Expert issues warning to addicts as 'most harmful social media platform' is revealed

An expert has issued a warning to those who struggle with addiction after the most harmful social media platforms have been revealed.

In October, Sana Lake Recovery released its analysis which shared what it believes to be the most harmful type of social media for addicts and why.

In the last year, over 50 millions Americans are said to have struggled with some kind of addiction, one of the most common being alcohol.

Recovering alcoholic Corey Warren has recently been sharing his experiences online and shared the difference between being a casual drinker and having a problem with booze.

According to Warren, this is when you drink so much you end up blacking out.

Now, if you're someone like Warren who is recovering from addiction, there's supposedly some particular social media platforms you should stay clear of, and the top one might surprise you.

The findings

Some social media sites are supposedly more harmful for those recovering from addiction (Getty Stock)

Sana Lake Recovery's analysis states: "With only 1,283 sobriety and recovery-related hashtags, Reddit is the #1 most harmful social platform for people struggling with addiction.

"Reddit is known to be a platform that can be quite toxic, as individuals can make posts, comments, and subreddits all under an anonymous username and with their own community rules.

"This can be difficult for someone looking to be more vulnerable with their recovery journey, as there might not be as many inviting communities as there are on other social platforms. It’s also a known platform for misinformation, and for individuals seeking help with addiction, this can be extremely dangerous."

After Reddit, Twitter (now called X) and BlueSky were also dubbed as 'harmful'.

What the expert says

Reddit, X, and BlueSky were named as the most harmful (Getty Stock)

With this analysis in mind, Ashley Murry, LCSW, Chief Clinical Officer at Sana Lake Recovery, has issued a warning to those who are recovering form addiction and using social media a lot.

"The environment is everything in recovery," said Murry. "In rural states with limited harm reduction funding and resources, people often turn to platforms like Reddit, X, and more to find answers. However, these platforms can often replace professional care and advice with misinformation."

She continued: "The risks increase when scrolling through comment threads and posts from anonymous accounts, and not from licensed professionals. If you find yourself seeking validation or answers from anonymous accounts rather than trusted individuals, to avoid possibly being triggered, it is best to seek the help of a medical professional."

Reddit's response

Reddit has refuted the new analysis (Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

In the wake of the findings, Reddit has issued a statement to UNILAD refuting that the platform is 'harmful'.

A spokesperson told us: "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.

"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 want friendly, confidential advice about addiction, you can call American Addiction Centers on (313) 209-9137 24/7, or contact them through their website.