A recent study published in Scientific Reports reveals that most Instagram users overestimate their addiction to social media. Only 2% of active users meet the clinical criteria for addiction risk, despite 18% self-reporting feelings of addiction. Researchers Ian A. Anderson and Wendy Wood surveyed 1,204 U.S. adults, employing the Bergen Instagram Addiction Scale (BIAS), which assesses symptoms like salience and withdrawal. Among the Instagram users surveyed, just nine out of 380 were classified as at risk of addiction, while 20% reported frequently thinking about the platform. Symptoms like withdrawal and life conflict were uncommon, with only 4% and 6% of users reporting these issues, respectively. The study also distinguished between habitual use and addiction. While nearly half of the participants identified as habitual users, those who perceived themselves as addicted reported lower control over their use and more attempts to manage it. Media coverage of social media addiction significantly outstripped that of social media habits, with 4,383 articles on addiction compared to just 50 on habits from November 2021 to November 2024. This disproportionate media attention correlates with a surge in public concern, particularly following warnings from public health officials. In a second phase of the study, researchers examined the impact of framing Instagram use as an addiction on users' perceptions. Participants who reflected on addiction first reported feeling more addicted and less in control than those who did not. The findings suggest that the narrative surrounding social media addiction, heavily influenced by media coverage, might inflate users' perceptions of their own habits. The study indicates that control strategies for habitual use differ from those for addiction, focusing on environmental changes rather than willpower. With an estimated 2.4 million U.S. Instagram users potentially at risk for addiction, the implications for mental health and the creator economy are significant.