Psychology Research and Behavior Management

Problematic Use of Smartphones and Social Media: Psychological, Behavioral, and Societal Perspectives

Smartphone and social media use have become deeply embedded in contemporary daily life, fundamentally reshaping how individuals communicate, learn, and socially interact. While these technologies offer remarkable opportunities for connection and information access, their excessive and unregulated use has raised growing concerns about problematic and disordered usage patterns, well-being, and mental health outcomes. Rather than framing these concerns solely through the lens of problematic use of smartphones and social media, this Article Collection adopts a broader and more nuanced perspective, recognising that problematic smartphone and social media use exists on a continuum, from habitual overuse to clinically significant disordered engagement.