Problematic Social Media Use Intensifies Belief in and Engagement with Fake News
In an age where digital information is omnipresent, social media platforms have become primary sources of news and communication for billions worldwide. However, recent research illuminates a disconcerting relationship between excessive and dependent social media use—termed problematic social media use—and the propensity to believe in and engage with fake news. Published in PLOS One on May 7, 2025, the study from researchers affiliated with Michigan State University sheds light on the cognitive and behavioral vulnerabilities linked to problematic interaction with social media ecosystems, highlighting critical societal consequences.
Problematic social media use (PSMU) is characterized by a compulsive and uncontrollable urge to engage excessively with social media platforms, often leading to significant impairments in daily functioning. Unlike casual use, PSMU entails a behavioral dependency marked by neglect of offline responsibilities, psychological discomfort when not engaged, and failure to reduce usage despite adverse consequences. This form of engagement not only affects mental health but, as recent findings suggest, also amplifies susceptibility to misinformation—especially fake news.
Fake news denotes implausible, misleading, or outright false information disseminated deliberately to deceive or manipulate public opinion. The rapid and often unregulated circulation of such content on social media has been implicated in undermining democratic processes, exacerbating polarization, and distorting public perception on critical issues like health, politics, and climate change. The latest research underscores that individuals exhibiting PSMU are particularly vulnerable targets—and propagate this harmful content more frequently.
The study utilized a comprehensive cross-sectional survey methodology to examine correlations between PSMU levels and engagement with fake news. Participants were assessed through validated scales measuring the extent of their social media dependency alongside self-reported behaviors related to fake news interaction, including frequency of sharing, believing, and emotional reactions to misinformation. The results indicated a statistically significant positive association, implying that as problematic social media use intensifies, so does the likelihood of both believing and sharing false information.
One mechanistic explanation for this relationship involves the cognitive overload and reduced critical thinking capacity experienced by individuals engrossed in excessive digital interactions. Prolonged exposure to fragmented and emotionally charged content fosters a heuristic-based processing style where users rely on intuition or confirmation biases rather than analytical evaluation. Consequently, the ability to discern credible sources from deceptive ones diminishes markedly amongst problematic users.
Moreover, the architecture of social media platforms exacerbates this dynamic through algorithmic curation designed to maximize engagement and retention. By continuously presenting users with content aligned to their preferences and past behaviors, echo chambers emerge that validate false beliefs and reinforce misinformation dissemination. For individuals with PSMU, these reinforcing loops become inescapable, fueling further immersion into distorted informational environments.
Psychological factors also interplay with technological mechanisms in shaping this vulnerability. Emotional states such as anxiety, loneliness, or fear, often heightened in problematic social media users, can impair judgment and increase susceptibility to sensationalist or conspiratorial content. The dopamine-driven reward circuits activated by notifications and likes can skew users’ perceptions of truth, prioritizing viral or emotionally salient misinformation over factual accuracy.
The societal implications of these findings are profound. Given the centrality of social media in shaping public discourse, the amplification of fake news by dependent users perpetuates misinformation epidemics that can hinder public health campaigns, electoral integrity, and social cohesion. Understanding the psychological underpinnings of this phenomenon is essential for developing targeted interventions that mitigate harm and promote digital literacy.
Addressing this challenge requires multifaceted strategies. On an individual level, enhancing awareness about the dangers of PSMU and its impact on critical thinking is crucial. Educational programs aiming to cultivate media literacy and analytical skills can empower users to better navigate the information landscape. Clinically, recognizing and treating problematic social media behaviors akin to behavioral addictions may prevent downstream consequences on misinformation engagement.
At the platform level, social media companies have a responsibility to reevaluate the design elements that promote addictive behaviors and misinformation proliferation. Algorithmic transparency, content moderation, and integrating fact-checking mechanisms are vital components of an ethical digital ecosystem. Collaborations between technology developers, psychologists, and policy makers can foster environments that prioritize user well-being and factual integrity over engagement metrics.
In addition, further research should continue exploring the causal pathways linking problematic social media use to misinformation behaviors. Longitudinal and experimental designs can elucidate the directionality of effects and identify potential moderators such as age, education, and cultural context. Bridging the gap between behavioral science and computational approaches will enable the creation of adaptive interventions tailored to diverse user profiles.
The shift toward an era dominated by pervasive digital communication demands vigilance in safeguarding information quality and mental health simultaneously. This study signals a clarion call: the more individuals are entrapped in problematic social media use, the greater the societal risk posed by fake news absorption and dissemination. Collective efforts from researchers, clinicians, platform architects, and users themselves are imperative to stem tides of misinformation and foster resilient, informed communities.
Subject of Research: Problematic social media use and its association with belief in and engagement with fake news.
Article Title: Problematic social media use is associated with believing in and engaging with fake news
News Publication Date: 7-May-2025
Web References: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321361
Image Credits: ROBIN WORRALL, Unsplash, CC0
Keywords: problematic social media use, fake news, misinformation, digital addiction, media literacy, social media algorithms, cognitive biases
