28% of Cannabis Users Show Problematic Social Media Use — Higher Than General Population
Among 1,406 recreational cannabis users in Quebec, 28% met criteria for problematic social media use — higher than general population estimates — with TikTok and Twitter use, fear of missing out, and cannabis risk all contributing.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
27.9% of cannabis-using participants exhibited problematic social media use (PSMU). Increased PSMU odds were associated with younger age (18-20), male sex, higher cannabis use disorder risk (CAST scores), depression (PHQ-8), and fear of missing out. Use of Telegram, TikTok, Twitter/X, and Facebook Dating increased PSMU risk, while Snapchat and Threads were associated with reduced risk.
Key Numbers
1,406 participants. 27.9% met PSMU criteria. Risk factors: age 18-20, male, higher CAST/PHQ-8/On-FoMO scores. Platforms increasing risk: Telegram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Facebook Dating. Platforms decreasing risk: Snapchat, Threads.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional study of 1,406 Quebec adults who used both social media and cannabis. Validated instruments measured PSMU (BSMAS), online fear of missing out, cannabis use disorder risk (CAST), anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-8), and demographics. Regression model identified associated factors.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use and problematic social media use may share underlying vulnerabilities — impulsivity, anxiety, and difficulty regulating behavior. Understanding this overlap could help identify people at risk for compounding behavioral problems.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that specific platforms carry different risks is novel — TikTok and Twitter may promote more compulsive engagement patterns than Snapchat. Combined with the cannabis risk association, this suggests some individuals may be broadly vulnerable to reward-seeking behaviors across multiple domains.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional — cannot determine if cannabis use drives PSMU or vice versa. Quebec cannabis users may not represent other populations. Self-reported social media use. PSMU thresholds may over-identify problems. Platform associations may change as platforms evolve.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do cannabis and social media activate similar reward pathways?
- ?Would reducing one compulsive behavior help with the other?
- ?Why are some platforms more problematic than others?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Large sample with validated instruments, but cross-sectional design and cannabis-event recruitment limit causal inference.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026, examining the intersection of two rapidly growing behavioral concerns.
- Original Title:
- Problematic social media use among recreational cannabis users in Québec: A Cross-Sectional study.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors reports, 23, 100662 (2026)
- Authors:
- Deli-Houssein, Roni, Hudon, Catherine, Dufour, Isabelle, Carrier, Nathalie, Gómez, Natalia Muñoz, Deschamps, Amélie, Auger, Anne-Marie, Brodeur, Magaly
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08219
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are cannabis users more likely to have social media problems?
This study found 28% of cannabis users met criteria for problematic social media use, which is higher than general population estimates. Higher cannabis use disorder risk was also associated with worse social media use patterns.
Which social media platforms are most problematic?
Among cannabis users in this study, TikTok, Twitter/X, Telegram, and Facebook Dating were associated with increased problematic use, while Snapchat and Threads were associated with lower risk.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08219APA
Deli-Houssein, Roni; Hudon, Catherine; Dufour, Isabelle; Carrier, Nathalie; Gómez, Natalia Muñoz; Deschamps, Amélie; Auger, Anne-Marie; Brodeur, Magaly. (2026). Problematic social media use among recreational cannabis users in Québec: A Cross-Sectional study.. Addictive behaviors reports, 23, 100662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100662
MLA
Deli-Houssein, Roni, et al. "Problematic social media use among recreational cannabis users in Québec: A Cross-Sectional study.." Addictive behaviors reports, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100662
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Problematic social media use among recreational cannabis use..." RTHC-08219. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/deli-houssein-2026-problematic-social-media-use
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.