Facebook addiction and impulsive decision-making
Open accessAbstract
Introduction: This study examined the relationship between Facebook ‘addiction’ and impulsive decision-making. Impulsive decision-making, as measured by the delay discounting task, is associated with a number of addictions and other problem behaviors. Methods: We gave 75 students a paper-based packet including the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale to measure Facebook addiction and a delay discounting task to assess one facet of impulsivity, impulsive choice. Results: When controlling for covariates, we found that those addicted to Facebook discounted delayed rewards more quickly than their non-addicted controls. Discussion: These findings suggest that those addicted to Facebook may be more impulsive than those who are not addicted to Facebook. These results may indicate that Facebook addiction shares a core characteristic (impulsivity) with other kinds of addiction and further exploration of this area is potentially warranted.
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Social media addiction was linked to increased impulsivity, which further impacted executive functioning.
“Furthermore, suggested that social media addiction was linked to increased impulsivity, which further impacted executive functioning [34].”
From Impact of social media on cognitive development of children and young adults: a systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [34]
Social media addiction was linked to impaired decision-making and increased impulsivity, further highlighting its potential to disrupt executive functioning in youth.
“Moreover, found that social media addiction was linked to impaired decision-making and increased impulsivity, further highlighting its potential to disrupt executive functioning in youth [21, 34].”
From Impact of social media on cognitive development of children and young adults: a systematic review (2025) · cites this paper as [34]
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“Our results are also compatible with those reported by Delaney et al. (60), who found that those addicted to “ Facebook ” discounted delayed rewards more quickly than control participants, suggesting that they may be more impulsive than non-addicted individuals.”
- Authors
- Delaney, D., Stein, L. A. R., & Gruber, R.
- Affiliations
- University of Rhode Island (US)
- Eastern Illinois University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Delaney, Daniel
- Venue
- Addiction Research & Theory
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-11-27
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 478-486
- ISSN
- 1058-6989 (ISSN-L)
- 1606-6359
- 1476-7392
- OpenAlex
- W2300637246
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4
- FWCI
- 5.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Addiction Research & Theory (publishedVersion)
- Journal of Media Literacy Education (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- The Keep (Eastern Illinois University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Keywords
- Facebook addiction, impulsive decision-making, delay discounting, impulsivity, Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, delayed rewards, social media addiction
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