Addictive Social Media Use Mediates the Association Between Social Media Time and Nicotine Experimentation in Early Adolescents

Social media time may influence early adolescents’ nicotine experimentation, but the mediating role of addictive social media use is understudied. To examine the prospective association between social media time and nicotine experimentation, and quantify mediation by addictive social media use. Using Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study data, generalized structural equation modeling assessed associations between Year 2 social media time, Year 3 addictive social media use, and Year 4 nicotine experimentation, adjusting for sociodemographic and mental health covariates, Year 2 addictive social media use, and positive smoking expectancies. Among 8,293 U.S. early adolescents (mean age: 12.0 years), Year 3 addictive social media use predicted greater nicotine experimentation (coefficient [B] = 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30–0.54, p < 0.001). Greater Year 2 social media time predicted greater Year 3 addictive social media use (B = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.05–0.09, p < 0.001). Addictive social media use mediated 25.2% (95% CI: 9.1%–41.3%, p = 0.002) of the association. Household income moderated this association, with a stronger indirect association among higher-income adolescents. Addictive social media use substantially explained the link between social media time and nicotine experimentation, highlighting potential prevention targets.