Exploring the Antecedents of Social Media Fatigue in the Context of Interactive Behaviours

The pervasive integration of social media into daily life has been accompanied by a growing sense of exhaustion and disengagement among users, a phenomenon widely recognized as social media fatigue. While existing research has extensively explored causes such as information overload and privacy concerns, there remains a scarcity of studies that systematically investigate the specific role of interactive behaviours in driving this fatigue. To address this gap, this study develops and tests a multi-dimensional framework integrating Uses and Gratifications Theory, the Technology Acceptance Model, and Social Network Analysis to examine how factors at the individual, platform, and social levels contribute to fatigue. Data were collected via an online survey from 150 active Chinese social media users. The results from regression analysis reveal that cross-platform social media usage, system feature overload, and social network density are significant positive predictors of social media fatigue. Conversely, the quality of social interactions exhibits a significant negative relationship with fatigue, suggesting that meaningful engagement can serve as a buffer. However, the frequency of using instant messaging platforms and participation in group interactions did not show a significant direct effect. These findings offer a nuanced understanding of the mechanisms behind social media fatigue, shifting the focus from mere usage volume to the nature and structure of interactions. The study provides valuable empirical evidence for platform designers and policymakers aiming to mitigate user burnout by optimizing interface simplicity, managing cross-platform cognitive load, and fostering higher-quality digital communication environments.