June 2017 PMID 28442353

Facebook usage on smartphones and gray matter volume of the nucleus accumbens.

Christian Montag, Alexander Markowetz, Konrad Blaszkiewicz, Ionut Andone, Bernd Lachmann, Rayna Sariyska, Boris Trendafilov, Mark Eibes, Julia Kolb, Martin Reuter, Bernd Weber, Sebastian Markett

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Mentions

Peak: 3 in Nov 2019

across 6 sources since Nov 2019

Extended reach

29,949

potential audience

Total likes

Video views

1,871

Mentions per month

Nov 2019 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

News40 articles
Facebook10 posts
X / Twitter6 posts
Blogs5 articles
Reddit4 posts
YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects a mix of curiosity and caution, with some posts highlighting the connection between Facebook use and brain changes, such as 'more Facebook = less brain', while others warn about social media's potential harm, like 'It'll rot your brain.' The choice of language varies from straightforward summaries to dismissive comments, illustrating a moderate level of recognition and concern without deep scientific engagement.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize and reflect on the study's findings about Facebook use and brain structure, indicating general agreement or acceptance.

InterestModerate interest

The posts show curiosity about the research, but the tone remains somewhat superficial or dismissive, limiting deep engagement.

EngagementNeutral engagement

Participants briefly reference the research or share opinions but do not delve into detailed analysis or critical discussion.

ImpactModerate impact

There is a recognition that the findings are noteworthy and potentially influential, though discussions do not strongly emphasize broader implications.

Abstract in brief

A recent study found that higher activity in the nucleus accumbens, a brain area associated with reward, is linked to gaining reputation on social media like Facebook.
The current research observed that people who checked Facebook more frequently on their smartphones over five weeks tended to have smaller gray matter volumes in the nucleus accumbens.
This study supports the idea that Facebook provides rewarding experiences and demonstrates that it's possible to include real-life smartphone usage data in neuroscience research.]

Read the full abstract

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tilbot

@tilbots · X

Higher use of Facebook is linked with smaller volume of the nucleus accumbens (more Facebook = less brain) https://t.co/XSbKae0DYj

Feb 15, 2022 · 2 likes · 4,816 followers View post →

Steve

@didix8x7x · X

@plinian_put @CaloriesProper Ps get off of social media. It'll rot your brain like the caffeine boogeyman https://t.co/l6cigEfbum

Oct 23, 2021 · 6 followers View post →

Dr. Roy Schestowitz (罗伊)

@schestowitz · X

● NEWS ● #NIH #Health ☞ #Facebook usage on smartphones and gray matter volume of the nucleus accumbens https://t.co/dWHec1B696

May 15, 2021 · 6,594 followers View post →

Dimitris Bolis

@dimitrisbolis · X

RT @leoschilbach: Facebook usage on smartphones and gray matter volume of the nucleus accumbens https://t.co/zuMi13R8WP

Nov 8, 2019 · 2 shares · 3,147 followers View post →

Leonhard Schilbach

@leoschilbach · X