Research Article

The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age

Number: Yeni Medya Çalışmaları September 28, 2025
TR EN

The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age

Abstract

This study explores Instagram addiction through the lens of the ‘Scrolling Paradox’ - the contradictory phenomenon where users simultaneously derive pleasure from Instagram's infinite scroll feature while experiencing distress from their inability to control engagement. By analyzing 28,434 user-generated entries through sentiment analysis and thematic coding, this research examines how platform design features interact with psychological vulnerabilities like social comparison and FOMO to foster compulsive use. Findings reveal that Instagram's design significantly drives behaviors such as time distortion, compulsive checking, and validation seeking, with infinite scrolling emerging as the primary mechanism underlying addictive patterns. Current interventions, like screen time management, are moderately effective, while mindfulness-based strategies show greater promise in addressing the underlying psychological factors that perpetuate the Scrolling Paradox. This research offers insights into how Instagram addiction develops and suggests more effective, emotionally-focused intervention strategies that acknowledge both the appeal and the problems inherent in infinite scroll design.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

In this research article, ethics committee permission was not required as the data were not obtained using survey or interview techniques.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Youth Sociology , Communication Sociology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 28, 2025

Submission Date

April 27, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 4, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Number: Yeni Medya Çalışmaları

APA
Balcıoğlu, Y. S., Bayraktar, Ü., & Güven, E. (2025). The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age. İmgelem, Yeni Medya Çalışmaları, 87-112. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1685011
AMA
1.Balcıoğlu YS, Bayraktar Ü, Güven E. The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age. İMGELEM. 2025;(Yeni Medya Çalışmaları):87-112. doi:10.53791/imgelem.1685011
Chicago
Balcıoğlu, Yavuz Selim, Ümit Bayraktar, and Ejder Güven. 2025. “The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age”. İmgelem, no. Yeni Medya Çalışmaları: 87-112. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1685011.
EndNote
Balcıoğlu YS, Bayraktar Ü, Güven E (September 1, 2025) The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age. İmgelem Yeni Medya Çalışmaları 87–112.
IEEE
[1]Y. S. Balcıoğlu, Ü. Bayraktar, and E. Güven, “The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age”, İMGELEM, no. Yeni Medya Çalışmaları, pp. 87–112, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.53791/imgelem.1685011.
ISNAD
Balcıoğlu, Yavuz Selim - Bayraktar, Ümit - Güven, Ejder. “The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age”. İmgelem. Yeni Medya Çalışmaları (September 1, 2025): 87-112. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1685011.
JAMA
1.Balcıoğlu YS, Bayraktar Ü, Güven E. The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age. İMGELEM. 2025;:87–112.
MLA
Balcıoğlu, Yavuz Selim, et al. “The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age”. İmgelem, no. Yeni Medya Çalışmaları, Sept. 2025, pp. 87-112, doi:10.53791/imgelem.1685011.
Vancouver
1.Yavuz Selim Balcıoğlu, Ümit Bayraktar, Ejder Güven. The Scrolling Paradox: Analyzing Instagram Addiction Patterns in The Digital Age. İMGELEM. 2025 Sep. 1;(Yeni Medya Çalışmaları):87-112. doi:10.53791/imgelem.1685011

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