People who enjoy embarrassing or angering others are more likely to find social networks like Facebook and Snapchat addictive, study shows
- Researchers studied how much time was spent on Snapchat and Facebook
- Also looked at what sort of interactions motivated people to use the sites
- Found those who spent a large amount of time on the social media platform were more likely to use the sites for callous or cruel purposes
People who show signs of being addicted to Snapchat and Facebook are more likely to use the platforms to embarrass and anger others, according to a new study.
Researchers studied how long 472 university students spent on Snapchat and Facebook as well as what drove the people to use the platforms.
It discovered that those who are more obsessed with social media are more likely to use the sites for cruel and callous purposes.
Scroll down for video
People who spend a lot of time on social media are more likely to exhibit problematic behaviour and get a kick from angering and embarrassing others online, a study finds (stock)
Researchers asked participants to fill out a questionnaire that measured what social media interactions they most enjoyed and any ‘problematic use’.
The researchers define problematic use of social media as when users ‘display symptoms that are similar to substance use disorders’.
This includes conflict with other users due to social media use and relapsing when trying to ditch social networking sites.
‘Problematic social networking site users display aberrations in decision making as well as reward-related brain function and structure,’ the researchers add in their study.
The social media interactions the researchers quizzed the participants on included admiration, passivity, prosocial interactions, sexual relationships, sociability and negative social potency.
The last option was where researchers found an interesting relationship.
‘Remarkably, we saw a correlation between problematic use on both platforms and negative social potency — which is people’s desire to be cruel, callous and use others for personal gain,’ said Dr Dar Meshi of Michigan State University.
People who used Snapchat a lot were found to be strongly linked with negative social potency, admiration from others and sociability.
However, for Facebook, the only behaviour positively correlated with problematic Facebook use was negative social potency.
Researchers studied how much time was spent on Snapchat and Facebook by 472 university students as well as what drove the people to use the platforms. It discovered that those who are more obsessed with social media are more likely to use the sites for cruel and callous purposes (stock)
‘Our results demonstrate that individuals who have a greater preference for these types of rewards display greater problematic use of both platforms,’ write the researchers.
They also note in their study that these traits are also associated with narcissism and psychopathy and have previously been correlated with addictive internet use.
They write that social media sites unwittingly ‘cater to people who seek rewards from being cruel, such as through cyberbullying or various aggressive online behaviors’.
‘Both Facebook and Snapchat have separate features that make users want to keep coming back and using these platforms,’ said Dr Meshi.
‘We were interested in measuring not only problematic use, but also the specific social rewards people might be looking for when using them.’
Negative social potency has previously been linked to the so-called ‘Dark Triad’ of personality traits.
This is the presence and prominence of Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy in a person’s personality.
The triad has also previously been linked to internet addiction.
The study has been published in the journal Addictive Behaviors Reports.
WHAT IS THE ‘DARK TRIAD’?
The dark triad is a name given to three personality traits: narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism
The dark triad is a name given to three personality traits: narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism.
When all three traits are found in a single person, it implies a malevolent personality.
All three dark triad traits are conceptually distinct, but have been shown to have an overlap.
Narcissism is characterised by grandiosity, pride, egotism, and a lack of empathy.
Machiavellianism is characterised by manipulation and exploitation of others. It is also often linked to a cynical disregard for morality, and a focus on self-interest and deception.
Psychopathy is characterised by continuing antisocial behaviour, impulsivity, selfishness, callousness, and remorselessness.
