Table 2.
Characteristics of studies and social media use interventions sorted by intervention type.
| Study, year; country | Study design | Intervention type | Social media intervention target | Intervention duration | Comparator | Sample size, n | Age (years), range (mean, SD) | |
| Interventions involving full abstinence from social media | ||||||||
|
|
Brown and Kuss [36], 2020; United Kingdom | Pre-post study | Full abstinence | Generala | 1 week | None | 61 | 20-49 (24.40, 4.95) |
|
|
Fioravanti et al [41], 2020; Italy | RCTb | Full abstinence | 1 week | Controlc | 80; IGd: 40, CGe: 40 | ≥18 (25.05, 4.17) | |
|
|
Hall et al [42], 2019; United States | RCT | Full abstinence | Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter | 4 groups: 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks | Control | 130; IG 1 week: 28, IG 2 weeks: 17, IG 3 weeks: 24, and IG 4 weeks: 26; CG: 35 | 18-68 (26.80, 11.40) |
|
|
Hanley et al [43], 2019; Australia | RCT | Full abstinence | Facebook and Instagram | 1 week | Control | 78; IG: 40, CG: 38 | 18-48 (30.85, 7.12) |
|
|
Lambert et al [44], 2022; United Kingdom | RCT | Full abstinence | Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram | 1 week | Control | 154; IG: 81, CG: 73 | ≥18 (28.90, 12.75) |
|
|
Mitev et al [45], 2021; United Kingdom and Bulgaria | RCT (crossover trialf) | Full abstinence | General | 3 days | Control | 232; IG: 116, CG: 116 | 18-71 (24.70, N/Rg) |
|
|
Mosquera et al [46], 2020; United States | RCT | Full abstinence | 1 week | Control | 167; IG: 77, CG: 90 | N/R; undergraduates | |
|
|
Przybylski et al [47], 2021; United Kingdom, United States, and Hong Kong | RCT (crossover trial) | Full abstinence | General | 1 day | Control | 297; IG: 297, CG: 297 | 18-56 (20.50, 2.86) |
|
|
Tromholt [48], 2016; Denmark | RCT | Full abstinence | 1 week | Control | 888; IG: 516, CG: 372 | N/R (34.00, 8.74) | |
|
|
Turel et al [49], 2018; United States | 2×2 RCT | Full abstinence | 1 week | Control | 555; IG: 413, CG: 142 | 19-54 (24.01, 4.14) | |
|
|
Vally and D’Souza [50], 2019; United Arab Emirates | RCT | Full abstinence | General | 1 week | Control | 78; IG: 39, CG: 39 | 18-27 (22.13, N/R) |
|
|
Vanman et al [51], 2018; Australia | RCT | Full abstinence | 5 days | Control | 138; IG: 60, CG: 78 | 18-40 (22.43, N/R) | |
| Therapy-based interventions | ||||||||
|
|
Chen et al [22], 2022; China | RCT | Group psychological counseling | General | 1 month | Control | 60; IG: 30, CG: 30 | N/R; undergraduates |
|
|
Hou et al [40], 2019; China | 2×2 RCT | Cognitive reconstruction, reminder cards, and diaries | General | 2 weeks | Control | 38; IG: 21, CG: 17 | N/R (19.71, 1.43) |
|
|
O’Connell [35], 2020; United Arab Emirates | Pre-post study | 1 hour per week mindfulness workshop | General | 5 weeks | None | 24; N/R | 18-25 (N/R) |
|
|
Esmaeili Rad and Ahmadi [38], 2018; Iran | RCT | Reality therapy mobile app+reflective questionnaires | General | 2 weeks | Control (only questionnaires) | 200; IG: 100, CG: 100 | 18-28 (N/R) |
|
|
Throuvala et al [39], 2020; United Kingdom | RCT | CBTh-based app | General | 10 days | Control | 143; IG: 72, CG: 71 | 18-32 (20.72, 3.12) |
|
|
Zhou et al [37], 2021; China | RCT | CBT-based part abstinence (4 of 7 weekdays)+daily reflective diaries | General | 2 weeks | Control (social media as usual+daily diaries) | 65; IG: 33, CG: 32 | N/R (28.80, 4.90) |
| Interventions involving limited social media use | ||||||||
|
|
Brailovskaia et al [52], 2020; Germany | RCT | Limited use (20 min/d) | 2 weeks | Control | 286; IG: 140; CG: 146 | 18-59 (25.39, 5.89) | |
|
|
Graham et al [53], 2021; New Zealand | RCT | Limited use (10 min/d) | Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat | 1 week | Control | 184; IG: 92, CG: 92 | 18-61 (22.46, 6.83) |
|
|
Hunt et al [54], 2018; United States | RCT | Limited use (10 min/d) | Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat | 3 weeks | Control | 143; N/R | N/R; undergraduates |
|
|
Hunt et al [55], 2021; United States | RCT | Limited use (30 min/d) | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat | 3 weeks | (1) Control and (2) limited active group (30 min/d+1 action every 3 min, eg, posting and replying) | 88; N/R | N/R; undergraduates |
|
|
Thai et al [56], 2021; Canada | RCT | Limited use (60 min/d) | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest, and Tumblr | 3 weeks | Control | 38; IG: 16, CG: 22 | 17-25 (N/R, 0.94) |
aTargeting any social media platform.
bRCT: randomized controlled trial.
cUsual social media use.
dIG: intervention group.
eCG: control group.
fAll participants receive all interventions, but the order in which they receive them (the sequence) is randomized.
gN/R: not reported.
hCBT: cognitive behavioral therapy.