Social media addiction starts out just like any other addiction, the inevitable self loathing and denial must follow. You keep telling yourself you’re in control of it and you hate yourself for always going back even if it caused you trouble the last time. It starts out by just hitting a few like and retweet buttons then before you know it, you’re spending 6 hours daily face to face with your phone screen. Some research suggest that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter use the same method of gambling firms to make their users psychologically inclined that is why users get so hooked.
In my opinion, social media isn’t bad, it’s arrival has contributed immensely and revolutionized businesses, marketing and advertising amongst other things. However, the “bad” comes in when you find it taking up your whole time. Is the constant presence of your phone in your hand stopping you from getting any work done? Is it putting a strain on your productivity level? Would you be able to go a full 24hours without your smartphone? If the answer to all three questions is yes, then its high time to take a break from your smart phone.
How does it work?
How does one even get addicted to social media you may ask? Well, I have one word for you- DOPAMINE.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain with has several functions. When secreted in large amounts, it creates a feeling of pleasure, satisfaction or euphoria which motivates a person to repeat a specific action. The “Feel-God” hormone in most cases, is responsible for the cravings we feel because of the satisfaction it gave us the last time we did it. It could be tasting a specific type of food or playing a video. So those retweets or freaky DMS that made you feel good, you may have thought were harmless weren’t after all.
Breaking away from the shackles of addiction isn’t easy, but it is possible, social media addiction is a serious issue which has countless adverse effects to your health. The sure way to curb or at least reduce your addiction to your phone is to fill in your spare time with new hobbies, read a book, learn something you have always wanted to learn, doing so makes you preoccupied with probably less enjoyable but more healthy activity. It limits the amount of phone time you engage in daily. Make sure you spread your interests equally, focusing on one activity only could cause you to repeat the cycle of addiction. Imagine being addicted to sweeping. I can’t even.
