SnapChat Addiction: Compulsive Teen Usage of Social App
Clinical Review by:
Published:
Nov 5, 2024
,
02:40 p.m.
ET
As social media use and messenger apps like Snapchat become more ingrained in our everyday life, so does the risk of developing an addiction to them. Teens are at an even higher risk of developing an addiction based on a variety of factors such as brain development, “fear of missing out” (FOMO) and the popularity of social media with today's youth.
Therefore, knowing the warning signs of Snapchat Addiction and compulsive social media use can help parents identify and treat a potential issue.
What is Snapchat? How popular is it?
Snapchat is a messaging app that allows people to send pictures, videos and messages to each other, the “snaps,” that disappear after they are viewed by the recipient. The app also allows you to edit the pictures and videos with filters, lenses and other visual effects. Once an initial snap is sent, users can message back and forth as well.
Snapchat is free to download and also has a paid premium subscription called Snapchat+. As of 2024, Snapchat has 800 million active users per month worldwide and is the 5th-most popular messenger app and 10th most popular social media app. Snapchat usership is expected to grow by 27% in the next 4 years.
Can teens actually get addicted to Snapchat?
Any social media app can potentially lead to an addiction if it is overused and starts to negatively impact someone's everyday life. Obsessive use of Snapchat can cause someone to isolate themselves from others in real life and ignore other responsibilities or hobbies in order to continuously use Snapchat.
With Snapchat “streaks,” teens may also become addicted to keeping these streaks alive and feel compelled to use the app incessantly in order to maintain their streak status.
In the United States it is estimated that 30% of people struggle with compulsive social media use and 4-5% of the global population are addicted to social media. Teens and children are at an even higher risk of social media addiction, with 50% of teens reporting the inability to quit.
Treatment for Snapchat addiction
Although thousands of people suffer from social media addiction, it is not an official diagnosis in the DSM-5 at this time. Without a formal diagnosis, standardizing treatment for social media addiction can be difficult. Thankfully there are options that can identify certain behaviors of social media addiction and treat them on an individual basis. Treatment for Snapchat addiction may involve inpatient or outpatient options, and virtual therapy from the comfort of home has become a popular choice as well.
If your child or friend is struggling with Snapchat addiction or compulsive social media use, Birches Health can help. Birches offers online treatment from certified counselors that specialize in helping treat compulsive behaviors like social media use and Snapchat addiction. You can confidentially refer a friend or family member or speak with a care specialist to get a free consultation.
Tools to help with social media and Snapchat addiction
In response to the rise in social media and Snapchat addiction, there are media monitoring extensions and apps that were created to help reduce the amount of time spent on certain apps like Snapchat. There are both free and subscription based options depending on an individual's needs. Tools to help manage Snapchat addiction include:
Flipd
AppBlock
Moment App
Your Hour
Hold
Siempo
Freedom
Antisocial App
Focus
Cold Turkey
SelfControl (Mac only)
Signs of Snapchat addiction
Snapchat addiction and compulsive social media use can at tims be linked to other mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety. It is important to be aware of the symptoms of Snapchat addiction to know if you may be at risk.
Signs that you or someone you know may be addicted to Snapchat may include:
Excessive Snapchat use
Mood swings when not on Snapchat
Prioritizing Snapchat use over other responsibilities
Feeling anxious, depressed or stressed due to Snapchat
Snapchat use interferes with everyday life
Snapchat use causes isolation from other people
Using Snapchat to escape negative feelings or experiences
Having a “fear of missing out” or “FOMO” when not using Snapchat
One's self-esteem and self-worth is directly connected to Snapchat interactions
Another downside of Snapchat: Social bullying among teenagers
One of the negatives of Snapchat is that the shared content lasts only a few seconds before disappearing forever. This can be very harmful when it comes to harassment or bullying of others through Snapchat. It can be difficult for a teen to prove they are being bullied on Snapchat unless they screenshot the pictures or messages.
The risk of screenshotting a snap is that the sender is notified when someone screenshots anything, and this may lead to even more harassment. One study found that 50% of teenagers were the victims of cyberbullying on Snapchat, and the same amount were the perpetrators of bullying through social media.
