Social media · the evidence
Does social media affect dopamine?
Grade BHuman observational or animal evidence
What the research says
Our evidence catalogue links 8 studies to social media: 1 PET imaging study, 2 reviews, 3 observational studies, 1 other source and 1 fMRI study.
The strongest supporting study is Westbrook 2021, a PET brain-imaging study of 22 people published in iScience. It measured [18F]-DOPA PET striatal dopamine synthesis capacity vs proportion of social-app interactions in day-to-day smartphone logs.
In the authors' words: “Specifically, we find that a higher proportion of social app interactions correlates with lower dopamine synthesis capacity in the bilateral putamen.”
Evidence grade: B, human observational or animal evidence.
How the app explains it
Endless feeds serve unpredictable social rewards, and each pull-to-refresh is a small VTA→NAc anticipation burst the circuit learns to expect. The one PET study on this (Westbrook 2021, [18F]DOPA, n=22) measured dopamine synthesis capacity, not D2 receptors: people with a higher share of social-app interactions had lower synthesis capacity in the putamen. No human study has shown D2 downregulation from social media, so the receptor-level part of this score is an editorial estimate.
Pathway: variable-reward VTA→NAc burst; lower DA synthesis capacity (Westbrook 2021); D2 change not measured
This is the mechanism card shown on this habit in the app. It is editorial copy written from the studies below; where it and a study disagree, the study wins.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it means
- There is published research on how social media relates to the brain's reward system, and every study it rests on is listed below with a link.
- The evidence is real but indirect: observational studies in people, brain imaging without a measured effect size, or work in animals.
- If social media is costing you sleep, focus or time, cutting back and tracking it is a reasonable experiment. How you feel over a few weeks is the result that matters.
What it doesn't
- It does not show that a "dopamine detox" resets anything. None of the studies listed here tested a detox programme.
- It is not a measurement of your brain. The app's score for social media is an editorial estimate: studies support the mechanism, they do not validate the number.
- It is not a diagnosis or medical advice. If social media feels out of control, a doctor or counsellor can help.
The studies (8)
Every study linked to this habit in our catalogue, including the ones that disagree. Quotes are verbatim from each abstract. How grades are computed
Main study·Human PET imaging · n = 22
Striatal dopamine synthesis capacity reflects smartphone social activity
Westbrook 2021, iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.102497
Measured: [18F]-DOPA PET striatal dopamine synthesis capacity vs proportion of social-app interactions in day-to-day smartphone logs
“Specifically, we find that a higher proportion of social app interactions correlates with lower dopamine synthesis capacity in the bilateral putamen.”
Also cited for: Compulsive phone checking
Supporting·Review
Neurobiological risk factors for problematic social media use as a specific form of Internet addiction: A narrative review
Tereshchenko 2023, World J Psychiatry · doi:10.5498/wjp.v13.i5.160
Measured: Narrative review of neurobiological risk factors for problematic social media use
“A review of the literature shows that the vast majority of the mentioned neurobiological studies were focused on computer games addiction and generalized Internet addiction (without taking into account the consumed content).”
Also cited for: Compulsive phone checking, Scrolling TikTok and YouTube
Supporting·Human observational · n = 20
Brain anatomy alterations associated with Social Networking Site (SNS) addiction
He 2017, Sci Rep · doi:10.1038/srep45064
Measured: Grey matter volume (voxel-based morphometry, structural MRI) vs degree of social networking site addiction; dopamine not measured
“SNS addiction is associated with a presumably more efficient impulsive brain system, manifested through reduced grey matter volumes in the amygdala bilaterally (but not with structural differences in the Nucleus Accumbens).”
Supporting·Human observational · n = 100
Modern Day High: The Neurocognitive Impact of Social Media Usage
Satani 2025, Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.87496
Measured: 24-channel EEG band power during 30-minute social media sessions; dopamine not measured
“Our findings show that social media engages in brain reward pathways akin to those seen in addictive behavior, with extended Beta and Gamma activity having the potential to interfere with emotional regulation and attention.”
Also cited for: Compulsive phone checking, Scrolling TikTok and YouTube
Supporting·Human observational · n = 66
Relationship between peripheral blood dopamine level and internet addiction disorder in adolescents: a pilot study
Liu 2015, Int J Clin Exp Med
Measured: Peripheral blood (plasma) dopamine by ELISA in 33 adolescents with internet addiction disorder vs 33 matched controls
Reported effect: 0.457 Pearson r, plasma dopamine vs Internet Addiction Test score
“Furthermore, the plasma dopamine level was significantly correlated with the Internet Addiction Test score (r = 0.457, P < 0.001).”
Supporting·Review
Social Media Algorithms and Teen Addiction: Neurophysiological Impact and Ethical Considerations
De 2025, Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.77145
Measured: Review of neurophysiological impact of algorithmic social media on adolescents and ethical considerations
“Frequent engagement with social media platforms alters dopamine pathways, a critical component in reward processing, fostering dependency analogous to substance addiction.”
Also cited for: Compulsive phone checking, Scrolling TikTok and YouTube
Supporting·Other
Dopamine-scrolling: a modern public health challenge requiring urgent attention
Sharpe 2025, Perspect Public Health · doi:10.1177/17579139251331914
Measured: Two-page public-health perspective defining dopamine-scrolling; no data
“While extensive research exists on Internet addiction, problematic social media use, and doom-scrolling, the authors of this paper identify dopamine-scrolling as a distinct behavioural pattern that warrants specific attention from public health professionals and policymakers.”
Also cited for: Compulsive phone checking, Scrolling TikTok and YouTube
Supporting·Human fMRI
Neuroanatomical and functional substrates of the short video addiction and its association with brain transcriptomic and cellular architecture
Gao 2025, Neuroimage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121029
Measured: Grey matter volume and resting-state spontaneous activity vs short-video addiction severity (inter-subject RSA) with transcriptomic mapping; non-clinical sample; dopamine not measured
“Structurally, SVA was positively correlated with increased morphological volumes in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and bilateral cerebellum.”
Also cited for: Scrolling TikTok and YouTube
Quick answers
- Does social media affect dopamine?
- Our evidence catalogue links 8 studies to social media: 1 PET imaging study, 2 reviews, 3 observational studies, 1 other source and 1 fMRI study. The strongest supporting study is Westbrook 2021, a PET brain-imaging study of 22 people published in iScience. It measured [18F]-DOPA PET striatal dopamine synthesis capacity vs proportion of social-app interactions in day-to-day smartphone logs.
- How strong is the evidence on social media and dopamine?
- Grade B: human observational or animal evidence. Grades are computed from each study's design, whether it measured an effect, and any contradicting findings.
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