Dark Personality Traits and Situational Factors in Social Media Addiction: Insights From Turkish Users

Social media addiction (SMA) has become a global phenomenon, affecting individuals worldwide. It has adverse effects not only on those who are addicted but also on those related to them. This study examines the relationship between Dark Tetrad traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and sadism) and SMA in Türkiye, a typical collectivist society. In addition to these dark traits, two situational variables (loneliness and boredom in life) and three demographic control variables (age, gender, and education) were examined. Data were collected through an online survey from 247 adults aged 18 and above residing in Sakarya Türkiye, with a response rate of 82%. The findings showed a positive and significant relationship between Machiavellianism and sadism with SMA. Contrary to expectations, narcissism was negatively related to SMA. No significant relationship has been found between psychopathy and SMA. Regarding the situational variables, while loneliness was not related to SMA, a strong positive relationship was found between boredom in life and SMA. The findings demonstrate that SMA is influenced by personality traits and situational factors, which play a critical role in understanding its dynamics. The study discusses the possible conceptual implications of these findings for future research and concludes by reviewing the study’s limitations.