Are You A Social Media Addict? #AAH
Addiction- Addiction is a condition in which a person is unable to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior.
Why is social media addictive?
Social media is addictive because it has a significant effect on the brain, a mechanism also seen in substance use disorders. Social media affects human psychology by activating the reward centers in the brain.
This process creates pleasurable feelings that can boost a person’s mood when checking social media. For instance, a person with an Instagram addiction can get feelings of pleasure in the form of likes or comments when sharing a piece of content.
Social media affects the brain by activating its reward circuitry and releasing dopamine in the process. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates feelings of pleasure and want.
Rewards in social media come in the form of positive feedback from other users. Since these rewards increase the secretion of the feel-good hormone dopamine, people tend to look forward to positive feelings and will constantly check social media as a result.
Mumbai Police had also reunited a young girl with parents who had left home in anger cos parents told her to use less social media!!
There are many types of addiction here one of them is called Nomophobia: A shortened form of “no mobile phone phobia,” it describes a condition in which people develop fear and anxiety when left without a mobile device. Having an uncharged phone or being without cellular service can cause panic attacks in some people who suffer from the disorder.
Addictive social media use will look much like any other substance use disorder and may include mood modification
“Social media use becomes problematic when someone views social networking sites as an important coping mechanism to relieve stress, loneliness, or depression.
Social media use provides these individuals with continuous rewards that they’re not receiving in real life, so they end up engaging in the activity more and more. This continuous use eventually leads to multiple interpersonal problems, such as ignoring real life relationships, work or school responsibilities, and physical health, which may then exacerbate an individual’s undesirable moods. This then causes people to engage in the social networking behavior even more”
Impact of Social media addiction
- Mental health: Social media addiction can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems. The constant comparison with others on social media can create feelings of inadequacy, leading to low self-esteem and self-worth. We are also constantly seeking validation. Social media incentivizes identity manipulation and reputation editing in ways that cause young people to view themselves as inadequate.
- Relationships: Spending excessive time on social media can cause individuals to neglect their real-life relationships. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can further exacerbate mental health issues.
- Productivity: Social media addiction can also negatively impact an individual’s productivity at work or school. Constantly checking notifications and updates on social media can lead to distractions and decrease focus and concentration. There is a constant fear of missing out. Trying new trends, music, fashion, makeup. If my peers are doing it so should I!
- Irrational conformity to a group’s thinking- you are forced to choose sides
- PTSD/ Anxiety triggers- you end up seeing really traumatic pictures/ videos. Reminding you of a similar experience in your life but you cant stop watching especially if its viral.
- Sleep: Social media addiction can disrupt sleep patterns, which can lead to fatigue and other health problems, you are hooked to reels, pictures, videos
- Physical health: Overuse of social media can ead to a sedentary lifestyle, which can cause physical health problems such as obesity and heart disease.
- Eating disorders- Wanting to look think or binging while scrolling
- Lack of empathy:
A person who struggles with social media addiction often chooses to communicate through email, messaging, or social media rather than face-to-face. The lack of face-to-face communication can impede a person’s empathy as feeling empathy is best learned through social situations.
Everything is good in moderation. You can have a small bit pf cake everyday what if you have one kg of cake everyday it will lead to diabetes very much like excessive use of social media will lead to problems.
Also remember what people post on social media is not the complete picture. Have you noticed some celebs might post such loving pictures and very same week they announce divorce, supper successful, good looking prosperous persons?
Steps to reduce social media addiction:
- Delete your social media apps from your smartphone. While you can still access them from your personal computer, keeping them off your phone may help decrease the amount of time spent on social media overall.
- Turn off your personal phone during work, as well as during school, meals, and recreational activities.
- Set aside a certain amount of time dedicated to social media per day. Turn on a timer to help keep you accountable.
- Leave your phone, tablet, and computer out of your bedroom.
- Take up a new hobby that’s not technology-related. Examples include sports, art, cooking classes, and more.
- Make it a point to see your friends and family in person when possible.
- Depending on your needs, your break can last for 1 day per week,
PS- We have also included relevant content from articles/posts available on the subject, online.
Stay strong, stay aware, stay safe.
Jai Hind!
Stay Aware, Stay Safe
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
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ABOUT ‘AKANCHA AGAINST HARASSMENT’
‘Akancha Against Harassment’ is India’s largest social impact initiative against cyber harassment. It was founded by Miss Akancha Srivastava in February 2017. It’s a not-for-profit Section 8 organization.
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