The Social Media Dilemma: Who’s in Control?
SMACS (Social Media Agency and Control Study) — Pilot Version 1 questionnaire for a 30-day social-media use research assessment
A — Participation and Consent
Adult Participant Information and Consent
This pilot study asks adults about social-media use, control, and related behaviors. It should take about 5–10 minutes to complete.
Your participation is voluntary. You may stop at any time. There are no guaranteed benefits. Risks are minimal, but some questions may feel personal. Your responses will be handled confidentially and reported only in aggregate, and privacy protections have limits.
Research contact: JBC research team.
Ethics/data-retention contacts: pending final study details.
Please review the statements below before continuing.
I confirm that I am 18 years of age or older.
*
Yes
No
I have read the study information and voluntarily agree to participate.
*
Yes
No
Voluntary participation consent
*
Yes
No
Participant Code
*
B — Demographic Information
Age
*
18–29
30–44
45–59
60–69
70+
The participating group is identified through the participant code; you do not need to enter the group name.
Gender
*
Male
Female
Prefer not to answer
C — Social-Media Exposure
Which social media platforms do you use?
*
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
TikTok
X/Twitter
Snapchat
Reddit
LinkedIn
I rarely or never use social media
Other
On average, how much time do you spend on social media each day?
*
Less than 30 minutes
30–59 minutes
1–2 hours
2–3 hours
3–4 hours
More than 4 hours
Unsure
How often do you check social media on a typical day?
*
1–5 times
6–10 times
11–20 times
21–40 times
More than 40 times
Unsure
What is your primary reason for using social media?
*
Communication with friends or family
News or information
Entertainment
Faith/religious content
Work or professional activity
Education
Community involvement
Creating or sharing content
Other
D — Social Media Agency and Control
Instructions
D1. When I open social media, I usually know specifically why I am opening it.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
D2. When I decide that it is time to stop using social media, I am usually able to stop.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
D3. I deliberately choose what I want to view rather than simply continuing through whatever the platform presents next.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
D4. My emotional state—such as boredom, stress, loneliness, frustration, or excitement—often leads me to open social media.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
D5. What I encounter on social media noticeably changes my mood.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
D6. I spend longer on social media than I originally intended.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
D7. I am comfortable going through periods of free time without checking social media.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
D8. Likes, comments, replies, shares, views, or other social-media responses noticeably affect how I feel.
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost Always
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost Always
E — Behavioral Anchors
During the past 30 days, how often have you opened a social-media app automatically and then realized that you had not consciously decided to open it?
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost daily or daily
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost daily or daily
During the past 30 days, how often did you intend to use social media briefly but remain on it substantially longer than you planned?
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost daily or daily
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost daily or daily
During the past 30 days, how often did you decide to stop using social media but continue scrolling, watching, reading, or interacting anyway?
*
Never
1
2
3
4
Almost daily or daily
5
1 is Never, 5 is Almost daily or daily
F — Response Consistency Items
F1. Once I have decided to leave social media, I usually leave without returning immediately or continuing to browse.
*
1—Never
2—Rarely
3—Sometimes
4—Often
5—Almost Always
F2. I sometimes find myself using social media even though using it was not what I had intended to do at that moment.
*
1—Never
2—Rarely
3—Sometimes
4—Often
5—Almost Always
G — Response Attention Check
This question helps us determine whether the questionnaire has been read carefully.
For this question only, please select ‘Rarely.’
*
Never
Rarely
Sometimes
Often
Almost Always
H — Self-Perceived Control
Overall, how much control do you believe you have over your own social-media use?
*
No control at all
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Complete control
10
0 is No control at all, 10 is Complete control
Verified Participant Code
Submit
Should be Empty: