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Social Media Addiction


  How long have you spent your time checking social media? 1 hour? 2 hours? or 5 hours a day in total?. If you spend hours of the day on your mobile checking social media, you're not unusual. Checking and scrolling through social media has become an increasingly popular activity over the last decade. Social media addiction behavioral addiction is characterised as being overly concerned about social media and driven by an uncontrollable urge to log on to or use social media. 

  Addicted social media has similar addiction to drinking alcohol, drug, and gambling. Whenever you open your favourite apps, the dopamine signal is increasing. Dopamine is the "feel-good" neurotransmitter. So every time you've got like from somebody, it feels good. That is dopamine playing the role. Thus, as the feel-good dopamine wears off, you'll go back to get more. 

  Social media could be harmful to us. It can increase isolation and loneliness. Every time you go to have dinner with somebody, you can't get away from your mobile to check social media every minute. Even you're going with somebody, whenever you are distracted by social media it looks like you're being alone and isolated yourself. 

  Also, social media could build low self-esteem, which may be prompted by incorrect perceptions that others' lives are "better" than yours. You saw somebody has a sports car, a beautiful dress, or eating a fancy restaurant, that could make you "useless" in life. your low self-esteem is ruined by only looking at someone's photos that have a "better" life than you. 

  There are several signs if you have social media addiction. The first one is the negative effect on your job or schoolwork due to the overuse of social, let say scrolling through your apps at work or instead of studying. Second increased use during other activities, such as hanging out with friends and family, eating, or even driving. 

  The worst case is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a major problem on social media. They have been bullied on these platforms, from spreading rumors to leaving offensive, hurtful comments, social media can create very toxic environments. If it happened, the victim either suicide or long-term depression. 

  So, if you feel you're addicted to social media try to reduce your use. Aim to decrease use with fewer logins or less time spent online each week. You might also choose to limit the number of posts you make each week, Also, distract yourself, try occupying your time with new hobbies or activities such as cooking, reading a book, or yoga. 

  Ok mates, that's all for this article. Hopefully, you're not addicted to social media in the digital era. The world is massive and waiting for you to explore rather than occupy your own world in your pocket. Stay away for a while and always have a nice day 😀.


References:

  1. Dopamine Effects on the Body, Plus Drug and Hormone Interactions (2021). Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/dopamine-effects.
  2. What Is Social Media Addiction? (2021). Available at: https://webserv.io/what-is-social-media-addiction/.
  3. Too much social media can be harmful, but it's not addictive like drugs (2021). Available at: https://theconversation.com/too-much-social-media-can-be-harmful-but-its-not-addictive-like-drugs-157082.
  4. Facebook Addiction: 9 Signs and Treatment Tips (2021). Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/facebook-addiction#treatment.
  5. Social Media Addiction (2021). Available at: https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/social-media-addiction/.



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