Crime, Substance Use, and Offensive Content: Exploring the Link Between Low Self-Control and Social Media Posting Behaviors among Young Adults

A growing body of research has started to examine the prevalence and consequences of posting negative or offensive content on social media sites. Yet, less attention has been given to understanding why individuals are inclined to post negative content on social media. I argue there is good reason to believe that self-control may influence inappropriate social media posting behaviors. Using a sample of young adults attending a large university, the current study examines whether low self-control is a salient predictor in explaining five different types of negative social media posts: (1) alcohol use, (2) illegal drug use, (3) non-drug-related criminal activity, (4) socially offensive content, and (5) profanity. Results indicate that individuals with low self-control are more likely to post on social media content containing alcohol use, illegal drug use, and profanity, but not offensive or non-drug-related criminal content. Findings and directions for future research and policy are discussed.