Dark shadows of screen: How Dark Tetrad traits, social identity, and binge-watching fuel digital fatigue

In an era of streaming saturation, understanding why individuals repeatedly engage in prolonged viewing and how such behavior relates to well-being has become increasingly important. This study examines the associations among Dark Tetrad personality traits (Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism), binge-watching behavior, and digital fatigue, and tests whether social identity formation moderates these relationships. Using survey data from 402 participants (Mage = 26.3 years; 51% female), we employed structural equation modeling with robust estimation and 5000-sample bootstrapped indirect effects to examine a moderated mediation model. The results indicate that Dark Tetrad traits are positively associated with binge-watching, and binge-watching is, in turn, positively associated with higher levels of digital fatigue. Social identity formation strengthens the association between binge-watching and digital fatigue, suggesting that individuals who are more strongly embedded in viewing-related communities experience greater fatigue. These findings highlight individual and social correlates of digital fatigue in contemporary media use and suggest the value of identity-aware and user-centered viewing interventions.