Living In The Technology Age: What Do We Know About Internet Use And Social Anxiety?

Despite trying, going without seeing a screen in your day can be difficult. Work, communication with friends and family, and many medical appointments have moved online for many people. In addition, over 4.89 billion people used social media in 2023. Technology has become a way of life for many, but it is a challenge for some. Understanding the link between internet use and social anxiety may be beneficial if you notice the internet and social media harming you or someone you love.

Understanding internet addiction

As the internet becomes more integrated into society, problematic internet use and internet addictions are more common. While the use of the internet for day-to-day operations is often required, it may be beneficial to pay attention to signs of excessive preoccupation, urges, and behavior related to internet use. Compulsive use may lead to distress for the user, and researchers have begun to wonder in recent years how internet use contributes to mental health conditions. 

Young and Griffiths were the first researchers to define internet addiction, and they categorized this addiction into three distinct categories. These categories are:

• Excessive gaming or gambling
• Sexual preoccupations, such as cybersex
• Socializing or social networking, including email and text messaging

People addicted to the internet may use it for prolonged periods and isolate themselves from social activity and life outside the internet. Individuals with this experience often have comorbid disorders like anxiety disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social anxiety disorder, or depression.

Studies on social anxiety and internet addiction

When a study was conducted with adolescents in Taiwan, it was found that internet addiction was associated with depression, suicidal ideation, ADHD symptoms, hostility, and social phobias. While these correlations were seen across genders, females were more likely to experience physical symptoms such as pain related to social anxiety. 

Researchers assessed the relationship between two groups of university students in Israel to understand further how social anxiety is correlated to and affected by internet addiction. Previous studies show a high correlation between internet addiction and social anxiety. Because of this, researchers hypothesized that the association would also be high in university-aged populations.

Another aim of this study was to look at the differences between genders. Based on the results of previous research, researchers in this study expected that men would show higher rates of internet addiction. They also hypothesized that those with high levels of social anxiety and an internet addiction would prefer socializing online to in-person and social networks over other online activities.

How was the study set up?

Studies in research are often organized so that other variables are less likely to influence results. Researchers often try to compare two groups of people in the same environment with one core difference. This setup keeps the two groups' other environmental factors as consistent as possible. One group does not have continual influence from a factor that the other group does not.

For the above study, 120 students participated, half male and half female. Ages ranged from 20 to 60, and the average age was around 29.

When considering all participants, the average reported internet use included the following statistics:

• 46.7% for social media
• 48.3% for studies, work, and email 
• 5% for computer games

55% of males reported the primary use of the internet was for studies, work, and email, while 57.6% of females reported the primary use was for social networks. Further, 49.2% of students earned a bachelor's degree, 35.8% had high school certificates, and 10% had advanced post-high-school education. 4.2% had master's degrees, and 0.8% had not finished high school.

44.2% had a full-time job, 33.33% had a part-time job, and 22.47% were unemployed. 82.5% of the participants were born in Israel. Demographic questionnaires were used to ask about the participants' age, birth, country of birth, marital status, employment, education, and internet use.

Following this, social anxiety was measured using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. This scale evaluates anxiety and avoidance of social situations. To complete this questionnaire, participants answered 24 items, 13 covering situations requiring performance and 11 describing social interactions. They responded from one (never) to four (very much) for each of these, indicating their fear of avoidance.

Next, participants were measured on their internet addiction by completing the Young Internet Addiction Test (IAT). This test had 20 items measuring compulsive use of the internet. For each question, they answered a number ranging from one (never) to six (always). If their total score exceeded 80, they were classified as having an internet addiction.

What were the results?

The study results indicated a positive moderate Pearson correlation between internet use and social anxiety. Internet addiction was more likely present in a participant experiencing social anxiety.

To further examine this association, participants were classified as having high or low social anxiety. Statistical analysis found higher levels of internet addiction in those with high levels of social anxiety. This statistic further supports the idea that the stronger the social anxiety, the more likely someone is to have an internet addiction.

When examining the differences between males and females, researchers found that men were likelier to have high anxiety than women. In this study, 75% of those with high anxiety were men, while 25% were female.

Another hypothesis researchers investigated was that those with high social anxiety would use social networks on the internet more often than those without high social anxiety. However, there were no significant differences between social media use and high or low social anxiety in this specific study when looking at the research. No difference was found between men and women related to social anxiety levels.

To further consider the relationship between social anxiety and internet addiction, researchers ran a second study with a second cohort of 60 people. These participants were half male and half female and ranged between 20 and 40, with an average age of 23 for women and 25 for men. This group was given the same questionnaires as the first group.

This study also showed a positive correlation between internet use and social anxiety, with a moderate correlation for men and a weak correlation for women. Another analysis showed that high social anxiety was again associated with high levels of internet addiction.

What do these results showcase? 

Overall, the main finding of this study was a positive association between internet addiction and social anxiety. People with higher social anxiety were likelier to have an internet addiction than those with lower social anxiety levels. There were also no differences between males and females in the internet addiction scores. Further, those with high levels of social anxiety did not prefer social networks over other internet use, which went against what researchers suspected.

The association between social anxiety and internet addiction was in line with previous research. Research has shown that poor social skills often lead to high levels of internet use, and males with fear, depression, and anxiety are more likely to have high levels of internet use. There is also evidence that characteristics like shyness, loneliness, dating anxiety, and avoidance of social relationships may be associated with higher internet use. Those with problematic internet use have tended to be more neurotic, anxious, and less extroverted than those without problematic internet use.

Support options 

The Internet can be helpful for many tasks, such as building a sense of community, working flexibly, finding resources, and learning. However, it can be vital to find balance in life, and the internet should be used with positive intention and action. Reducing unnecessary screen time can build confidence, promote healthy social interactions, and increase overall wellness.

However, if social anxiety keeps you from reaching out for support, you might consider taking your first steps in a familiar environment. Online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp can allow you to receive support from home. Depending on your comfort level, you can choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions with your therapist. 

Online cognitive-behavioral therapy has been proven effective in reducing anxiety associated with anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder. An online therapist can offer tools when interacting with others to decrease anxious feelings and help you meet your social goals.