GOR, March 2014, Cologne/Germany contact details: Prof. Dr. C. Bosau phone: +49 221 20302-692 Schaevenstr. 1 a/b mail: bosau@rfh-koeln.de 50676 Köln web: http://www.rfh-koeln.de

References: Baron, R.M. & Kenney, D.A. (1986). The Moderator-Mediator Variable Distinction in Social Psychological Research: Conceptual, Strategic, and Statistical Considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 51 (6). 1173-1182. Bosau, C. (2013). Privacy protection as a matter of trust – how trust in Facebook and trust in friends lead to different behaviour in social networks. 8th Conference of the Media Psychology Division (German Psychological Society) in Würzburg. Hahn, A. & Jerusalem, M. (2010). Die Internetsuchtskala (ISS): Psychometrische Eigenschaften und Validität. In: D. Mücken, A. Teske, F. Rehbein, & B.T. te Wildt, (Eds.). Prävention, Diagnostik und Therapie von Computerspielabhängigkeit (pp. 185-204). Lengerich: Pabst Science Publishers. JWT (2012). Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), March 2012. Retrieved from: http://www.jwtintelligence.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/F _JWT_FOMO- update_3.21.12.pdf [01.09.2012]. Masur, P. (2013). Addictive Behavior on Social Network Sites - The Role of Intrinsic Needs and Motives in Explaining Facebook Addiction. 8th Conference of the Media Psychology Division (German Psychological Society) in Würzburg. Przybylski, A.K., Murayama, K., DeHaan, C.R. & Gladwell, V. (2013). Motivational, emotional, and behavioural correlates of fear of missing out. Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 29, pp. 1841-1848. Turkle, S. (2011). Alone together: Why we expect more from technology and less from each other. New York: Basic Books.

Results: §  The results show that Facebook usage can potentially lead to addiction, since users that highly use Facebook score higher on all of the addiction aspects. §  It is necessary to differentiate between Input-behaviour vs. Output-behaviour in Facebook usage, since both kinds of behaviour have dissimilar consequences. §  FoMO plays an important role in explaining why Facebook usage can lead to addiction, since it seems to be an important mediator in this relationship. Even more, the mediation effect of FoMO differs systematically between the two different kinds of behaviour. §  While Output-behaviour has a direct effect on loss of control and tolerance, its effect on work & performance, withdrawal state and social harm is mediated by FoMO. Oppositely, Input-behaviour has a direct effect on withdrawal state and social harm, while its effect on work & performance, loss of control and tolerance is mediated by FoMO. §  Added Value: The study is a first step in clarifying how the usage of social networks can make people become addicted. Furthermore, the importance of the fairly new term FoMO is emphasized because of its high explanatory power.

Regression analysis: Sample & Method: Dataset: 85 Facebook-Users answered a questionnaire via Facebook, Email-Lists, etc. Statistical analysis: regression & mediation analysis (Baron & Kenney, 1986).

Measures: Facebook-Usage: measured by two different indicators (see Bosau, 2013): a) Input-behaviour (e.g. posting, uploading pictures, etc.) b) Output-behaviour (e.g. reading comments, looking at friend’s pictures, etc.) Facebook addiction: measuring classical addiction criteria: loss of control, withdrawal state, evidence of tolerance, harm to social relationships and harm to work and performance (Masur, 2013; based on the Internet addiction scale - ISS - by Hahn & Jerusalem, 2010) Fear of Missing Out (FoMO): measuring the fear of missing out regarding important information about friends, their activities, loosing contact to friends, etc. (Przybylski, Murayama, DeHaan & Gladwell, 2013)

Theoretical Background: §  While social networks clearly have positive effects on people’s live, they might also produce negative consequences (Turkle, 2011). §  For instance, it is discussed whether – besides internet addiction - a type of Facebook addiction exists in todays online world (Masur, 2013). §  Still, it is not totally clear, why normal Facebook usage could turn into addiction. §  Lately, the term Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is discussed as a new and potentially important aspect in explaining people’s online behaviour especially in social networks (JWT, 2012; Przybylski, Murayama, DeHaan & Gladwell, 2013). §  However, the specific causal relationships between Facebook behaviour, addiction and FoMO have not been clarified yet.

FB addiction

total

FB addiction work &

performance

FB addiction

withdrawal state

FB addiction

loss of control

FB addiction

social harm

FB addiction

tolerance

Age -.12* -.24*** n.s. n.s. -.14* n.s.

Gender n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. .27*** (m) n.s.

FoMO .45*** .37*** .37*** n.s. .25* .52***

Output n.s. n.s. n.s. .35*** n.s. .20*

Input .24** n.s. .48*** n.s. .53*** n.s.

Fear of Missing Out (FoMO): The missing link in explaining Facebook addiction? Bosau C., Aelker, L. & Amaadachou, H.

*** p < .01; ** p < .05; * p < .10; all coefficients are standardized beta-coefficients

β = .62*** with- drawal state mediation: β = .15

total effect: β = .57***

FoMO

β = .68***

Output

Mediation analysis (controlled for age & gender) – withdrawal state, loss of control, social harm & tolerance

contact details: Prof. Dr. C. Bosau Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln phone: +49 221 20302-692 Schaevenstr. 1 a/b mail: bosau@rfh-koeln.de 50676 Köln web: http://www.rfh-koeln.de

GOR, March 2014, Cologne/Germany

β = .21

loss of control

mediation: β = .33** total effect: β = .47***

FoMO

β = .68***

Output

β = .52***

social harm

mediation: β = -.01 total effect: β = .34***

FoMO

β = .68***

Output

β = .55***

tolerance mediation: β = .22** total effect: β = .59***

FoMO

β = .68***

Output

β = .38*** with- drawal state mediation: β = .49***

total effect: β = .75***

FoMO

β = .69***

Input

β = .41***

loss of control

mediation: β = .02 total effect: β = .31***

FoMO

β = .69***

Input

β = .17

social harm

mediation: β = .48*** total effect: β = .60***

FoMO

β = .69***

Input

β = .61***

tolerance mediation: β = .12 total effect: β = .54***

FoMO

β = .68***

Input