The impact of hedonic social media use during microbreaks on employee resources recovery

This study investigates the impact of social media-related microbreaks on the resource recovery of employees. Specifically, we examined whether brief, hedonic use of social media through algorithmic videos could replenish resources such as vigor and fatigue depleted after performing clerical tasks, and compared this to other established microbreak activities. Using a pre-registered, mixed-method experimental design with 308 employees and mixed-method ANOVA complemented by quadratic linear contrasts and post-hoc analyses, we found that social media microbreaks offer partial resource replenishment but do not provide full recovery, particularly for fatigue. Social media facilitates reasonable psychological detachment but falls short in other recovery experiences. Exposure to nature yielded more beneficial results. The study contributes novel insights to a field primarily focused on the negative impacts of excessive social media use and suggests that rational and brief usage can be advantageous for employee well-being.