Drug, demon, or donut? Theorizing the relationship between social media use, digital well-being and digital disconnection. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vanden Abeele, Mariek M.P.; Halfmann, Annabell; Lee, Edmund W.J.
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in psychology. Volume 45(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Digital wellbeing -- Digital well-being -- Social media -- Overuse -- Attention economy -- Diet -- Balance -- Drug -- Addiction -- Metaphor -- Digital harm -- Digital ill-being; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-250X

Abstract

Abstract: Social media overuse is a central concern in discussions over digital well-being. Digital disconnection is often presented as a solution to this problem, but mixed evidence on its effectiveness suggests we lack understanding of why, how and when disconnection works. Drawing from three recurrent social media metaphors - the drug, demon and donut metaphor - this article aims to advance understanding of social media disconnection by developing a classification of disconnective mechanisms in accordance with three conceptual approaches to social media overuse. This classification provides theory-driven support for differing social media disconnection mechanisms. We discuss its implications for practice and future research.