TikTok and Instagram linked to higher social media addiction

A study published in the journal Discover Mental Health by Springer Nature has found that TikTok and Instagram have a more significant relationship with social media addiction and mental health issues compared to other platforms. The research, involving academics from Universidad Andrés Bello, analyzed usage patterns among 684 university students.

The findings suggest that platforms centered on highly visual content may reinforce social comparison, the search for validation, and constant exposure to attention-grabbing stimuli. These factors can contribute to psychological deterioration and compulsive usage behaviors. In contrast, platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp showed less relevant associations with these addictive behaviors, indicating that the impact on mental health depends heavily on the specific dynamics and characteristics of each platform.