Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through the building of virtual networks and communities. By design, social media is Internet-based and gives users quick electronic communication of content. (Source: Wikipedia)
What is social media addiction?
Checking and scrolling through social media has become an increasingly popular activity over the last decade. Although the majority of peoples’ use of social media is non-problematic, but there is a small percentage of users that become addicted to social networking sites and engage in excessive or compulsive use.
Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction that is characterized as being overly concerned about social media, driven by an uncontrollable urge to log on to or use social media, and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs other important life areas.
How to know that you are addicted to social media?
12 self evaluation questions will help you find this…
1. What first thing you do after getting up in the morning?
If you check your messages in social media it means you are addicted to social media.
2. Do you feel strong desire to open social media Apps during live classes or work?
If yes then you are addicted.
3. How do you feel without internet (data)? Suppose you are not able to check your messages then how would you feel?
You feel like – “I am not feeling well without social media.” If you feel uneasy and restlessness then it means you are addicted.
4. Do you hear buzz of incoming messages or notifications when really it didn’t?
If you hear your phone buzz, and you check with curiosity that someone sent messaged you but you find that there is no messages. It means you are addicted.
5. Do you spend lot of time thinking about social media or planning to use social media?
If yes then you are addicted.
6. Do you use social media to forget about your hurts or personal problems?
It shows that you are trying to heal yourself by ventilating through sharing posts in social media. It means you are addicted.
7. Do you try to reduce the use of social media but you could not do this?
This action tells that you already realized that you are addicted or being addicted and trying to overcome but failed.
8. Do you neglect your own hobbies in favor of scrolling social media?
If you do so then it means you are addicted.
9. Do you often check performance of you post even when you are among friends and talking with them? Every five minutes, you check who liked and commented on your post?
This behavior shows that you are addicted to social media.
10. How do you feel when nobody liked or commented on your post? Do you feel nobody love or care about you?
If you feel left out then it means you are being addictive to social media.
11. Do you use social media so much that it has had a negative impact on your job or studies?
If you are spending lot of time in social media then it results low performance in your job or studies. If it is happening with you then you should understand that you are addicted to social media.
12. Do you check social media when you do your quiet time with God?
If you check social media messages or likes etc during your quiet time also it means you are addicted to social media. And it is alarming- beep! beep! Careful!
Impact of social media addiction
1. This continuous use eventually leads to multiple interpersonal problems, such as ignoring real life relationships, work or school household tasks, and bodily health, which may then worsen an individual’s unwanted moods.
2. This then causes people to engage in the social networking behavior even more as a way of relieving dysphonic mood states. When social network users repeat this cyclical pattern of relieving undesirable moods with social media use, the level of psychological craving on social media increases.
3. Low self-esteem, which may be prompted by incorrect perceptions that others’ lives are “better” than yours
4. Increased isolation and loneliness
5. Anxiety or depression
6. Onset of social anxiety disorder
7. A fear of missing out (FOMO), which can lead to even more social media usage
8. Disrupted sleep patterns, especially if you use social media right before bedtime
9. Decreased physical activity, which may affect your overall health
10. Poor grades or work performance
How to overcome social media addiction? 13 Tips for you
If you are addicted and want to know how to overcome read next article. I have shared 13 tips according to Bible that will help you to overcome social media addiction.