The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

One More Hit of Facebook: Social Media, or Social Menace?

Editor’s Note: This editorial was written by Dr. David Greenfield as part of our Special Series on Addiction and Social Media. One more snort of Snapchat. One more tweak of Twitter. One more hit of something sort-of- social and we will feel better, right? Wrong. With our ever-present screens we have learned to avoid our aloneness, fear or isolation and we mask unwanted feelings by escaping into mindless scrolling, liking and commenting. We lose hours of our productive time voyeuristically viewing, chatting, and snapping selfies to share with our 1000 virtual friends. Sometimes more is less, and less is more... Read more →

The WAGER, Vol. 24(10) - The Facebook of gambling: Whom do online gambling communities attract?

This week, as part of our Special Series on Addiction and Social Media, The WAGER reviews a study by Anu Sirola and her colleagues uncovering the relationship between daily participation in online gambling communities and problem gambling and whether the level of loneliness affects this association. Read more →

Social media and addiction: How a tool for communication can make us feel our needs for social connection are being met

Editor’s Note: This editorial was written by Dr. Stephanie Diez as part of our Special Series on Addiction and Social Media. The future is now. We live in an era where constant technological marvels, engineering feats and scientific breakthroughs are being made almost every single day. With these advancements, daily activities that were once ideals of science fiction are now realities. Within our pockets, we grasp smart phones and other devices that provide the convenience of constant connectedness through the Internet. We are able to contact family, friends, colleagues, and strangers through various social media platforms online in the matter... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 15(9) - WhatsApp with social media and smartphone messaging apps in the illicit drug market?

In 2018, 18% of college students reported having used an illicit drug other than marijuana in the previous year, a rate that is higher than other age groups. These students, and other people their age, might be experimenting with social media apps as a new method for buying and selling drugs. This week, as part of our Special Series on Addiction and Social Media, STASH reviews a study by Leah Moyle and her colleagues looking at how social media applications are currently being used to facilitate drug transactions. What was the research question? What are common practices and motivations for... Read more →

Introduction to the Special Series on Addiction and Social Media

Social media are online and mobile technologies that enable communication between individuals through text, photos, videos, and other forms of user-generated content. But you likely knew that already, because you probably use it. And if you don’t, your kids probably do. For the majority of us, social media use constitutes a major portion of our time online. Websites like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram have altered our relationships with each other and with the experiences we enjoy, including potentially addictive ones. Read more →