The Impact of Using Social Media at Different Age Groups on Task Completion

Yutong Cen ()
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Yutong Cen: HuaMei Bond international school

A chapter in Proceedings of the 2026 11th International Conference on Social Sciences and Economic Development (ICSSED 2026), 2026, pp 738-743 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This study examines the differential impact of social media usage patterns on task completion across age groups. Drawing upon survey data from 104 respondents collected via an online questionnaire platform, the research analyses variations in usage duration, purpose, and perceived efficiency among four age cohorts (13–22, 23–35, 36–50, and 50+). The findings indicate significant generational disparities: younger participants report higher engagement levels and greater susceptibility to task interruption, particularly due to high-frequency notifications and short-form content, whereas older cohorts demonstrate more instrumental and regulated usage patterns associated with fewer perceived disruptions. Integrating empirical data with existing theoretical debates, the study supports the dual-nature framework of social media as both a facilitative and disruptive force in productivity. The results underscore the importance of age, usage intention, and self-regulation in mediating the relationship between digital engagement and task efficiency, contributing to broader discussions on digital behaviour and generational differences in contemporary media environments.

Keywords: Social Media Use; Task Completion; Generational Differences; Digital Distraction; Productivity; Self-Regulation; Media Behaviour (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:advbcp:978-94-6239-701-9_76

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DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6239-701-9_76

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