From distractions to detox

Purpose – Society 5.0, which places humans at the forefront, utilizes Industry 4.0 technologies to enhance social sustainability and quality of life. This study takes an innovative approach by investigating the role of social cyberloafing in promoting social sustainability in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through integrating technological recovery experiences, such as relaxation, psychological detachment, mastery experiences, and control during leisure. Design/methodology/approach – Employing the effort recovery model, this study explains whether social cyberloafing affects social sustainability. The empirical data from two hundred and fifty-four individuals from manufacturing and services SME firms in Turkey were collected and analyzed via a structural equation model. Findings – Structural analysis indicates that social cyberloafing positively impacts employees’ social sustainability and recovery experiences. Moreover, two constructs of recovery experiences, psychological detachment and relaxation, fully mediate the relationship between social cyberloafing and social sustainability, whereas mastery experiences and control during leisure play insignificant roles. Practical implications – These findings challenge the traditional management view of cyberloafing as harmful and distracting. They demonstrate that social cyberloafing can be a beneficial recovery experience, but excessive cyberloafing can also hinder social performance. This insight is crucial for managers and policy- makers, who should consider the holistic effects of social cyberloafing on social sustainability. Originality/value – This study offers novel contributions to the effect of social cyberloafing on the social sustainability of SME firms’ employees. The findings illustrate how social cyberloafing can serve as a recovery experience and improve social sustainability