The Impact of Smartphone and Social Media Use on Dopamine Regulation and Mental Health
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Fleming, Johanna
Issue Date
2026-05
Type
Capstone
Language
en
Keywords
attention , behavioural addiction , continous partial attention , distraction , dopamine , dopamine detox , dopamine dysregulation , dopamine expenditure , dopaminergic reward system , digital rewards , experiential avoidance , Fear of Missing out (FoMo) , habit loop , mindfulness meditation , neuroplasticity , persuasive design , present moment awareness , reward pathway , smartphone and social media addiction , smartphone and social media over-usage , smartphone and social media usage
Alternative Title
Abstract
This capstone looks at the relationship between smartphone and social media use, dopamine-related reward processes, how technology use has shifted and altered these processes, and the mental health outcomes related to usage. In this research, smartphone and social media use are used interchangeably to reflect how they have integrated together into one seamless user experience. Since there is not yet a clear definition of what constitutes over usage, problematic usage, or addiction, this capstone comes from a spectrum of engagement from moderate daily use to use that could be described as a behavioural addiction. This research is not limited to a specific age group for the purpose of being intended for a broad audience. The literature review focuses on the function of dopamine, outlining its role in healthy reward processing and then examines how smartphone and social media use are designed to hook the user which contributes to dopamine dysregulation. There are specific focuses on neurobiological and social factors that are related to smartphone and social media use, and a section proposing how use can be defined when no official definition currently exists. This project concludes with proposed research-based solutions for addressing technology use by offering clinicians strategies to address use, provide psychoeducation to clients, and create holistic treatment plans for clients to support healthier relationships with technology use. This research highlights the need for both individual and systemic approaches to mitigating the mental health impacts of pervasive technology use that has become inherently embedded into today’'s society.