The Effect of Social Media on Emotions and Brain Function in College Students
Author Information
Author(s): Aitken Anna, Jounghani Ali Rahimpour, Carbonell Laura Moreno, Kumar Anupam, Crawford Seth, Bowden Audrey K., Hosseini S.M. Hadi
Primary Institution: Stanford University
Hypothesis
How does social media consumption affect executive functioning and emotions in college students?
Conclusion
Social media consumption negatively impacts executive functioning, leading to impairments in working memory and response inhibition.
Supporting Evidence
- 55% of participants were classified as addicted to social media.
- Participants averaged 5 hours of Instagram use per week.
- Significant impairments were observed in executive function tasks after social media exposure.
- Increased mPFC activity indicated heightened cognitive effort after social media use.
- Decreased dlPFC and vlPFC activity were associated with impaired working memory and response inhibition.
- Emotional changes were minimal, with only reduced happiness noted in the control group.
Takeaway
Using social media can make it harder for college students to think clearly and remember things, like when you get distracted while playing a game.
Methodology
Participants completed executive function tasks and emotion questionnaires before and after social media use, while their brain activity was monitored using a wearable fNIRS system.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from self-reported measures of social media use and emotional states.
Limitations
The small sample size and focus on college students may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
20 undergraduate students (11 women and 9 men; mean age 20.75 years).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.012
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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