance use and behavioral addictive disorders.
- Individuals with addictive disorders often exhibit increased risk-taking, but this has not been extensively studied in relation to problematic SNS use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between problematic social networking site use and risky decision-making.
- To test the hypothesis that greater problematic SNS use is associated with increased risk-taking.
Main Methods:
- Three studies were conducted using the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) to assess risky decision-making.
- The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale was administered to measure problematic SNS use.
Main Results:
- A negative association was found between problematic SNS use and risk-taking, contradicting the initial hypothesis.
- Higher problematic SNS use correlated with lower risk-taking, especially after experiencing negative feedback and in lower-risk situations.
Conclusions:
- Problematic SNS use appears to be associated with risk aversion rather than risk-seeking behavior, particularly under specific conditions.
- The findings suggest a complex relationship between addictive behaviors online and decision-making processes, warranting further investigation.

