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OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal Original Research

Trapped in the Feed: The Psychology of Social Media Addiction, Algorithms, and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)

  1. Kanika Sharama Department of Computer Application and IT, Lords University, Alwar
  2. Vanshika Yadav Department of Computer Application and IT, Lords University, Alwar
  3. Shilpi Saxena Department of Computer Application & IT, Lords University, Alwar
  4. Jolly Pandey Department of Information Technology, Gaya College, Gaya
  5. Ashish Singh School of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Sandip University Nashik
  6. Mritunjay Kr. Ranjan School of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Sandip University Nashik

Abstract

Social media has now become the most crucial part of our life which has multiple advantages, such as connecting with old friends, sharing personal experiences, creating a good social circle, and accessing knowledgeable information. However, excessive use can result in social media addiction. This research paper aims to determine the psychology behind social media addiction and its factors, how the psychological behaviors can lead to social media addiction, the role of dopamine, how social media algorithms uplift social media addiction, and the relationship between FoMO (Fear of missing out) and social media addiction. This paper also emphasis that how social media algorithms manipulate user’s behavior and opinions by fostering mindless scrolling that hold user on these platforms for longer duration. It discusses FoMO and its psychological and behavioral outcomes. This research paper aims to highlight the gaps by exploring time distortion during nonsocial media tasks, the popularity of viral fake news and how cross-cultural difference and geopolitics push user towards social media addiction. This paper explores the existing work which includes surveys and other theoretical background by defining the relationship between psychological factors behind social media addiction, the role of algorithms and FoMO and concludes with the suggestion for interventions to downsize social media addiction.

Keywords

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