Excessive Social Media Use Comparable to Drug Addiction

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16 Nov 2022

Social media began as a way for people to stay in touch with family and friends who lived thousands of miles apart. However, it has evolved over time. Social media is being used in a variety of ways and much more often. Businesses, non-profit groups, and even politicians, for example, use it to reach a highly focused market.

Meanwhile, kids and young adults use social media as a virtual scrapbook to record every element of their lives as they happen. There are even "influencers" with significant social media followings who utilize their platform to promote a product, service, or group and generate support for it. Social media is also a significant resource for linking isolated populations with the rest of the world.

Researchers at Michigan State University discovered that people who use social media frequently struggle with decision-making. Participants were asked about their use of social media as part of their research. The questions were designed to determine how reliant people were on social media, how they felt when they couldn't use it, and how they felt about never using it again.

Some folks break out in a cold sweat just thinking about not being able to check their social media accounts. They become frightened and anxious and are unsure how to deal with the circumstance. When this happens, therapists frequently refer to it as social media anxiety disorder, which may be related to social anxiety disorder.

Apart from the obvious uneasiness and nervousness that being away from social media can produce, there are some additional warning indicators that they may have a social media addiction. These include separating themselves from others, losing interest in formerly fun activities, and becoming agitated, furious, or anxious when they are unable to check social media. Here are some warning signs that you (or your teen) may be addicted to social media: