Why people are becoming addicted to social media: A qualitative study PMC
People who compulsively use social media are unlikely to develop physical withdrawal symptoms in the traditional sense. The primary sign of an addiction, or compulsive habit, is a lack of control. Like with drugs or alcohol, people with compulsive social media use may struggle to limit or stop their behavior. Hailey Shafir is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor with extensive experience in counseling people with mental health and addictive disorders. Edmund has an extensive background in addiction research and medical writing, working collaboratively with doctors, substance use disorder specialists, and clinical experts across all content on Recovered.
Social Media Addiction Treatment
Their connectedness through social media isn’t merely periodical or frequent – it is constant. This type of psychological withdrawal is similar to that seen with other types of behavioral addictions, such as gambling addiction or internet addiction. Social media addiction how to tell when alcohol is affecting your relationships is a term used to describe a repetitive pattern of excessive social media use that feels compulsive and interferes with daily life. Social media is in most cases free, readily available on modern devices, and culturally accepted and integrated into society.
- Even though there are very few things that can’t wait or need an immediate response, FOMO will have you believing otherwise.
- One of the most common phrases you hear surrounding addictions is admitting you have a problem.
- We should use this opportunity to advance proposals for the regulations of the health effects of social media.
- In general, younger people are more likely to engage in online activities and are at an increased risk of developing addictive social media use.
Is there any social media addiction treatment center?
Conversely, the study found that reducing social media usage can actually make you feel less lonely and isolated and improve your overall wellbeing. While many of us enjoy staying connected on social media, excessive use can fuel feelings of addiction, anxiety, depression, isolation, and FOMO. Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers.
Why is social media so addictive?
However, there are negative effects to consider when overusing social media. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says there’s still more work to be done to regulate online protections for kids, but the new online safety law would be a step in the right direction. https://sober-house.net/buspirone-buspar-how-it-works-side-effects/ The bill now heads to the Republican-led House where Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled support for the legislation. Even though the online safety bill has broad bipartisan support, some lawmakers argue that the legislation could violate free speech rights.
Since SMA can affect behavioral health, policymakers must adopt educational and preventive programs to increase the knowledge and skills of individuals in different societies in the modern world. In severe cases, someone who is worried about social media addiction should also consider seeking professional help from a therapist or mental health specialist. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a behavior that becomes compulsive or continues despite negative consequences. In 2017, 43% of Americans reported checking social media constantly, and 20% said social media is a source of stress. Keep track of all the great memories and positives in your life—as well as those things and people you’d miss if they were suddenly absent from your life. If you’re more prone to venting or negative posts, you can even express your gratitude on social media—although you may benefit more from private reflection that isn’t subject to the scrutiny of others.
Internet Addiction
These participants had been diagnosed with an addiction to SM and had experienced its related negative effects. It was attempted to consider the maximum diversity in terms of age, sex, duration of addiction, marital status, education, and family support. The general characteristics of participants in the study are presented in Table 1. Social media addiction (SMA) led to the formation of health-threatening behaviors that can have a negative impact on the quality of life and well-being. Many factors can develop an exaggerated tendency to use social media (SM), which can be prevented in most cases.
As of December 2023, 91.56% of Americans are active on social media, with Facebook being the most popular platform. This condition skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the lockdowns, which pushed people to maintain strict online contact. If you are concerned about your social media use, reach out for help so you can overcome the addiction before it becomes a bigger problem.
A mental health professional can help you determine whether you truly have social media addiction or just really enjoy using it a lot. There’s no such thing as an official diagnosis of “social media addiction.” But social media overuse is increasingly https://sober-house.org/effects-of-ayahuasca-on-mental-health-and-quality/ commonplace today, and it may have some serious repercussions to your physical and mental health. Long-term consequences of internet addiction include developing depression, anxiety, ADHD, as well as challenges in school and relationships.
Eventually, our brains become trained in wanting to check social media in order to experience this dopamine over and over again (Ricci, 2018). Some studies have found that higher social media use is correlated with an increased risk of depression, particularly in children and teens. Yet other studies have concluded that the former likely did not cause the latter; these studies suggest people who are already depressed may be more prone to spending more time on social media. Get your child away from social media by encouraging them to pursue physical activities and hobbies that involve real-world interaction. Exercise is great for relieving anxiety and stress, boosting self-esteem, and improving mood—and is something you can do as a family. The more engaged your child is offline, the less their mood and sense of self-worth will be dependent on how many friends, likes, or shares they have on social media.
If you notice some of the signs of social media addiction, work on trying to set some clear limits around how much or how often you log in, and how much time you spend on these platforms. Keep in mind these platforms are designed to get and hold your attention, so work on taking control of your usage instead of letting these sites control you. This way, social media can be something that enhances your quality of life, instead of diminishing it. If a person answers yes to several of these questions, they may have a social media addiction.
Similarly, we’re all aware that other people tend to share just the highlights of their lives, rarely the low points that everyone experiences. But that doesn’t lessen those feelings of envy and dissatisfaction when you’re scrolling through a friend’s airbrushed photos of their tropical beach holiday or reading about their exciting new promotion at work. Yes, there are treatment centers and programs that specialize in addressing social media addiction and internet addiction more broadly. These centers offer various services, including individual and group therapy, counseling, education about healthy internet use, and techniques for managing online behavior.