The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the use of social media
A cross-national comparison
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9406095 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Franco Delogu (0000-0002-6057-8723, Lawrence Technological University, corresponding author), Kineta Morgan-Paisley (Lawrence Technological University), Claudia Del Gatto (0000-0002-8180-9420, European University of Rome), Allegra Indraccolo (0000-0003-2444-0759, European University of Rome), Tiziana Pedale (0000-0001-9311-5373, University of Perugia), R Brunetti (0000-0002-1642-2115, European University of Rome) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 255 |
| Pages | 104888-104888 |
| Publication date | 2025-03-21 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Acta Psychologica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104888 |
| PMID | 40117738 |
| OpenAlex | W4408681266 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 6 |
| References cited | 65 |
This study investigates the impact of limited interpersonal interaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic on social media usage in the USA and Italy, considering their differences in lockdown restrictions. An online survey with 1478 participants assessed social media usage, personality traits, and life satisfaction before the pandemic (2018) and during the first lockdown (April 2020). Results showed increased social media use during the pandemic, with no significant differences between countries. Personality traits like extraversion were linked to higher social media usage, while emotional stability was negatively correlated. The study highlights that while social media served as a coping mechanism, its passive use could contribute to negative emotional states, raising concerns about mental health during crises. Full-time employees showed a more pronounced increase in usage than students, likely due to increased free time and social isolation. Active engagement on social media did not significantly increase, suggesting a tendency towards passive content consumption. These findings underscore the complex interplay of demographic, psychological, and situational factors influencing social media use during the pandemic
2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Outbreak · Pandemic · Political science · Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 · Social media · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Media Influence and Health · Medicine · Psychology · Virology
The online transnationalisation of populist radical right publics
Mapping the psychological landscape of short video consumption
Digital addiction and mental health-related variables in young people
Adapting in times of crisis
Development and Validation of the Self-Goal-Directed Social Media Usage Scale and Exploring Its Roles and Gender Effects on Customer Decision-Making
De-Tradding Tradwives
Handbook of Psychological Testing
The Other Half of the Story
Media for Coping During Covid-19 Social Distancing
Changes in sleep pattern, sense of time and digital media use during Covid‐19 lockdown in Italy
Conceptualizing I nternet use disorders
Examination of the equivalence of self-report survey-based paper-and-pencil and internet data collection methods.
Changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours from before to during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown
The associations between problematic Facebook use, psychological distress and well-being among adolescents and young adults
Harnessing Social Media for Health Promotion and Behavior Change
Social Networking Sites and Addiction
Toward an Integrated and Differential Approach to the Relationships Between Loneliness, Different Types of Facebook Use, and Adolescents’ Depressed Mood
Confounding and collinearity in regression analysis
The association between the use of social network sites, sleep quality and cognitive function during the day
Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the Covid-19 outbreak
Social desirability is the same in offline, online, and paper surveys
The Satisfaction With Life Scale
Can the social network bridge social distancing? Social media use during the Covid-19 pandemic
Which conditions should be considered as disorders in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) designation of “other specified disorders due to addictive behaviors”
An exploratory analysis of the relationship of problematic Facebook use with loneliness and self-esteem
Social Consequences of the Internet for Adolescents
Passive and Active Social Media Use and Depressive Symptoms Among United States Adults
Media Use Is Linked to Lower Psychological Well-Being
Who uses Facebook? An investigation into the relationship between the Big Five, shyness, narcissism, loneliness, and Facebook usage
Who interacts on the Web
“And all of a sudden my life was gone…”
Lonely and scrolling during the Covid-19 pandemic
Construction and Validation of a Scale to Measure Loneliness and Isolation During Social Distancing and Its Effect on Mental Health
Covid-19 Home Confinement Negatively Impacts Social Participation and Life Satisfaction
Uses and Gratifications of Problematic Social Media Use Among University Students
The earth is round (p < .05)
Usage of social media during the pandemic
Online Communication and Adolescent Well-Being
Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests
A global panel database of pandemic policies (Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker)
Big Five Personality Factors in Relation to Coping with Contact Restrictions during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Scrolling Through the Covid-19 Pandemic
| Citations per year | 6 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |