An expert has issued a warning for individuals struggling with addiction following a report about the most harmful social media platforms.
Sana Lake Recovery shared its findings in October, identifying what it considers to be the most detrimental social media platforms for addicts and the reasons behind it.
In the past year, more than 50 million Americans reportedly faced some form of addiction, with alcohol being one of the most prevalent issues.
Corey Warren, a recovering alcoholic, has been sharing his journey online and discussing the difference between social drinking and having a drinking problem.
Warren describes problematic drinking as consuming so much alcohol that it leads to blackouts.
For those like Warren who are on the path to recovery, certain social media platforms should be avoided, with the most harmful one being somewhat unexpected.
According to Sana Lake Recovery’s analysis: “With only 1,283 sobriety and recovery-related hashtags, Reddit is the #1 most harmful social platform for people struggling with addiction.”
Reddit is described as a platform that can often be toxic, allowing users to create posts, comments, and subreddits under anonymous usernames with personalized community rules.
This environment can pose challenges for those seeking vulnerability during their recovery journey, as it may not offer as welcoming communities compared to other social platforms. Furthermore, Reddit is noted for misinformation, which can be particularly hazardous for individuals seeking support with addiction.
Following Reddit, platforms like Twitter (now X) and BlueSky were also classified as ‘harmful’.
With these findings, Ashley Murry, LCSW, Chief Clinical Officer at Sana Lake Recovery, issued a caution to those in recovery who frequently use social media.
Murry emphasized, “The environment is everything in recovery. In rural areas with limited harm reduction funding and resources, people may turn to platforms like Reddit, X, and more for answers. However, these platforms can often replace professional care and advice with misinformation.”
She further explained: “The risks increase when relying on anonymous accounts for validation or answers, rather than trusted individuals. To avoid potential triggers, it is advisable to seek assistance from a medical professional.”
In response to the report, Reddit issued a statement disputing the claim that the platform is harmful.
A spokesperson stated: “This report’s methodology is not only unclear, it’s inaccurate. For one, Reddit doesn’t use hashtags, so that’s clearly not the best way to assess content on our platform.”
They continued, “Reddit hosts a wide variety of addiction support communities and plays a critical role in many users’ recovery journeys. Numerous academic studies have found that Reddit is helpful and supportive for people suffering from addiction. We also have strict sitewide rules to keep our users safe and teams, tools, and processes to enforce them.”
If you need confidential advice about addiction, you can call American Addiction Centers at (313) 209-9137 anytime, or visit their website for more information.