Reality Shifting among Social Media Users: An Investigation of Psychological Phenomenology
Shweta Sunil, Manoj Kumar Sharma, Nitin Anand
Imagination, Cognition and Personality February 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/02762366261420413 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study with focus groups and cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 59 |
| Population | Reality Shifters and Non-Reality Shifters aged 17 to 30 |
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Social media Phenomenology philosophy Novelty Focus group Thematic analysis Social reality Empirical research Visual media |
| Key findings | Reality Shifting may help serve novelty seeking needs through fantasy proneness and parasocial relationships, with social media providing resources but also leading to negative consequences. |
Abstract
Reality Shifting (RS) is a practice that gained traction recently, particularly after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Reality Shifters believe in the existence of multiple realities. Considering that no empirical research has studied this topic, this study emphasizes the exploration of the phenomenology of RS among social media users. Focus Group Discussions were conducted with two groups: a RS Group (6 individuals) and a Non-RS Group (10 individuals). Thematic Analysis was conducted, and a Data Sheet was developed and administered online with other standardised tools to 19 Reality Shifters and 40 Non-Reality Shifters (aged 17 to 30). It indicates that RS may help serve novelty seeking needs through fantasy proneness and parasocial relationships. Social media helps understand and seek resources (like subliminals) for the practice, but seems to have negative consequences (excessive use and adverse online experiences). It has implications to see the role of social media in accessing alternate experiences which could also have an impact on pattern and frequency of social media use.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on philosophy of mind, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative thematic analysis of the phenomenology of near-death experiences Cardiac arrest survivors | 2018 | Qualitative study | n = 34 |
| Phenomenology and Sequelae of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Use Psychiatrists who had taken MDMA | 1992 | Qualitative study | n = 20 |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Evoking the ineffable: The phenomenology of extreme sports. Extreme sports participants across three continents, including BASE jumping, big wave... | 2017 | Qualitative study | n = 15 |
| Phenomenology and content of the inhaled N, N-dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) experience. Naturalistic inhaled N,N-DMT experiences posted to the r/DMT Reddit community | 2022 | Qualitative analysis | n = 3,778 |