Residents in These 10 States Are Statistically Obsessed With Social Media the Most
Truth be told, we all know people who are glued to their phones. You might even classify yourself as being part of that group.
For better or worse, social media has become deeply ingrained in our culture, causing many to call for regulations and further research. Digital marketing agency Hennessey Digital recently unveiled a report ranking the states most fixated on social media.
Methodology
Hennessey Digital analyzed the monthly search volumes for popular social media sites, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Researchers divided the data by state and considered search volumes for every 100,000 people.
These are the states most addicted to social media.
1: Oregon
Oregon is the most social media-obsessed state in America. The Beaver State’s residents made 140,376 searches per 100,000 people for social media sites over the 12-month study period. YouTube racked up the highest search volume in the state, followed by Facebook and Instagram.
2: Maine
In Maine, most of the searches were for Facebook, though YouTube and Instagram followed close behind. The overall search volume in the Pine Tree State was 138,460.
3: Massachusetts
Hennessey Digital researchers discovered Massachusetts residents searched for social media 138,266 times per 100,000 people. YouTube was the top search in the Bay State with 53,691 searches.
4: New York
New York had 138,163 searches per 100,000 people. The app of choice in the Empire State is YouTube, but Instagram and Facebook also ranked highly.
5: Washington
Washingtonians love YouTube, with over 53,000 searches for the video platform per 100,000 people. Overall social media search volume in the Evergreen State was 136,373.
6: Virginia
In Virginia, the overall social media search volume was 135,893. Most people searched for YouTube, but Instagram and Facebook were also popular.
7: Maryland
Maryland residents searched for social media sites 135,873 times per 100,000 people. YouTube was the favorite, with over 54,000 average monthly searches.
8: Georgia
There were 134,690 social media site searches per 100,000 residents in Georgia. Lt. Governor Burt Jones recently introduced legislation to protect Georgia children on social media by requiring school boards to adopt protective social media policies.
9: New Hampshire
In 2023, Governor Chris Sununu signed an executive order to investigate the harmful effects of social media on children. The Granite State sees an average of 133,911 social media searches per 100,000 residents, according to Hennessey Digital research.
10: North Carolina
North Carolina sees 133,110 average monthly social media searches per 100,000 people. A recent survey by North Carolina’s High Point University found 83% of state residents use social media, but only 21% think it’s a good thing.
Everyone’s On It
According to Statista, there are over 302 million social media users in the U.S., and social media sites have a 92% penetration rate in the country. In other words, the obsession with social media isn’t limited to the states on this list; it’s nationwide.
Not a Good Thing
Though almost everyone seems to have a social media account with at least one of the major platforms, most Americans don’t see social media as beneficial. According to Pew Research Center, 64% of Americans say social media has a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the country.
The Big Concerns
Pew Research polling also uncovered what Americans think is worrisome about social media. The biggest issues were the spread of misinformation, hate, harassment, and the formation of echo chambers.
Especially For Teens
While Americans appear to be concerned about social media’s impact on the nation overall, many researchers are especially worried about its effects on adolescents. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, 95% of children ages 13-17 are on social media.
Warning
The U.S. Surgeon General warned that social media has especially negative effects on the developing brains of teenage users. He pointed out that teens who spend more than three hours per day on social media report higher rates of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
Current Average Use
Surveys suggest teens use social media more than three hours per day. The current average, listed in the Surgeon General’s report, was 3.5 hours, and many teens reported being on social media platforms “almost constantly.”
Risk to Grownups Too
Reports suggest that social media’s negative mental health effects spread to many grownups, too. A recent survey by U.S. News and World Report found that most users, regardless of age, said social media amplified their feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.
Not All Bad
There’s a lot of research pointing to how terrible social media is, but experts also say it has positives. In an interview with the Columbia School of Public Health, psychologists noted that social media platforms are important sources of socialization and relationship building.
Finding Yourself
Experts also said social media gives adolescents an outlet to figure out who they are. However, they cautioned that social media could provide inaccurate depictions of what’s expected by society, which can be detrimental to teens trying to establish their identity.
Fixing Social Media
In 2021, MIT hosted a social media summit to address the problems associated with social media use and discuss potential solutions. They turned their recommendations into a report available to the general public.
Regulation
One suggestion from the MIT summit was to increase regulation on social media sites. Researchers suggest that the U.S. works with the European Union to develop government regulations that benefit social media users.
Changing the Advertising Model
Another suggestion from the summit was to consider moving away from the advertising model, which creates an “attention economy.” Instead, they suggested considering subscription options. However, as one researcher noted, it would be a problem if the best information is kept behind a paywall.
Slow Interactions
“Part of the problem is frictionless systems that allow users to easily retweet and share this kind of (mis)information,” one expert at the Summit noted. They suggested finding ways to slow down interactions, forcing people to think longer before they post or share.
Data Transparency
The MIT summit experts also noted that algorithmic transparency is important. If researchers can analyze social media data without revealing personal user information, they can better understand malicious use and propose ways to prevent it. Meta-owned platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook do not readily share usage data with researchers.
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