Abstract

This study examines the emotional experiences and impacts of social media use among middle-aged adults across six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, and the United Kingdom). Using a qualitative, cross-cultural approach, six focus groups were conducted with 46 individuals aged 40–65, most of whom were male (n = 30, 65.2%). Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three primary themes were observed as follows: (a) emotional impacts of social media use and distancing, reflecting users’ attempts to manage exhaustion, fatigue, and psychological strain by discontinuing their usage; (b) mistrust of social media and online news, with increased skepticism shared toward misinformation, algorithmic manipulation, and emerging artificial intelligence technologies; and (c) aggression on social media, including exposure to hostile environments and the adoption of defensive strategies to avoid them. Overall, findings illustrated a pattern of behavioral shift over time in this middle-aged group, where past habits of active engagement and sharing gave way to present-day mistrust and disengagement, as participants sought to protect themselves from emotional and informational harm and exhaustion. Although the literature has focused primarily on examining social media experiences of younger populations, this study addresses a gap by investigating the experiences of middle-aged individuals. Discussion highlights the need for interventions aiming to reduce fatigue, exhaustion, and distress, and to enhance skills for understanding misinformation and improving trust in social media.