Social media addiction and how it happens
Many teens today are glued to their phones. A large reason for this is due to the fact that social media is designed to cater to what people look at the most. This article touches on the affects, consequences, and possible prevention of social media addiction.
Social media addiction is characterized by excessive and compulsive usage that affects daily functioning and overall well-being. It encompasses more than just spending an excessive amount of time online; it involves compulsively checking for updates, feeling anxious when offline, and suffering from negative impacts on real-life relationships and responsibilities. (Amirthalingam & Khera, 2024)
Teens go through significant transformations during this phase of growth as they discover who they are and how they communicate with others. Studies show that people with poor self-esteem regularly turn to social media for affirmation, which may heighten feelings of inferiority.
Teenagers who use social media regularly are more inclined to struggle with anxiety, depression, and a general decline in life satisfaction, according to multiple research studies.
Adolescent eating disorders and appearance-related anxiety may worsen as an effect of the emphasis on ideals of beauty that permeate social media culture.
Mindfulness practices encourage individuals to become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in the present moment. This heightened awareness can help teenagers recognize when they are engaging in compulsive social media use and allow them to pause and reflect on their choices.
One practical strategy for managing excessive social media usage is setting time limits. Many social media platforms now offer integrated features that allow users to track and limit their daily usage, helping to instill more mindful consumption habits.
Adolescents may reflect on their experiences, evaluate any negative effects, and develop their ability to think critically regarding their online behaviors by receiving encouragement to have truthful talks about their utilization of social media
Social media is the one of the main sources of information for many teenagers and young adults. This reliance on social media for entertainment and knowledge is one of the many reasons why the youth is so attached to their phones leading the overall decrease of physical interactions with other people. Not only this but social media addictions are linked to mental health problems, low self esteem, and inferiority issues.
How can we help bring teens out of the digital realm and back to reality? The article outlines some possible solutions but what remains is how do we encourage behaviors to change and stay changed? While much of the work needs to be done by teens themselves, for those who are unwilling to let go, there needs to be designs that makes them want to step away of their own free will.
Refernces
Amirthalingam. J & Khera. A, (October 27, 2024). Understanding Social Media Addiction: A Deep Dive. National Library of Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11594359/
Drazen Zigic. (June 25, 2023). IStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/group-of-teenagers-using-mobile-phones-in-hallway-at-high-school-gm1500076836-521623716?searchscope=image%2Cfilm
