iGen + Technology: A Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Screen Time and Social Media on Sexual Desire

Researchers have extensively analyzed generational cohorts as a means of understanding economic, social, behavioral, and political trends. A growing body of literature has focused on Millennials (individuals born between 1981 and 1996) because of their large makeup within the U.S. population, their early exposure to mobile phones and social media, and their divergent view of the world, compared with previous generations. Millennials have exhibited an increase in depression and anxiety-related symptoms (Twenge, 2017). However, iGen (born between 1995 and 2012), the first digitally native generation, has not received the same degree of attention. Similar to Millennials, GenZ has reported high levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Notably, they also report fewer romantic partners (Twenge et al., 2018). This study focuses on the effects of screen time and social media among iGen on sexual desire and on whether general distress is a potential mechanism of this relationship. Utilizing a three-time point longitudinal design with a sample of 317 young adults, this study evaluated the links among screen time and social media, and general distress and sexual desire. It was hypothesized that the negative effects of screen time and social media consumption on sexual desire would be mediated by increased distress and these effects would be stronger for women. There were modest cross-sectional links between social media and general distress at each time point (rs ~ .20) and smaller links between social media and screen time (rs ~ .10). However, social media did not longitudinally predict increased distress. As a result, the hypothesized mediational pathway of social media/screen time> general distress > sexual desire did not emerge, nor did gender moderate these mediational effects. However, although there was no evidence that screen time and social media led to increased distress at a subsequent time point, an exploratory analysis revealed that increased passive and active social media consumption resulted in heightened levels of sexual desire at a subsequent time point. The findings are discussed in the context of shared dopaminergic pathways of social media and sexual desire.