Using Health Intervention Messages to Reduce Intentions to Spend Time on Social Networks

Abstract. This study examined the efficacy of using behavioral feedback and social norms health message interventions to reduce social networking site (SNS) use. A total of 107 participants reported their current SNS use and attitude through endorsement of the statement “I spend too much time on social media” before being randomly assigned to read a message (control, generic consequences, social norms, or behavioral feedback). After reading the message, participants reported their future intentions to use social media and responded to the statement again. The results demonstrated a relationship between the social norms message and future intended SNS use, such that those who read information about the norm for SNS use were more likely to report that they intended to reduce their SNS use in the future. An interaction suggested that the higher the current use, the more effective it was to expose the user to the social norm. Additionally, an association was found between the behavioral feedback message and the belief that they were currently using SNSs too much, such that those who saw tailored consequences of their use were more likely to endorse the statement more strongly. Overall, using these health messages as an intervention to reduce SNS use is a promising avenue that should be explored further.