Need factors and preoccupation among mobile social media users

Social networking sites provide mobile applications to induce users to rely on and use them. Social media apps (SMAs) create, amplify, strengthen, disseminate, and consume social signals from peers and the general public. These signals are prolonging deep engagement and participation. SMAs take advantage of user needs (for belonging, self-actualisation, enjoyment, self-identity, and self-esteem), which results in the excessive use of SMAs, which then causes cognitive preoccupation. A total of 1,551 questionnaires indicated that belonging needs positively affect the excessive social use of SMAs. Self-actualisation and enjoyment needs positively affect the excessive hedonic use of SMAs. Self-identity and self-esteem needs positively affect the excessive cognitive use of SMAs. Excessive use (social, hedonic, and cognitive use) of SMAs positively affects cognitive preoccupation. SMAs must ensure the enjoyment and social needs of users. Regarding the balance between benefits and social responsibilities, SMA operators should provide healthy apps without causing conflicts in SMA users.