Location
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
Event Website
https://hicss.hawaii.edu/
Start Date
7-1-2025 12:00 AM
End Date
10-1-2025 12:00 AM
Description
Anxiety is associated with adverse effects on social media users’ well-being. While previous research focused on understanding whether social media usage behavior, such as time spent on social media, elicits feelings of anxiety, scant attention has been paid to exploring the role of social media content in inducing feelings of anxiety. To address this research gap, a qualitative study with 249 social media users was conducted. Our results reveal six content categories that are likely to elicit anxiety: negative news, incivility, social comparison content, political content, misinformation, and content depicting dangerous behavior. By shedding light on these content categories, this study contributes to our understanding of the negative implications of social media on users. In addition, the results are relevant for platform providers and mental health practitioners seeking to mitigate negative online experiences and promote well-being.
Recommended Citation
Meythaler, Antonia, "Understanding the Role of Social Media Content in Inducing Anxiety: A Qualitative Study" (2025). Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences 2025 (HICSS-58). 2.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-58/dsm/mental_health/2
Understanding the Role of Social Media Content in Inducing Anxiety: A Qualitative Study
Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
Anxiety is associated with adverse effects on social media users’ well-being. While previous research focused on understanding whether social media usage behavior, such as time spent on social media, elicits feelings of anxiety, scant attention has been paid to exploring the role of social media content in inducing feelings of anxiety. To address this research gap, a qualitative study with 249 social media users was conducted. Our results reveal six content categories that are likely to elicit anxiety: negative news, incivility, social comparison content, political content, misinformation, and content depicting dangerous behavior. By shedding light on these content categories, this study contributes to our understanding of the negative implications of social media on users. In addition, the results are relevant for platform providers and mental health practitioners seeking to mitigate negative online experiences and promote well-being.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/hicss-58/dsm/mental_health/2