Body Image

From scrolling to injecting: Social media’s role in rising steroid intentions

February 24, 2026

A survey of 1,515 boys and men in Canada and the U.S. (mean age, 24) found that specific social media behaviors—not overall screen time—were associated with stronger intentions to use anabolic‑androgenic steroids (AAS). Each additional hour of daily social media use was associated with higher AAS intention scores, as was time spent web browsing. Symptoms of social media addiction also showed an independent association. Viewing muscular bodies, supplement ads, or drug‑related content had even stronger links, and frequent body comparisons similarly correlated with higher intentions. Other screen modalities showed no association. Authors note that content type and engagement patterns may be key risk factors.

Clinical takeaway: Ask adolescent and young adult male patients about their social media habits and exposure to physique‑focused content; early, nonjudgmental conversations may help identify and deter emerging AAS use intentions.

Source:

Ganson KT, et al. (2026, February 20). Body Image. Social media engagement and anabolic-androgenic steroid use intentions among boys and men in Canada and the United States. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41722349/