Psychology Research and Behavior Management

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

Psychology Research and Behavior Management is pleased to announce a new Article Collection that explores the psychological, behavioral, and social dimensions of excessive smartphone and social media usage.

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, recognizing that problematic smartphone and social media use exists on a continuum, from habitual overuse to clinically significant disordered engagement. With individuals across diverse age groups and cultural contexts reporting increasing difficulties in regulating their digital behaviors, this Collection seeks to examine the psychological, behavioral, and social dimensions of problematic technology use. Particular attention will be given to novel pathways of digital self‑regulation, measurable behavioral indicators such as usage patterns and executive functioning, and adaptive strategies grounded in prior evidence yet tailored to emerging challenges.

Understanding problematic use of smartphones and social media is critical for addressing its impact on mental health, interpersonal relationships, and societal structures. Excessive use has been associated with anxiety, depression, social isolation, and other well-being and mental health outcomes. At the same time, digital platforms shape identity, influence decision-making, and redefine cultural norms. By examining these dynamics, researchers can identify novel pathways through which technology use influences psychological well‑being and social development. This Collection will deliver focused, evidence‑based insights into issues such as self‑regulation, executive functioning, and social‑emotional isolation, highlighting how these factors uniquely affect outcomes in diverse populations. In doing so, it moves beyond general discussions of technology use and offers practical implications for clinicians, educators, and policymakers.

This Article Collection welcomes empirical studies, theoretical papers, systematic reviews, and intervention-based research that address problematic and disordered smartphone and social media use within the scope of psychology and behavior management.

Subtopics of particular interest include:

• Measurable behavioral mechanisms such as self-control failures
• Habit formation, urge regulation, and tolerance or withdrawal-like phenomena
• Psychosocial and cognitive correlates of disordered digital use
• The role of executive functioning and self-regulation in technology-related behaviors
• Well-defined mental health and behavioral outcomes examined through longitudinal and interventional research designs
• Cross-cultural validation of measurement tools and theoretical frameworks
• The impact of digital platforms on youth, families, and communities

Interdisciplinary contributions integrating perspectives from psychology, public health, education, and behavioral science are strongly encouraged. Preferred article types include original research articles, pre-registered studies, systematic reviews, and conceptual analyses that advance both theoretical understanding and practical application.

Keywords:

Problematic smartphone use; Disordered social media use; Self-regulation and habit formation; Mental health and well-being; Cross-cultural validation

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript. 

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is 11 February 2027.

Please contact Thalia Geiger at [email protected] with any questions or requests for discount codes relating to this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

Meet the Guest Advisor

Murat Yıldırım

Murat Yildirim, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology, working at Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Türkiye. His research focuses on psychosocial factors influencing well-being, mental health outcomes, and individuals differences. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and collaborates internationally on projects related to digital addiction and psychosocial factors affecting well-being and mental health outcomes.