Digital strain in the workplace: the role of instrumental social platform use on employee emotional exhaustion

Purpose As digitalization increasingly permeates work environments, employees' persistent use of social platforms for task management, collaboration, and information sharing (i. e., instrumental use) has become widespread. However, its potential negative impact on mental health remains under-examined. To explore this phenomenon, this study constructs a chained path model—“social tool use → digital fatigue → work-family conflict → emotional exhaustion”—based on resource conservation theory and boundary theory, while examining the moderating role of digital literacy. Design/methodology/approach Through empirical research, this study constructed and validated a chained mediation model. Structural equation modeling and other methods were employed to examine the pathways from “social tool use → digital fatigue → work-family conflict → emotional exhaustion” and the moderating effect of digital literacy. Findings (1) Instrumental use of social platforms significantly positively associated with emotional exhaustion; (2) Digital fatigue and work-family conflict not only mediate this relationship individually but also form a chained mediating association; and (3) Digital literacy effectively mitigates the negative impact of social tool use on digital fatigue. Originality/value This research deepens and expands the understanding of the formation mechanisms of stressors in digital work environments, helping enterprises navigate the dual effects of social platform tools. It provides “mitigation” strategies for companies that have already deployed such tools, while also offering decision-making and implementation guidance for those still observing.