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what is social media addiction essay

Addictive potential of social media, explained

The curious title of Stanford psychiatrist Anna Lembke 's book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence , pays tribute to the crucial and often destructive role that dopamine plays in modern society.

Dopamine , the main chemical involved in addiction, is secreted from certain nerve tracts in the brain when we engage in a rewarding experience such as finding food, clothing, shelter or a sexual mate. Nature designed our brains to feel pleasure when these experiences happen because they increase our odds of survival and of procreation.

But the days when our species dwelled in caves and struggled for survival are long gone. Dopamine Nation explains how living in a modern society, affluent beyond comparison by evolutionary standards, has rendered us all vulnerable to dopamine-mediated addiction . Today, the addictive substance of choice, whether we realize it or not, is often the internet and social media channels, according to Lembke, MD.

"If you're not addicted yet, it's coming soon to a website near you," Lembke joked when I talked to her about the message of Dopamine Nation , which was published in August. This Q&A is abridged from that exchange.

Why did you decide to write this book?

what is social media addiction essay

I wanted to tell readers what I'd learned from patients and from neuroscience about how to tackle compulsive overconsumption. Feel-good substances and behaviors increase dopamine release in the brain's reward pathways .

The brain responds to this increase by decreasing dopamine transmission -- not just back down to its natural baseline rate, but below that baseline. Repeated exposure to the same or similar stimuli ultimately creates a chronic dopamine-deficit state, wherein we're less able to experience pleasure.

What are the risk factors for addiction?

Easy access and speedy reward are two of them. Just as the hypodermic needle is the delivery mechanism for drugs like heroin, the smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine for a wired generation.

The hypodermic needle delivers a drug right into our vascular system, which in turn delivers it right to the brain, making the drug more potent. The same is true for the smartphone; with its bright colors, flashing lights and engaging alerts, it delivers images to our visual cortex that are tough to resist. And the quantity is endless. TikTok never runs out.

What makes social media particularly addictive?

We're wired to connect. It's kept us alive for millions of years in a world of scarcity and ever-present danger. Moving in tribes safeguards against predators, optimizes scarce resources and facilitates pair bonding. Our brains release dopamine when we make human connections, which incentivizes us to do it again.

But social connection has become druggified by social-media apps, making us vulnerable to compulsive overconsumption. These apps can cause the release of large amounts of dopamine into our brains' reward pathway all at once, just like heroin, or meth, or alcohol. They do that by amplifying the feel-good properties that attract humans to each other in the first place.

Then there's novelty. Dopamine is triggered by our brain's search-and-explore functions, telling us, "Hey, pay attention to this, something new has come along." Add to that the artificial intelligence algorithms that learn what we've liked before and suggest new things that are similar but not exactly the same, and we're off and running.

Further, our brains aren't equipped to process the millions of comparisons the virtual world demands. We can become overwhelmed by our inability to measure up to these "perfect" people who exist only in the Matrix . We give up trying and sink into depression, or what neuroscientists called "learned helplessness."

Upon signing off, the brain is plunged into a dopamine-deficit state as it attempts to adapt to the unnaturally high levels of dopamine social media just released. Which is why social media often feels good while we're doing it but horrible as soon as we stop.

Is there an antidote to our addiction to social media?

Yes, a timeout -- at least for a day. But a whole month is more typically the minimum amount of time we need away from our drug of choice, whether it's heroin or Instagram, to reset our dopamine reward pathways. A monthlong dopamine fast will decrease the anxiety and depression that social media can induce, and enhance our ability to enjoy other, more modest rewards again.

If and when we return to social media, we can consolidate our use to certain times of the day, avoid certain apps that suck us into the vortex and prioritize apps that connect us with real people in our real lives.

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Essay on Social Media Addiction

Students are often asked to write an essay on Social Media Addiction in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Social Media Addiction

What is social media addiction.

Social media addiction is when someone spends too much time on apps like Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok and it starts to hurt their life. They might check their phone a lot, even when they should be doing homework or sleeping.

Why It Happens

People get addicted because these apps are fun and they like getting likes and comments. It makes them feel good. But sometimes, they start needing more and more of this to feel happy.

Effects on Life

This addiction can make people less happy and even lonely. They might stop spending time with family and friends in real life and not do well in school.

Breaking the Habit

To stop, try setting limits on how much you use social media. Spend more time doing other fun things like sports or reading. Talking to someone you trust about it can also help a lot.

250 Words Essay on Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction: a growing concern, impact on mental health.

Spending too much time on social media can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Constantly comparing oneself to others’ idealized online lives can result in low self-esteem and a distorted body image. The fear of missing out (FOMO) can also fuel anxiety and lead to compulsive social media use.

Academic Performance

Social media addiction can also harm academic performance. Students who spend excessive time on social media may neglect their studies, resulting in lower grades. The constant notifications and distractions can make it difficult to focus and concentrate on schoolwork. Social media addiction can also lead to sleep deprivation, further affecting academic performance.

Relationships

Social media addiction can strain relationships with family and friends. Spending excessive time online can lead to neglecting real-world interactions and relationships. It can also create unrealistic expectations and lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. Face-to-face communication and quality time are essential for maintaining healthy relationships.

Social media addiction is a serious issue that can have a negative impact on mental health, academic performance, and relationships. It is important to be aware of the risks and take steps to limit social media use. Seeking professional help may be necessary in severe cases. Remember, social media should be used in moderation and should not interfere with important aspects of our lives.

500 Words Essay on Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction is a growing problem among people of all ages. It is the excessive and compulsive use of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. People with social media addiction spend excessive amounts of time on these platforms, often neglecting their real-life relationships, work, or studies.

Signs and Symptoms of Social Media Addiction

Causes of social media addiction.

There are several factors that can contribute to social media addiction. These include:

Negative Effects of Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction can have several negative effects on your life, including:

How to Overcome Social Media Addiction

If you think you may be addicted to social media, there are several things you can do to overcome it.

Social media addiction is a serious problem that can have a negative impact on your life. If you think you may be addicted to social media, it’s important to take steps to overcome it. With the right strategies and support, you can reduce your social media use and improve your overall well-being.

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Is Social Media Addictive? Here’s What the Science Says.

A major lawsuit against Meta has placed a spotlight on our fraught relationship with online social information.

A close-up, slightly blurry view of the Instagram logo on a tablet screen with a marker showing three unread messages at its top.

By Matt Richtel

A group of 41 states and the District of Columbia filed suit on Tuesday against Meta , the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, contending that the company knowingly used features on its platforms to cause children to use them compulsively, even as the company said that its social media sites were safe for young people.

“Meta has harnessed powerful and unprecedented technologies to entice, engage and ultimately ensnare youth and teens,” the states said in their lawsuit filed in federal court. “Its motive is profit.”

The accusations in the lawsuit raise a deeper question about behavior: Are young people becoming addicted to social media and the internet? Here’s what the research has found.

What Makes Social Media So Compelling?

Experts who study internet use say that the magnetic allure of social media arises from the way the content plays to our neurological impulses and wiring, such that consumers find it hard to turn away from the incoming stream of information.

David Greenfield, a psychologist and founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction in West Hartford, Conn., said the devices lure users with some powerful tactics. One is “intermittent reinforcement,” which creates the idea that a user could get a reward at any time. But when the reward comes is unpredictable. “Just like a slot machine,” he said. As with a slot machine, users are beckoned with lights and sounds but, even more powerful, information and reward tailored to a user’s interests and tastes.

Adults are susceptible, he noted, but young people are particularly at risk, because the brain regions that are involved in resisting temptation and reward are not nearly as developed in children and teenagers as in adults. “They’re all about impulse and not a lot about the control of that impulse,” Dr. Greenfield said of young consumers.

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Too much social media can be harmful, but it’s not addictive like drugs

what is social media addiction essay

Professor of Addictions and Health Psychology, University of South Wales

what is social media addiction essay

Senior Lecturer in Psychology of Relationships, University of South Wales

Disclosure statement

Bev John has received funding from European Social Funds/Welsh Government, Alcohol Concern (now Alcohol Change), Research Councils and the personal research budgets of a number of Welsh Senedd members. She is an invited observer of the Cross-Party Group on Problem Gambling at the Welsh Parliament and sits on the “Beat the Odds” steering group that is run by Cais Ltd.

Martin Graff does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of South Wales provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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If you spend hours of the day on your phone checking social media, you’re not unusual. The average internet user spends two hours a day on various social media sites. But does your habit of checking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok every few hours make you a social media “addict”?

The term “social media addiction” is being increasingly used to describe people who spend a lot of time on these websites and apps. Doing so can be harmful to people in a variety of ways – causing low self esteem, bad sleep and increasing stress .

The main focus when considering addiction to substances tends to be on three key elements: compulsion (or loss of control), tolerance (needing to increase amount to achieve the same effect) and withdrawal (unpleasant side effects when use stops). Other factors to consider relate to craving, preoccupation and continuing use despite it causing obvious problems. It’s easy to see how these factors apply to drugs, but what about shopping, gambling or, indeed, social media use?

Increasing interest in these and other behavioural “addictions” – like gaming, sex or the internet – has resulted in broadening definitions of what addiction is. Psychologists talk of excessive appetites and powerful motivational drives to engage in particular behaviours that have the power to do considerable unintended harm .

As researchers in social media and addiction, we have spent the last 25 years understanding different kinds of addiction. Our research tells us that social media addiction is not the same as an addiction to substances, like alcohol and other drugs.

Social media use

Too much social media can certainly be damaging. One major feature of social media is it allows users some control over how they present themselves to others. People can edit their online appearance and sometimes present themselves inaccurately while seeking validation from others.

This can cause all kinds of harm. In a study in 2019, we found when female users looked at the platforms for around one and a half hours per day, this was related to an increased desire to be thin , a heightened awareness of how they think other people judge them and motivation to exercise for the purposes of losing weight.

Read more: Why is celebrity abuse on Twitter so bad? It might be a problem with our empathy

And in 2016, we investigated the ways people seek validation on social media. We looked at how often people manipulate posts to increase the number of likes received, use social media to boost spirits or blindly post about issues with which they did not necessarily agree.

We found when this kind of online behaviour increased, self-esteem decreased. But our findings didn’t necessarily show a compulsion to use social media – something key in making it an addiction. Other social factors, such as fear of missing out and narcissistic personality traits, may drive the need to use social media to an unhealthy degree.

Social media addiction

In 2020, we undertook a study into harmful gambling that might help answer the question of whether social media addiction is real.

We found that rapid technological developments in the ease and speed of access of phone and tablet apps are leading to increased levels of gambling harm. Similar psychological processes may be at work on social media platforms, where need for validation, craving and checking likes is amplified.

Behavioural explanations for how addictions develop emphasise the power of reinforcement. Gambling products often use the most powerful form of reinforcement: random pay outs . This, again, is potentially similar to the way users receive validation in the form of “likes” on social media.

A group of five people taking a selfie.

There are some who might argue that chronic overuse of social media can be seen as an addiction, but it not is currently recognised as such by the American Psychiatric Association .

There are important differences between excessive social media use and substances in terms of addiction. For example, withdrawal from the latter is often physically unpleasant and sometimes dangerous without medical supervision. Users often suffer stigma, which can be a barrier to seeking help. In comparison, it hasn’t yet been established that there are physical withdrawal effects when people stop using social media.

Considering social media use more as a continuum of possible harm might allow more scope for appropriately targeted messages that could prevent problems developing in the first place.

There are clearly elements of social media use that resonate with certain characterisations of addiction, such as psychological notions of excessive appetites or powerful motivations, and the built-in platform mechanisms of reinforcement through random affirmations or “likes”. It’s also clear that this can be harmful in terms of negative impact on some users’ self-esteem and body image.

But despite these factors, the most useful question might be how to create a healthy balance of interaction in our virtual and real worlds.

It’s worth remembering that behavioural addictions, like those to substances, often occur alongside other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, suggesting that vulnerability may be multifaceted. This may also be true of excessive social media use.

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Social Media Addiction Essay

How it works

As a part of our daily life, social media shows a significant impact on society and has become a strong way to stay updated. Nothing spreads information faster than social media, which helps many people keep informed about the world’s current affairs. It has changed the way the world interacts by presenting many useful tools, namely, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. These technological advances assist those who are socially isolated to feel more connected to society, such as socially anxious citizens, since “More than 25% of teens report that social media makes them feel less shy, 28% report feeling more outgoing, and 20% report feeling more confident” (Are).

It also has proved to contribute to education in schools. , Its continuous use and high adherence rate made the world a powerful and better place to live in. However, even with many benefits, there are a lot of negative effects that come with this technology. Not only is social media made for personal use, but it also is a benefit for the catching and prosecuting process of criminals more efficiently.

According to “73% of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals surveyed think social media helps solve crimes more quickly” (Are). Considering how easy it has become to find people on the internet due to the high online exposure, it is possible to track down almost anybody on websites nowadays. People may post pictures of criminals to alert others, as well as share a criminal’s last location when spotted. The fast share of information among the community can lead police departments to add tracking units to arrest criminals more effectively. Not only the population facilitates the task, but also some outlaws may contribute for their own detention by boasting about their crimes online, as in the case of “A gang charged with the beating of a gay couple in Philadelphia in 2014.” (Are).

Besides, social media has allowed students to work with new technologies. It helps them do research on topics that they have trouble understanding or use it to discuss educational topics when needed. Furthermore, these technologies assist those who are absent from school to catch up on missing assignments or even discussing group projects by contacting one another efficiently and needlessly of an in-person meeting. According to studies, “59% of students with access to the internet report that they use social media to discuss educational topics, and 50% use the sites to talk about school assignments” (Are).

Comparatively, a school in Oregon introduced an educational program that encourages kids to learn, “grades went up by 50%, chronic absenteeism went down by 33%, and 20% of students school-wide voluntarily completed extra-credit assignments” (Are). Educational programs make studying more entertaining by inserting a daily element on a youngster’s life, which includes the chance of writing in digital media over the traditional paper and pencil. The educational programs that are created now also allow teachers to understand the student’s struggles and work on them. In other words, social media can and should be used for educational purposes since it is intrinsically connected to students nowadays.

As research appears to show, “Social media users have been responsible for reporting events before traditional media outlets, including the Paris attacks in France on Nov. 13, 2015” (Are). It is correct to affirm that it is common nowadays to consider the internet a fundamental font of breaking news for professionals and casual users. It also plays an important role when it comes to alert people in emergencies, such as the Ebola outbreak that has happened in Nigeria and Sierra Leone in July 2014.

Despite all the benefits of social media, it is important to clarify that most of the bullying that happens nowadays takes place on the internet. Students, and even adults, have experienced cyberbullying. This unfortunate situation not only affects the self-image and esteem but also can cause, or worse, psychological pathologies, such as depression and anxiety. Indeed, in terms of negative effects caused by the unceasing use of these technologies, the mental health damages, mainly in the youngsters is the principal concern of neuro-physicians. Not only the negativity shared in the social media can be a reason for the disadvantages, after all, this is an essay on social media addiction.

As per analyzed, “With 91% of young people using the internet for social networking and rates of depression and anxiety in young people having risen by more than 70% in the past 25 years” (this.). But why is social media addictive? Studies portray that social media’s effects on the brain include a rush of dopamine, the hormone responsible for pleasure and satisfaction. The high and fast rushes created by the use of those media generate a pattern that ends up in an addictive cycle.

Overall, there are many positive effects that social media has on our society today. As revealed in the thesis statement, it has become essential for social interactions, educational purposes, access to the news, criminal investigations, and many other situations behalf of people’s lives. However, it can not be ignored that it also has a negative impact on the mental health of thousands of users. So it is important, for all intents and purposes, to pursue ways to minimize the damaging impacts and prevent future users from repeating the same negative cycles that lead to unhealthy relations with the technology. And undoubtedly, it is hard to imagine how society would be today without all the technologies acquired until now; besides, as common sense, these technologies only tend to be even more present in daily life. So it is important to be aware of the conscientious use of it. With all things considered, social media networking sites will continue to grow, play a fundamental role in our lives, and affect human life, whether positively or negatively.

  • “Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our Society.” socialnetworking.procon.org 2018 ProCon.org, 17 August 2018. Web. 26 October 2018.
  • Hatcher Patrick, Jon “20 Pros and Cons of Social Media.” www.sucess.com 2018 Success Magazine, 6 December 2017. Web. 3 November 2018.
  • Errington, Keith “Social Media Pros and Cons: The Top 10.” www.equinetmedia.com 2018 Equinet Media Ltd, 21 September 2018. Web. 3 November 2018.
  • Moreau, Elise “The Pros and Cons of Social Networking.” www.lifewire.com 2018 Lifewire, 19 November 2018. Web. 3 November 2018.

Social media addiction can have both favorable and unfavorable effects on an individual’s life. Benefits may include staying connected with loved ones, discovering new business opportunities, and accessing information. On the other hand, it can result in negative consequences such as feeling disconnected from the real world, excessive screen time, and missing important life events.

Determining the cause of social media addiction is complex, as it can result from a variety of factors. Individuals may develop an addiction due to the need for approval from others, while some may struggle with separating their online and offline lives. Moreover, some individuals may have a greater propensity for addiction based on their personality traits or impulsivity levels.

The influence of social media on mental health is a multifaceted and intricate matter. While some specialists argue that social media can positively impact mental health by providing a community of support and aiding individuals in staying connected, others claim that it can lead to negative effects such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

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Social Media Addiction

The Cause and Result of Growing Social Problems

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what is social media addiction essay

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Accompanying the growth and increase in popularity of social media have been negative psychosocial and psychological effects associated with its excessive use. Research has shown a positive relationship between addiction-like behaviors associated with social media addiction (SMA) and psychological factors such as loneliness and low self-esteem, which demonstrate a congruency with recognized behavioral addictions. Adding to this congruency are the identified negative outcomes associated with SMA, which include difficulties in time perception, time management, maintaining interpersonal relationships, academic performance and increased prevalence of depression. According to the components model of addiction, the maladaptive behaviors/symptoms associated with problematic social media use (addiction) can be grouped into six dimensions, salience, tolerance, withdrawal, mood modification, conflict, and relapse. Studies have also identified several antecedents related to individual personality traits, fulfillment of psychological needs (relatedness, self-presentation, and social interaction), and perceived discrepancies between current and desired (or expected) interpersonal relationships (e.g., loneliness and low self-esteem). This chapter discusses the current understanding of SMA including its definition, measurement tools, and consequences. Further, it examines the underlying psychological and physiological explanations for addictive behaviors arising from social media use. The examination is based on a review of current theoretical understanding and the range of empirical studies, which examines the phenomena. Lastly, it highlights proposed social and policy approaches to alleviate the problem.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Effects of Social Media — Social Media Addiction: Consequences and Strategies for Recovery

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Social Media Addiction: Consequences and Strategies for Recovery

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Introduction, suggested solution, social media anxiety disorder.

  • David Blackwell, 21 April 2017 Extraversion, neuroticism, attachment style and fear of missing out as predictors of social media use and addiction. From https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.039 .
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  • Weidman, A.C., Fernandez, K.C., Levinson, C.A., Augustine, A.A., Larsen, R.J., & Rodebaugh, T.L. (2012). Compensatory internet use among individuals higher in social anxiety and its implications for well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(3), 191-195. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1016/j.paid.2012.03.003
  • Parade, S.H., Leerkes, E.M., & Blankson, A.N. (2010). Attachment to parents, social anxiety, and close relationships of female students over the transition to college. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(2), 127-137. doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9396-x.
  • Cludius, B., Stevens, S., Bantin, T., Gerlach, A., & Hermann, C. (2013). The motive to drink due to social anxiety and its relation to hazardous alcohol use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(3), 806-813. doi: 10.1037/a0032295.

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Risk Factors Associated With Social Media Addiction: An Exploratory Study

1 School of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China

2 Department of Psychiatry, 987th Hospital of PLA, Baoji, China

Xiuming Wang

Yiming xiao.

3 School of Economics and Statistics, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China

Associated Data

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

The use of social media is becoming a necessary daily activity in today’s society. Excessive and compulsive use of social media may lead to social media addiction (SMA). The main aim of this study was to investigate whether demographic factors (including age and gender), impulsivity, self-esteem, emotions, and attentional bias were risk factors associated with SMA. The study was conducted in a non-clinical sample of college students ( N = 520), ranging in age from 16 to 23 years, including 277 females (53%) and 243 males (47%). All participants completed a survey measuring impulsivity, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, social anxiety, loneliness, and attentional bias. The final hierarchical regression model indicated significant risk factors for SMA with an accuracy of 38%. The identified set of associated risk factors included female gender (β = −0.21, t = −4.88, p < 0.001), impulsivity (β = 0.34, t = 8.50, p < 0.001), self-esteem (β = −0.20, t = −4.38, p < 0.001), anxiety (β = 0.24, t = 4.43, p < 0.001), social anxiety (β = 0.25, t = 5.79, p < 0.001), and negative attentional biases (β = 0.31, t = 8.01, p < 0.001). Finally, a discussion of the results is presented, followed by corresponding recommendations for future studies.

Introduction

Social media (e.g., Facebook, WeChat, Tik Tok) have attracted substantial public interest to the point that they are becoming a cornerstone of modern communication. It has been argued that social media promote social interaction, help in maintaining relationships, and allow for self-expression ( Baccarella et al., 2018 ). According to a survey by the China Internet Network Information Center, there are 900 million users of social media in China. College students are freer than others to control the use of their time and the use of social media is thus becoming an integral part of their lives. However, social media, if used immoderately, may lead to social media addiction (SMA), which refers to the excessive and compulsive use of social media platforms, resulting in severe impairment in all aspects of life ( Kuss and Griffiths, 2017 ). Addicted users of social media tend to spend too much time on social media, to be overly concerned about social media and to be driven by uncontrollable urges to use social media ( Andreassen and Pallesen, 2014 ). SMA can be viewed as a specific form of digital technology addiction, in which the conceptualizations all center on these addictive behaviors as pathological forms of necessary and normal behaviors ( Moreno et al., 2021 ). SMA may affect users’ mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, lower subjective wellbeing, and poor academic performance ( Lin et al., 2016 ). The present study will examine potential risk factors associated with SMA focusing on demographic factors, impulsivity, self-esteem, emotions, and attentional bias.

In general, the impact of demographic factors such as age and gender has been considered in previous studies. Young individuals maintain an online presence and develop addictive behaviors more often than older individuals ( Abbasi, 2019 ). Furthermore, women are more likely to indulge in social media more than men in order to enhance their social connections ( Andreassen et al., 2017 ).

Impulsivity is an important personality trait that plays a major part in the occurrence, development, and maintenance of addiction ( Cerniglia et al., 2019 ). However, the link between impulsivity and SMA is controversial. It has been found that trait impulsivity is a marker for vulnerability to SMA ( Sindermann et al., 2020 ). The most influential theoretical explanation for this is Dual System Theory, which is also known as reflective–impulsive theory. The reflective system includes the prefrontal cortex, which plays a key role in a wide range of executive and inhibitory behaviors, such as short-term memory, planning, attention, and resistance to immediate rewards for the sake of long-term rewards. By contrast, the impulsive system includes the subcortical brain areas, accounts for pleasure and addictive behaviors, and responds to quickly acquired cues regardless of long-term negative results. Imbalance between the reflective and impulsive systems leads to addictive behaviors ( Droutman et al., 2019 ). However, another empirical study based on a Go/Stop Impulsivity task found impulsivity was not significantly associated with SMA ( Chung et al., 2019 ). This inconsistency of results may be caused by the use of different measurement approaches. Therefore, the association between impulsivity and SMA needs further exploration.

Self-esteem impacts the predisposition to SMA and there is a negative association between the frequency of Facebook use, the meaning attributed to Facebook use, and users’ levels of self-esteem ( Błachnio et al., 2016 ). People with low levels of self-esteem prefer to avoid face-to-face communication and escape into the virtual world where they can behave anonymously and do what they want. Also, negative feedback from social media will reduce users’ levels of self-esteem ( Andreassen et al., 2017 ).

Concerns over the negative emotions of social media addicts have not abated. Prior studies have mainly considered the influence of anxiety, depression, social anxiety, and loneliness on SMA. Atroszko et al. (2018) reported that SMA is positively associated with anxiety and depression. Additionally, social anxiety and loneliness are the emotions generated in the process of interpersonal communication ( O’Day et al., 2019 ). People with social anxiety prefer online communication as a way to avoid uncomfortable real interactions and social tensions. Caplan (2007) used privacy to explain this phenomenon: privacy can be better protected through online communication. However, the relationship between SMA and loneliness is controversial. Primack et al. (2017) regarded loneliness as a risk factor associated with SMA, indicating that high levels of loneliness may lead to addiction. Another study by Baltacı (2019) suggested that loneliness was not significantly associated with SMA. Thus, more studies examining the links between loneliness and SMA are needed.

In terms of cognitive factors, attentional bias has been considered as a potential causative factor of SMA. Attentional bias refers to a situation in which individuals are highly sensitive and allocate attentional resources to specific stimuli ( Gao et al., 2011 ). Generally, substance and behavioral addicts display an attentional bias mainly toward negative information ( Hu et al., 2020 ). Furthermore, attention to negative information (ANI) may further aggravate addictive behaviors ( Cheetham et al., 2010 ). An important theoretical explanation for addicts’ ANI is the self-schema theory ( Becker and Leinenger, 2011 ). Schemas are relatively stable and lasting cognitive templates for individual storage, organization, integration and information processing. A negative schema will make individuals pay attention to information consistent with the schema, resulting in a processing bias. It is not yet clear whether the attentional bias effect generalizes to SMA as a specific form of digital technology addiction. To our knowledge, no studies have specifically revealed a relationship between ANI and SMA.

Prior studies have focused on only one or two independent factors without considering the hierarchical importance of risk variables. Undoubtedly, identifying the hierarchical importance of risks has implications for the treatment and intervention of SMA. In the present study, an attempt was made to explore the risk factors for SMA considering their hierarchical importance. Also, this is the first report to specifically look at ANI and SMA with self-reported questionnaires, which provide the advantages of saving time and the capability to conduct large-scale investigations. It was hypothesized that each variable would be a significant predictor for SMA at each step.

Materials and Methods

Participants.

A total of 532 college students attending a state university in China participated in the present study. 12 participants did not meet the inclusion criteria and were excluded. The final study sample consisted of 520 participants including 277 females (53%) and 243 males (47%). The ages of all participants ranged from 16 to 23 years ( M = 19.68, SD = 1.07). Inclusion criteria for participants included fluency in Chinese and having at least one social media application account. Exclusion criteria included current psychiatric conditions and a history of mental illness (e.g., anxiety, depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder), as well as other addictive behaviors or a family history of addictions (e.g., alcohol use disorder, nicotine abuse, illegal drug dependence, etc.).

All participants completed paper-and-pencil surveys in class. Written consent was obtained from the participants before the survey. The survey took approximately 20 min. Data collection took place from April to June 2021.

Ethics Statement

Approval for the research was granted by the ethics committee of Guangzhou University. All participants were informed of the purpose and procedures of the study, and that participation was anonymous and voluntary.

Socio-demographics information: The survey recorded questions concerning age, gender, presence of social media accounts, current and prior of mental illness, as well as the presence of other addictive behaviors and a family history of addiction.

Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale

The Chinese version ( Leung et al., 2020 ), adapted from Andreassen et al. (2017) , was used to evaluate levels of SMA with higher scores indicating greater SMA. It consists of six items (e.g., “How often have you felt an urge to use social media more and more during the last year?”) measured on a 5-point scale (1 = very rarely , 5 = very often ). According to the gold standard of clinical diagnosis, a BSMAS score of 24 was taken to be the optimal cut-off point ( Luo et al., 2021 ). If the BSMAS score was 24 or above, the participant was considered to be addicted. Otherwise, the participant was considered to be non-addicted. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.78 in the current study.

Brief Barratt Impulsivity Scale

The Chinese version ( Luo et al., 2020 ), adapted from Morean et al. (2014) , was used to measure trait impulsivity. It consists of eight items (e.g., “I do things without consideration”) rated on a 4-point scale (1 = very inconsistent , 4 = very consistent ). Higher scores indicate poor self-regulation and impulsive behaviors. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.81 in the current study.

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

The Chinese version ( Wang et al., 2010 ), adapted from Rosenberg (1965) , was used to evaluate levels of self-esteem. It is rated on a 4-point scale (1 = strongly disagree , 4 = strongly agree ) with 10 items (e.g., “I feel that I have a number of good qualities”). Higher scores indicate higher levels of self-esteem. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.91 in the current study.

Self-Rating Anxiety Scale

The Chinese version ( Liu et al., 1995 ), adapted from Zung (1971) , was used to measure anxiety. It is rated on a 4-point scale (1 = never or very rarely , 4 = most or all of the time ) with 20 items (e.g., “I feel more nervous and anxious than usual”). Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.84 in the current study.

Self-Rating Depression Scale

The Chinese version ( Liu et al., 1994 ), adapted from Zung (1965) , was used to assess depression. It consists of 20 items (e.g., “I feel gloomy and depressed”) rated on a 4-point scale (1 = never or rarely , 4 = most or all of the time ). Higher scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.85 in the current study.

Interaction Anxiety Scale

The Chinese version ( Peng et al., 2004 ), adapted from Leary (1983) , was used to assess social anxiety. It consists of 15 items (e.g., “I will be nervous during an interview”) rated on a 5-point scale (1 = not at all consistent , 5 = extremely consistent ) where higher scores represent greater social anxiety. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.88 in the current study.

UCLA Loneliness Scale

The Chinese version ( Liu, 1999 ), adapted from Russell (1996) , was used to assess loneliness. It is composed of 20 items (e.g., “Do you often feel that no one can be trusted?”) rated on a 4-point scale (1 = never , 4 = always ). Higher scores indicate higher levels of loneliness. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.91 in the current study.

Attention to Positive and Negative Inventory

The Chinese version ( Dai et al., 2015 ), adapted from Noguchi et al. (2006) , was used to assess attentional bias. The inventory is composed of 22 items rated on a 5-point scale (1 = totally inconsistent , 5 = totally consistent ) and includes two dimensions: attention to positive information with 12 items and ANI with 10 items (e.g., “I can’t forget the harm that others have done to me”). This study focused on the impact of ANI on SMA, thus only the ANI subscale was used. Higher scores on the ANI subscale indicate greater ANI. The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.73 in the current study.

Data Analysis

Data were analyzed using the SPSS 24.0 software package program. Initially, the effects of demographic information (age and gender) on SMA in the total sample were checked with one-way ANOVAs. The Pearson correlation coefficient was conducted to reveal the links between gender, impulsivity, self-esteem, emotions, attentional biases and SMA. Finally, a hierarchical regression analysis was used to explore whether independent variables (i.e., gender, impulsivity, self-esteem, emotions, and attentional biases) could predict the dependent variable (SMA).

Descriptive Data and Inter-Correlations Between Variables

First, one-way ANOVAs were used to investigate effects of age and gender on SMA in the total sample. Univariate analyses indicated that there is no significant difference by age [ F (7, 512) = 1.74, p = 0.09] but that the samples differed by gender [ F (1, 518) = 23.79, p < 0.001]. Females are more likely than males to be addicted to social media. Thus, the first step was to control for the effects of gender in the regression analyses. Next, a correlation analysis was performed on the influencing factors of SMA in the total sample. Bivariate correlations between variables are presented in Table 1 .

Descriptive data and inter-correlations between variables.

VariablesM (SD)12346578910
1. Age19.68 (1.07)10.04–0.050.02–0.07–0.010.02–0.070.020.06
2. Gender 0.47 (0.53)10.010.05–0.08–0.05−0.22 –0.02–0.04−0.21
3. Impulsivity17.31 (4.03)1−0.48 0.45 0.31 0.30 0.46 0.15 0.34
4. Self-esteem29.27 (4.73)1−0.61 −0.43 −0.41 −0.58 −0.29 −0.33
5. Anxiety42.24 (8.60)0.74 10.29 0.51 0.27 0.41
6. Depression46.44 (9.37)10.38 0.64 0.30 0.41
7. Social Anxiety46.91 (9.96)10.42 0.38 0.42
8. Loneliness41.88 (9.33)10.33 0.33
9. ANI34.54 (5.13)10.45
10. SMA16.03 (4.12)1

N = 520. **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.001.

a Dummy variable is coded as male = 1, female = 0. The proportion of females in the sample is 53%.

ANI, attention to negative information; SMA, social media addiction.

Hierarchical Regressions

Hierarchical regressions are presented in Table 2 . Gender was included in Step 1 ( R 2 = 0.04). It was found that gender was significantly related to SMA (β = −0.21, t = −4.88, p < 0.001) and that females are more prone to addictive use of social media. In Step 2, gender and impulsivity remained risk factors ( R 2 = 0.16). Impulsivity was positively associated with SMA (β = 0.34, t = 8.50, p < 0.001). In Step 3, gender, impulsivity and self-esteem were included ( R 2 = 0.19). A higher level of self-esteem proved to be a protective factor associated with SMA (β = −0.20, t = −4.38, p < 0.001). Gender and impulsivity were still risk factors. In Step 4, negative emotions were added to the model ( R 2 = 0.30) and risk factors associated with SMA were found to include gender (β = −0.14, t = −3.79, p < 0.001), impulsivity (β = 0.18, t = 4.01, p < 0.001), anxiety (β = 0.24, t = 4.43, p < 0.001), and social anxiety (β = 0.25, t = 5.79, p < 0.001). Depression, loneliness and self-esteem were not risk factors. In Step 5, ANI was shown to be positively correlated with SMA (β = 0.31, t = 8.01, p < 0.001). The final model accounted for 38% of the variance [ F (9, 510) = 36.61, p < 0.001]. In the final model, gender, impulsivity, anxiety, social anxiety, and ANI were all found to be risk factors associated with SMA.

Regression analyses.

StepsVariablesβ
Step 1Gender −0.21−4.88<0.001
= 0.04, = 23.79
Step 2Gender −0.21−5.27<0.001
Impulsivity0.348.50<0.001
= 0.16, Δ = 0.12, = 34.66
Step 3Gender −0.20−5.09<0.001
Impulsivity0.255.50<0.001
Self-esteem−0.20−4.38<0.001
= 0.19, Δ = 0.03, = 40.64
Step 4Gender −0.14−3.79<0.001
Impulsivity0.184.01<0.001
Self-esteem−0.01−0.100.92
Anxiety0.244.43<0.001
Depression0.070.980.33
Social anxiety0.255.79<0.001
Loneliness−0.03−0.540.59
= 0.30, Δ = 0.11, = 33.07
Step 5Gender −0.15−4.25<0.001
Impulsivity0.204.78<0.001
Self-esteem0.020.310.76
Anxiety0.214.13<0.001
Depression0.050.870.39
Social anxiety0.163.83<0.001
Loneliness−0.07−1.410.16
ANI0.318.01<0.001
= 0.38, Δ = 0.08, = 40.54

N = 520. ***p < 0.001.

a Dummy variable is coded as male = 1, female = 0.

ANI, attention to negative information.

The main objective of this study was to examine whether demographic factors, impulsivity, self-esteem, emotions, and attentional biases were potential risk factors associated with SMA. It was found that females were more susceptible to SMA than males. Additionally, impulsivity, low levels of self-esteem, anxiety, social anxiety, and ANI were found to be risk factors for SMA.

Demographic Factors

Gender was found to be associated with SMA. In the present sample, 2.9% of the participants scored 24 or above in BSMAS and thus met the criteria for SMA. The proportion was similar to the previous report (3.5%) in a Chinese sample ( Luo et al., 2021 ). The prevalence of SMA in males and females in the current study was 1.2 and 4.3%, respectively. Females showed higher addiction rate and greater levels of SMA than males. This result is in agreement with prior research ( Monacis et al., 2020 ). Females focus more attention on social activities for enhancing communication and prefer to share more selfies on social applications and social networking sites ( Dhir et al., 2016 ). Interestingly, it was found that age had no significant effect on SMA. This finding is inconsistent with the prior study that young people are more likely to develop SMA ( Abbasi, 2019 ). The lack of association between age and SMA can possibly be attributed to the selected sample in which participants were relatively young and the age span was small, resulting in no age effect.

Impulsivity

Although, the association between impulsivity and SMA is still controversial, this study supports the hypothesis that impulsivity is positively associated with SMA. This finding is in agreement with the study by Sindermann et al. (2020) , which indicated that trait impulsivity was positively associated with the severity of SMA. It contradicts the study by Chung et al. (2019) , which indicated that impulsivity was not associated with SMA. Our finding underlines the importance of impulsivity as a risk factor related with SMA. This result may be supported by Dual System Theory ( Droutman et al., 2019 ). Higher levels of impulsivity in social media addicts are rooted in an imbalance between the reflective and impulsive systems. Higher levels of impulsivity might be associated with SMA due to attentional fluctuation, i.e., individuals engage in social media when they lose attention to another task. Addictive uses of social media can thus be regarded as a form of urgency relevant behaviors displayed to regulate (suppress and/or exacerbate) emotional states in the short term despite the delayed negative consequences ( Rothen et al., 2018 ). Similarly, a study by Minhas et al. (2021) explored the links between alcohol abuse and food addiction in relation to impulsive personality traits, impulsive choices and impulsive action. It was found that alcohol problems and food addiction showed parallel associations, indicating common underlying impulsivity mechanisms. Likewise, the present study also found that a higher level of impulsivity is a risk factor for SMA. Collectively, the multiple lines of evidence suggest that SMA, food addiction, and alcohol abuse may have similar underlying impulsivity mechanisms.

Self-Esteem

Levels of self-esteem were found to be negatively correlated with SMA in the current study. This is consistent with a prior study that found higher levels of self-esteem are a protective factor against addictive behaviors ( Andreassen et al., 2017 ). In the research on Internet addiction, people with low levels of self-esteem tend to use the Internet for social support, and the social support gained from the Internet could compensate for the lack of social support offline. Also, SMA showed a negative correlation with levels of self-esteem. Individuals use more social media to obtain higher levels of self-esteem (e.g., harvesting “likes”), and/or to get rid of feelings of low self-esteem ( Błachnio et al., 2016 ). Notably, after emotions were incorporated into the model, self-esteem was no longer a risk factor for SMA in hierarchical regressions. Consistent with prior research, this suggests that the influence of self-esteem on SMA is regulated by emotions ( Andreassen et al., 2017 ).

The results of this study show that emotions, particularly, anxiety and social anxiety, are the strongest risk factors associated with SMA. This is consistent with prior research showing that anxiety is a risk factor for SMA ( Keles et al., 2019 ). Anxious individuals prefer to use social media platforms to alleviate unfavorable emotions, for example, by seeking attention, support, or a sense of belonging on social media ( Vannucci et al., 2017 ). Additionally, in line with the study by Baltacı (2019) , this study found that social anxiety is positively associated with SMA. Individuals who experience difficulty communicating with others in social environments prefer social media for interaction. Privacy is an important feature of the Internet ( Caplan, 2007 ). Compared to face-to-face communication, interaction through a virtual environment is perceived to be less risky.

The relationships between depression, loneliness, and SMA were found to be relatively low. Neither loneliness nor depression was significantly associated with SMA in this study. This is consistent with prior research that has shown that depression and loneliness were not predictors of SMA ( Baltacı, 2019 ; Marttila et al., 2021 ). The reason for the lack of a link may be the marginal effect caused by these moderate relationships. When depression and loneliness were analyzed as psychosocial variables in terms of SMA, it was found that depression and loneliness are both the reasons for Primack et al. (2017) and the consequences of SMA ( Dossey, 2014 ).

Attention to Negative Information

This was the first study to look at the association between ANI and SMA. This study used hierarchical regressions to find that ANI is one of the risk factors associated with SMA. Previously, a study by Aguilar de Arcos et al. (2008) reported that opioid users have higher arousal responses to negative and unpleasant emotional images compared with healthy individuals. Similarly, another study by Hu et al. (2020) used eye tracking technology to find that mobile phone addicts show a processing bias toward negative emotional clues. Although, unlike substance and behavioral addiction, the availability of social media is so high. Social media addicts also displayed negative attentional bias effect. This indicates that a processing bias toward negative information may be the common underlying mechanism that incurs and maintains addictive behavior. The abovementioned phenomenon can be explained by self-schema theory ( Becker and Leinenger, 2011 ). Addicts mainly demonstrate attentional biases toward negative emotions because they often experience negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. Information consistent with the negative schema will automatically capture the individual’s attention, leading to negative attentional bias. ANI is also an important reason for the occurrence, development, and maintenance of social anxiety and depression ( Brailovskaia and Margraf, 2020 ). Individuals with high levels of social anxiety specifically allocate attentional resources to negative information in the environment and social interactions, resulting in depression.

Implications

Our study can not only provide theoretical and practical support for prevention and intervention into SMA, but also contribute to improving individuals’ physical and mental health. It was found that female gender, impulsivity, self-esteem, anxiety, social anxiety, and ANI exhibited significant risk effects for SMA. In future studies, alleviating users’ anxiety, actively organizing social activities, and correcting attentional bias with attention training programs could be used to reduce the risk of SMA.

Limitations and Future Directions

The current study has some limitations. First, since this research was based on a single classroom survey, it was a relatively small study in terms of scope, and the sample was potentially unrepresentative. Second, less information was collected from the participants in the demographic characteristics portion of the survey, resulting in a lack of some sociodemographic and clinical information about participants. Third, data were collected near the end of the semester, when senior students were preparing for internship and/or employment. Thus, participants mainly belonged to junior grades. The age span is relatively narrow, which may have affected our ability to detect an effect of age on SMA. Fourth, this research was based on questionnaires and was limited by self-report measurement methods. The validity of the research may depend on the accuracy of participants’ reports. Finally, as this study was cross-sectional design, the causality between variables could not be determined.

In future studies, the scope of sampling can be further expanded to enhance the representativeness of the sample and explore the effect of age on SMA. Also, a wide range of other information about participants should be gathered through the survey to explore the effect of demographic characteristics on SMA: e.g., average daily time spent on social media, the number of social media applications, discipline background, etc. Moreover, research focused on the relationship between impulsivity, attentional biases and SMA could be combined with empirical research. For example, the Go/Stop paradigm and Stroop task could be used to assess impulsive action and attentional bias, respectively. Finally, longitudinal tracking research could be used to determine the causality between variables.

Data Availability Statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Guangzhou University. Participants provided written informed consent to participate in the study.

Author Contributions

JZ designed the project and collected the data. TJ, XWa, and YX conducted statistical analyses. XWu was involved in supervision and edit manuscript drafts. All authors approved the final manuscript before submission.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

All authors are grateful for the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31970993).

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Essay on Social Media Addiction | Social Media Addiction Essay for Students and Children

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Social Media Addiction: Essay on Social Media Addiction: Social media is a technological application and website, enabling users to have interactive communication and participation in sharing information, opinions, pictures, videos, etc. via internet connection. It allows the transfer of data with a blink of an eye in real-time.  It is proving to be highly beneficial for business, job seekers, economists, photographers, news channels, artists, bloggers, chefs, homemakers, and many more.

We can express our thanks to Mr. Mark Zuckerberg for revolutionizing the way we interact with friends and families.  Globally, people spend an average of around 2.5 hours per day on social media. Though miles apart, people meet virtually on it. People find happiness in sharing and showing that they care with the help of social media.  Since it is accessible for free, people do not mind spending time on the internet.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Short and Long Essays on Social Media Addiction for Children and Kids in English

Essays for students are written based on their age group and class. The long essay of 400 to 500 words is best for students in senior grades.  The short essay benefits students in elementary school.

Long Essay on Social Media Addiction 600 Words in English

Long Essay on Social Media Addiction is helpful for students in classes 6, 7, 8, 8, and 10

The following essay discusses the addiction to social media, primarily written for students from class six to class ten.  However, students who are also preparing for competitive examinations and entrance examinations can also find it beneficial.

Social media is a computer-based technology that allows interactive communication via the internet.  It enables people to share pictures, videos, audio, opinion, news, etc. Every day, people log into social networking sites more than any other website.  Approximately three billion people worldwide have a social networking account.   Social media websites, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+, and Reddit, help people to stay connected with their friends and families.

With more than one billion active users daily, social media websites are frequently visited for updating status and counting the number of ‘Likes.’  Experts estimate that every person spends about one hour daily on such sites.  These calculations force people to ponder over the fact that social media is becoming an addiction to the present generation.  There is a thin line between habit and addiction.  An addiction is a situation when people crave for something more than their requirement.

Moreover, they start feeling helpless and see their growing dependency on a particular activity, or food, or drink.  In such a situation, people begin to lose control over themselves.  Gradually, the condition becomes worse as it converts to complex brain disease.

Sometimes people log on to their social media account daily for meaningless purposes or only to kill time. Most often, they access their account only to check for comments and see the number of views. One evident symptom of social media is when people check in wherever they go. They begin to update their daily activities on social media, such as, ‘watching a movie,’  ‘having lunch at TGIF,’ ‘enjoying ice cream,’ etc.  Furthermore, they begin to think that informing their daily activities or posting their pictures on social media is one of their moral obligations. It seems as if they are living their life virtually on social media. They start getting obsessed with their activities on social media.   In such circumstances, the psychologist confirms that the person is suffering from social media addiction.

The after-effect of social media is not very rewarding. It harms the emotional and mental health of people. Over a certain period, a feeling of dissatisfaction, and hopefulness creeps in.  Moreover, they begin to feel the peer pressure escalating, and they become frustrated while comparing themselves with others.  Furthermore, people suffering from social media addiction become desperate. They are fatigued and stressed.  Their anxiety level rises, and productivity falls.  Pop notifications distract them from concentrating on essential things in their lives.

It is crucial to identify social media addiction before the situation worsens. People must spend some time daily on self-reflection. They need to search for an aim in their lives and look at the larger picture. Moreover, they need to divert their attention to more essential things in their lives.  They can delete all pop-up notifications and restrict their visit to social networking sites. Furthermore, it would be good to go on a vacation without the smartphone and laptops over the weekend to get rid of social media addiction. Lastly, they need to remember that it is not their social obligation to be on social media throughout the day.

Social Media Addiction

Short Essay on Social Media Addiction 200 words in English

The brief essay on ‘Social Media Addiction’ is in English. The essay on Social Media Addiction is helpful to students classes 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. Moreover, children can utilize this piece for debates, speeches, and other extracurricular activities.

Social media is a networking platform where people share their ideas, views, opinions, videos, audios, pictures, news, etc. using an internet connection.  Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+, and Reddit are examples of social media websites.  They enable people to stay connected with their friends and families.   These days we find that more and more are idling their valuable time on social networking sites.  They begin to post and repost pictures, videos, and daily activities on the website  to get a higher number of ‘likes.’  Gradually, social media begins to affect emotional and mental health, which leads to social media addiction.

Social media addiction hampers their productivity, concentration, emotional well being, and mental IQ. They find it challenging to deal with peer pressure and start comparing their lives with others.  They feel depressed and desperate.  Their anxiety level rises.  Thus, causing illnesses.

People should continuously keep assessing themselves by monitoring their activities on social media.  They should keep a check on how much time they are spending on such websites.  Furthermore, it would be best to take control of their actions before it converts into a social media addiction.

It is nice to interact with friends and families on social media in moderation.  However, too much of anything is not suitable for health.

10 Lines on Social Media Addiction Essay

  • Social media is a computer-based network that enables people to interact with friends and families through an internet connection.
  • Social Media sites are the most visited website in comparison to any other websites.
  • People chat and share pictures, videos, audios, views, opinions, activities, etc.
  • It becomes an addiction when people start to spend more and more time on social networking sites.
  • They become obsessed with updating their status and check in to view the number of Likes and comments.
  • People undergo emotional depression as a result of social media addiction.
  • Children begin to lose interest in studies and lack of concentration.
  • Adults start showing low productivity at work.
  • It would help if people take time out for self-reflection and curb their desire to checkin social networking sites.
  • People can curb their social media addiction if they take control of their actions.

social media adddiction

Conclusion on Social Media Addiction Essay

  • The essay is useful for students who need to deliver a speech.
  • It is highly advantageous for students who are appearing for competitive examinations.
  • Students who are preparing for government services examinations can also benefit from the article.
  • Students who are appearing for entrance examinations can refer to this piece for help.
  • Essay writing helps students to improve their writing skills and oratory skills.
  • Creative thinking is a part of essay writing.
  • It would be best if students refer to this essay to prepare for literary projects.
  • Children can expand their vocabulary bank by using this essay.
  • Students preparing for debates can refer to this essay for help.
  • Students can improve their English language by practicing essay writing.

FAQ’s on Social Media Addiction Essay

Question 1. Mention some examples of social media.

Answer: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+, and Reddit are examples of social media websites.

Question 2. When do you come to know if you are suffering from social media addiction?

Answer: When you start living your life on social media and seem to become obsessed with your day to day activities on it, then you are suffering from social media addiction.

Question 3. How does social media addiction affect us?

Answer: Social media addiction hampers a person’s productivity, concentration, emotional well being, and mental IQ.

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Social Media Addiction: A Systematic Review through Cognitive-Behavior Model of Pathological Use

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A Revised Cognitive-Behavioral Model of Social Media Addiction

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Is Social Media Addictive? Here’s What Science Says

what is social media addiction essay

How many times have you already caught yourself scrolling endlessly through social media ? How many times have you told yourself  “just another ten minutes” and ended up staying another hour lying on your bed, watching TikTok? Been there, done that.

We all know it’s very tempting to just procrastinate on the things you have to do and stay on your phone, seeing what your friends are doing on Instagram or who’s being canceled on X (formerly Twitter). But social media addiction is a real problem that is affecting a lot of people, especially teenagers and young adults. Therefore, do you know what science says about this?

How your brain works

First, let’s understand what is behind the process of getting addicted to something. Every time you engage in a rewarding experience, your brain secretes dopamine , which is a neurotransmitter and a hormone. It acts like a chemical messenger between your brain cells and the rest of your body. It also plays a part in many body functions, including memory, learning, sleep, motivation, mood and attention.

As it is related to the feelings of pleasure and motivation, dopamine is known as the “feel-good” hormone. It is part of your body’s reward system, which makes you feel good when you do something pleasurable and want to do it again. The more you do something that makes you feel good, more dopamine is released in your body, that way making you seek more of that feeling. And that is why it’s so addictive.

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Every time someone likes something you posted, you get a dopamine rush. Every time you scroll and find a video that you like, you get a dopamine rush. Some researchers say that the feeling of reward you get from social media is similar to the one you get from substance use. That is why you can’t get away from the urge of endless scrolling that easily, even when you know you need to.

According to an article written by the Stanford School of Medicine , dopamine is triggered by our brain’s search-and-explore functions, making us want to look for new things all the time. On the other hand, the algorithms of social media platforms learn from what you’ve liked before, in order to suggest content you might appreciate. The result? You get trapped in the process searching for the next ‘best video you’ve ever seen’.

Social media apps, like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, have strategies to keep people using their products as much as possible. They provide an immediate reward for the user, such as likes, comments or shares, making whoever is engaging in those interactions keep searching for more of that feeling.

Max Fisher, from The New York Times, explains the process in his book called “The Chaos Machine”. According to him: “Dopamine creates a positive association with whatever behaviors prompted its release, training you to repeat them….When that dopamine reward system gets hijacked, it can compel you to repeat self-destructive behaviors. To place one more bet, binge on alcohol—or spend hours on apps even when they make you unhappy.”

A study from Harvard University attests that the reward centers of the brain are most active when people are talking about themselves. According to the research, that happens around 30 to 40% of the time in face-to-face interactions, and 80% of the time in the virtual world. Beyond that, many people use social media to escape from their problems and to relieve stress, which can aggravate the addiction and cause them to ignore real life responsibilities.

Are you addicted to social media?

The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale was developed by the professor Cecilie Andreassen to measure social media addiction. There are six questions, designed to measure addiction factors like salience, tolerance, mood modification, relapse or loss of control, withdrawal and functional impairment. To every question, you may answer with a number from 1 to 5 (1 = very rarely, 2 = rarely, 3 = sometimes, 4 = often, 5 = very often), and the summative is your BSMAS score.

Here are the six questions:

  • You spend a lot of time thinking about social media or planning how to use it.
  • You feel an urge to use social media more and more.
  • You use social media in order to forget about personal problems.
  • You have tried to cut down on the use of social media without success.
  • You become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using social media.
  • You use social media so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies.

The total score of the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale test ranges from 6 to 30. The higher score you get, the more likely you are to be addicted. The study also says that, if you get 24 or higher, that means you are at risk for social media addiction.

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Some possible side effects of the overuse of social media are low self-esteem, disrupted sleep patterns, increase of anxiety and depression, incresed self isolation and poor work or school performance. The addiction can also increase conflicts in real-life relationships,  lack of empathy due to the decrease in real-life interactions and FOMO (fear of missing out).

If you are looking to decrease your use of social media platforms, there are some tips you can folow to make that happen. First, turn off the notifications from your phone. That can help you become more present and stop checking for new messages all the time. You can also track the time you spend online and set a limit to your social media use. Developing a hobby that isn’t technology related and putting your phone down before bedtime is really helpful aswell. It is all about rediscovering the life offline and prioriting real-life connections.

How about you? Are you addicted to social media?

—————————————–

The article above was edited by Beatriz Imagure .

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Essay on Social Media Addiction

Social Media Addiction Essay | Short and Long Essay on Social Media Addiction | Causes of Social Media Addiction

Social Media Addiction Essay: Social media is a mechanical application and site, empowering clients to have intuitive correspondence and cooperation in sharing data, conclusions, pictures, recordings, and so on through web association. Social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Twitter, etc., have brought many benefits to society.  It permits the exchange of information with a flicker of an eye progressively. It is ending up being profoundly advantageous for business, work searchers, financial specialists, picture takers, news channels, craftsmen, bloggers, gourmet experts, homemakers, and some more.

The current youthful age is keeping away from open-air sports and squander their energy via Social media. It influences their own life, profession, studies, and associations with friends and family. To spread mindfulness on this subject schools, universities and different social foundations urge youth to partake in Essay, Speech contests. This subject is one of the normal themes in such discussions.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Along these lines, we have given you an example exposition via online media fixation of like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and so on which discusses causes, impact, manifestations and arrangements of the Social media dependence. However, the substance is given in paper design, with little adjustments you can utilize it for discourse or article composing. You can likewise utilize this data for passage composing.

Short Essay on Social Media Addiction 200 Words in English

Social media compulsion has become a reason for concern. It is preventing the understudy’s schooling and is influencing their grades. Work has likewise become an impediment to the homegrown producers just as the work-creators. This relationship is likewise causing issues and is prompting issues like anorexia and gloom.

Maybe than joining Social media and associating with dear companions, individuals have begun rivaling them. They need to post preferable photographs and notices over others and need their profiles to be awesome. Online media addicts invest the greater part of their energy contemplating how they can improve their profile than others.

Online media addicts additionally consistently desire to look through Social media stages. They revive their data, stop individuals’ profiles, update their status, transfer their photos frequently and continue to remark to a great extent.

Numerous Social media Addiction locales like Facebook likewise offer to play a few games. These games are largely habit-forming. Players attempt to contend with different parts in their companion list. They invest the vast majority of their energy playing these games to expand their level and score. They become furious and disappointed when they can’t get it.

Side effects of Social media fixation ought to be recognized and the issue ought to be tended to before extremely late.

Social Media Addiction Essay

Long Essay on Social Media Addiction 500 Words in English

Online media is an incredible method to associate with our companions and family members living in far-off places. It is likewise an extraordinary spot to meet similar individuals, support our business, follow our number one superstars, upgrade our insight and see what’s going on around the world. Be that as it may, utilizing online media unreasonably can have negative repercussions. Numerous individuals become dependent on Social media and this affects the typical working of their lives.

Students can also find Internet Addiction Essay and Paragraph on Social Media from here

Why Social Media Addiction is Increasing?

Online media has brought the world nearer. Individuals of various age bunches all throughout the planet have Social media accounts. While numerous online media clients keep their profiles serene others stay up with the latest. There is one more class of Social media clients. These individuals post nearly everything occurring in their life on their online media accounts and burn through most pieces of their day looking through changed pages via Social media locales. They have profiles on every one of the online media stages and are dependent on them.

The quantity of online media addicts is expanding as time passes. This is on the grounds that Social media stages are thinking of a few new and intriguing approaches to keep individuals connected with and snared on to them.

How to Overcome this Addiction?

It might appear to be hard to conquer online media enslavement immediately anyway you can do as such with little exertion over the long haul. Here are some approaches to beat Social media fixation:

  • Make your time useful: There are applications that help you limit the time spent on various applications on your portable. They send a ready when you surpass the time set for utilizing a specific application. It is a smart thought to download such an application to restrict your Social media utilization. You can diminish this time bit by bit.
  • Turn off your app notifications: Mood killer the warnings for all your Social media stages on your telephone. At the point when you realize you will not be informed about any new update, you won’t trust that your telephone will blare or have the inclination to continually see the notice. There will be no unsettling influence and you will actually want to focus better on the job that needs to be done.
  • Remove unnecessary app: It is proposed to erase not many Social media applications from your telephone and stay dynamic just on a couple of them. Additionally, don’t put these applications on your home screen. This basic stunt can likewise go far in defeating your Social media compulsion.
  • Make your Social life physical not digital: Keep your telephone to the side when you are with your loved ones. Converse with them, enjoy exercises you appreciate and pay attention to all that they need to say. Plan to invest increasingly more energy with them as you attempt to conquer your online media enslavement. This can fill in as a decent interruption from the bogus world you have made for yourself.
  • Follow your hobbies: Recognize the exercises you love the most. It very well might be moving, planting, singing, running or whatever else, so far as that is concerned. Participate in these exercises for an hour or somewhere in the vicinity every day to keep your psyche off online media.

Side-effects of Social Media

  • Social media consumes a lot of time and decreases the productivity of the person day by day.
  • Social media makes a person completely isolated from the outer world. Sometimes they become so introverted, that they can connect to another person through social media only.
  • Students can lower their academic marks because of the excess use of social media.
  • People get too much dependent on social media for the likes and views on their posts. Hence, their happiness is more dependent on the public reactions, which makes them more depressed and sad when do not get a good number of likes.
  • One of the major drawbacks of social media is it affects our health drastically. Our eyes get tired by constantly watching mobiles phones and laptop screens. Also, we do not prefer to go out much for a walk, which makes us gain weight and lose stamina.

Final Conclusion

Social media addicts show urgent conduct. They regularly separate from this present reality and become socially segregated. Perceive this issue and conquer it to lead a cheerful and sound life.

FAQ’s on Social Media Addiction Essay

Question 1. What is social media addiction?

Answer: Individuals invest more energy in their cell phones over various online media applications. They track down a virtual existence where it is not difficult to get virtual regard, love, appreciation, acknowledgement. Our current age is having an exceptionally low capacity to focus, they are anxious, they need things to occur in a flash. Which is hauling them into this virtual universe of Social media and applications.

Question 2. What is the cause of social media addiction?

Answer: The main motivation for this human conduct is the requirement for acknowledgement, appreciation, approval, fondness, and love. Social media introduced a virtual existence where individuals address themselves with the persona they need others to see, as and love. These online media stages are simply innovation, it is the longing in the human psyche which is catching them in this endless loop.

Question 3. What is the type of social media addiction?

Answer: There are different types of social media addiction:

  • Having accounts on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc, to post your stories or photos or videos, to get public attention and likes.
  • The habit of chatting through WhatsApp is another kind of addiction.
  • Cybersex addiction, watching illegal pornographic videos especially for youth is a big cause of addiction
  • Online games available nowadays also causes addiction
  • Surfing information from social media platforms
  • Watching movies or videos on free youtube channels

Question 4. What are the advantages of social media?

Answer: Social media is just not a curse but it has brought a lot of boons to society. Using social media you can contact huge crowds,  have an immediate association with your crowd, can make natural substance, approach paid promoting administrations, assemble your image, direct people to your site and can assess your exhibition.

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Social Media Addiction: What Is It? How to Overcome It?

What is Social Media Addiction

Do you find yourself checking your social media repeatedly? Do you scroll through your Instagram or Facebook every night before sleeping? 

Social media is a quick way to connect with friends and family. It is an interesting platform to know what’s happening around the world, watch videos, kill time, and interact with friends sitting in another corner of the world. No wonder its popularity has increased significantly over the years among people of all ages. 

However, overusing social media can have serious repercussions on your mental wellbeing. Using and enjoying social media is one thing, but getting addicted to it is another. If not handled well, this harmless scrolling can turn into an addiction in no time and disrupt your health and life. 

So, let’s understand more about addiction with social media and how to treat it to have a balanced life. 

What Is Social Media Addiction?

Addiction is a chronic condition. It can affect our brain and its ability to process things. An addiction creates an urge in a human to do a specific task or take a particular action again and again, even if it’s harmful. It can have dire consequences and may even leave a person incapable of functioning without that addiction or behavior. 

Social media can be one such addiction that can harm and influence our mind negatively. We may start using social media excessively and compulsively and gradually become so accustomed to scrolling through social media posts that it can disrupt other aspects of our lives, such as professional, academic, personal, and health. 

Social media addiction creates an impulsive need to engage with different platforms and become dependent on them, even when we know it’s affecting our wellbeing. According to a survey , depending on social media can cause symptoms associated with substance use disorder and lead to adverse consequences, such as irritation, lack of self-control, poor mental health, poor relationships, etc. 

You must understand that not everyone using social media develops addiction. However, as more people start using social media, chances are high that more people may get addicted to it at some point in their lives. 

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Why Is Social Media Addictive?

Many consider social media relaxing and fun, but it can gradually influence your thoughts and mind. When you open a social media platform, it increases dopamine signals in your brain, which are associated with pleasure or happiness. 

Every time you scroll through your account, you experience more dopamine. Your brain treats it as rewarding, and you are compelled to repeat it every few minutes. It increases when you post something and get an appreciation for it. 

As the dopamine wears off, you want to go back to social media to feel good, and this once-harmless activity will soon become an addiction. 

The more you engage with social media, the more your brain tells you to repeat it, as it reduces loneliness. However, in reality, you are disconnecting from your surroundings, including family and friends, and isolating yourself. 

Also read: Negative Effects of Social Media on Our Brains (Bad Impacts)

How to know if you are addicted to social media?

what is social media addiction essay

Most people around the world have easy access to various social media platforms. 

A statistics report states that as most of us actively use social media, determining if a person’s habits are addiction or normal is challenging. However, there are a few points that can help you know if you have an addiction towards social media or not. Let’s take a look:

  • Increasingly using social media while hanging out with friends or family.
  • Getting angry or irritated when social media usage is reduced.
  • Your job or studies are being affected by the overuse of social media.
  • Thinking about social media even when you are not using it and checking it as soon as you get the opportunity.
  • Relying heavily on social media to cope with certain situations or issues.

Also read: How to Overcome Social Anxiety? 5 Strategies and Tips

What Are the Effects of Social Media Addiction

There is no denying that social media is enjoyable, but it comes with many drawbacks. If not controlled on time, addiction of social media can have serious consequences that can take a huge toll on your mental and physical health. The downsides of social media addiction include:

1. Reduced Attention Span

As social media offers ample content on varied platforms, users constantly scroll through the platform, skipping from one video to another within seconds. They hardly see any video for more than 8-10 seconds. This reduces attention span, which is evident in other aspects of life, such as studies and job. 

2. Eating Disorders

Social media creates an unrealistic standard of beauty, influencing people and compelling them to take harmful actions to meet those standards. Hence, it has the potential to cause eating disorders, especially in younger generations. 

3. Loneliness and Isolation

Although social media connects you with people around the world, it can also create a feeling of isolation and loneliness. As per a report , around 35% of young people admitted that they feel lonely most times despite spending at least three hours on social media. Social media communication has replaced traditional and personal connections between people, which often makes people feel lonely.

4. Disconnected from Surroundings

We have all seen or experienced a scenario where people are so consumed in their social media interactions that it distracts them from connecting with people around them. Most social media users are now busy gaining more likes and comments on their posts. They are not aware of their surroundings at all and miss many valuable moments. 

5. Compulsive Accessing

Do you feel the urge of checking and accessing your social media every few minutes? Well, this is one of the major social media addiction effects , where people want to check their Facebook or Instagram accounts again and again without much thought. This may happen even when they are out with friends and family. 

6. Circadian Rhythm Disorder

Circadian rhythm is a physical, mental, and behavorial changes in our body that follow 24-hour cycle. It nudges us to do certain activities at specific times and the most important of these is the sleep-wake cycle. 

Melatonin is a chemical involved in the circadian chemicals that makes us feel drowsy. It responds to light and day, so our pineal gland starts releasing melatonin in the evening that peaks at night, which tells us it’s time to sleep. By morning, it gets minimal so we wake up feeling fresh. 

However, when we are consumed on social media, even late at night, it affects the circadian cycle and our whole sleep-wake cycle. We avoid sleeping till late and wake up feeling tired and lazy. 

7. Obsession with Self-improvement

Social media is filled with beautiful and picture-perfect images. This can make people feel disappointed and dissatisfied about their own looks and lives. They want to achieve perfection and unachievable levels of perfection. They want to create a life that looks perfect on social media but is far away from reality. 

8. Unhealthy Relationships

When a person spends more and more time on social media, their family and friends can get frustrated and drift apart. Social media addiction compels you to spend more time on social media than with real people, and you will soon find yourself making excuses to escape from people around you to access social media.

9. Anxiety and Depression

Many people start comparing their lives with others they connect with on social media. They develop feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem, which can cause depression, anxiety, and neuroticism. 

10. Mental Health Issues

We often see social media addiction in teens, which hampers their studies, focus, and health. When they engage too much with social media and constantly think about it even when they are not using the phone, it can affect their mental health and lead to severe health issues, such as depression, social anxiety, etc. 

11. Dryness in Eyes

Needless to say that using mobile phones for long hours is not good for the eyes. It causes itchiness and dryness, which affects the vision. Hence, most people wear anti-glare glasses to protect their eyes.

12. Cognitive Effects

Social media can also lead to various cognitive issues, such as a reduction in the ability to concentrate and memory retention. 

what is social media addiction essay

Also read: How to Stop Overthinking & Negative Thoughts?

How to Avoid Social Media Addiction?

Fortunately, there are multiple activities that you can incorporate into your daily routine and improve your lifestyle. If you are using your phone excessively and wondering how to get rid of social media addiction, these tips will help you build a better and healthier relationship with your smartphone. 

1. Set an Intention

The first step is to have a clear intention and determination to change your relationship with social media and phone. Set goals and write down steps to follow to detach yourself from the virtual world. Uninstall apps and keep your phone away while sleeping. 

2. Disable Notifications

Any kind of a trigger can lead to habitual actions and addiction, and social media notifications are one of them. When a notification pops us on your screen, you want to check your phone once no matter what you are doing. You want to see what others are up to. So, allow your mind a little more breathing space by disabling notifications. Invest your mind and time in other important tasks.

3. Practice Self-control

Self-control is the key to overcoming any addiction and can yield amazing results within a few weeks. It is one of the first steps to avoid social media addiction, where you limit the time you spend on your phone or social media. Initially, it will be challenging, but through meditation and breathing exercises, you can control your actions and addiction and become mindful of your behavior while accessing any app. 

4. Build Helpful Hobbies

We agree that social media has a lot of benefits and can help us in many ways, but when we start spending too much time on these platforms, it can harm us more than do any good. So, to let go of this habit, develop fruitful interests and hobbies that contribute to your studies, career, and health. Find out what you like and enjoy doing that doesn’t involve phone or social media. Meditate regularly, practice breathing exercises, and do activities that help you find purpose and meaning in your life . You will get in touch with yourself and feel less influenced by external factors. 

5. Meditate and Reflect

Take a moment and think about whether you are truly happy with your relationship with social media. Does it bring real joy? Or do you want to get rid of this addiction? If you think social media is harming your mental peace and you can’t be offline even for an hour, then it’s time to work on yourself. Join a meditation course or Yoga Programs to build focus and reflect on your habits. 

6. Spend More Time with Friends 

Try to connect with friends and family around you. Spend more time offline and spend quality time with loved ones, indulging in fun activities, like board games or quizzes. Talk to people around, discuss books, plan outings, start gardening, and go for hikes. 

7. Involve in Physical Activities

Start spending the majority of your time in physical activities, such as exercise, meditation, outdoor games, etc.  Even a 10-minute walk or stretching can do wonders if done regularly. Meet people for dinner rather than just liking and commenting on their posts. Talk to your friends on a call and build deeper relationships. This will divert your mind to something positive, and as you move your body, endorphins will be released, which are a great alternative to dopamine. 

8. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness allows you to be present in the moment and observe everything happening around you, so you think carefully before acting on your urges. This helps you overcome addictions and develop healthier habits and daily routines. Practice breathing exercises for 10-15 minutes every day. It will make you aware of your cravings and attract you more toward a calm life that is free from the virtual world. You will make better choices and break bad habits. 

9. Digital Fasting Every Week

Sometimes, we allow our brain a break and even our stomach. Hence, we take off from work or do fasting to feel healthier. Similarly, practice digital fasting at least once a week, where you have no screen time. Don’t use your smartphone or laptop and get consumed in activities that don’t require screens. Play games, read, spend time with family, go for a walk, exercise, and meditate. You will gradually feel more peaceful and present. 

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FAQs- Social Media Addiction

Of course, using and scrolling social media excessively leads to social media addiction. However, there are other social media addiction causes that you must know. These include depression, low self-esteem, lack of affection, personal dissatisfaction, and hyperactivity. People, especially the younger generation, often try to replace affection and love with likes and positive comments on social media.

Social media addiction is a behavioral pattern in which people are constantly concerned about social media and driven by an uncontrollable urge to check or use social media every few minutes. They devote most of their time and efforts to social media, which they must invest in their studies, careers, or other areas of life. 

Yes, using social media excessively can result in an unhealthy lifestyle and poor physical health. Social media addiction can lead to decreased physical activity and unhealthy habits. It also causes poor posture and eyesight. Social media addiction has also been linked to obesity, laziness, lack of physical workout, heart disease, cardiovascular disease, reduced bone density, high blood pressure, and juvenile osteoporosis. 

Some of the symptoms and signs of social media addiction include: – Restlessness and irritability when you are not using social media. – Checking your phone every few minutes or whenever you get the opportunity. – Reduced productivity and efficiency at work or poor marks in academics due to overuse of social media. – Increased anger issues when you reduce social media usage. – Constantly using the phone while consumed in other activities, such as exercise, hanging out with friends and family, working, studying, and eating. – Relying on social media as a way to cope with a problem. – Thinking about social media even when you are not using it. 

Addiction to social media can lead to various mental health issues, such as: – Isolation – Cyberbullying – Feeling inadequate about life or appearance – Neglecting real-life relationships – Fear of missing out – Disrupted sleep – Reduced physical activity – Poor concentration and memory – Lower self-esteem – Increasing anxiety – Poor performance at work – Negative impact of studies  – Loneliness 

Once you are free from the clutches of social media, you will see drastic improvements in your life and feel real mental peace. You will be able to focus better on your work and have more sound sleep. Also, you will work more on real-life relationships and find pure joy in your surroundings.

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Social Media Addiction: क्या मशहूर होने के लिए ये Reel की नई जानलेवा लत लगी है? | Sach Ki Padtaal

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    Social media has become a common term for Social Networking Sites (SNS), which are platforms that mainly focus on facilitating content sharing and social interaction by users (Pellegrino et al., 2022).Social media has become near ubiquitous in the modern age serving as a hub for the formation of online communities, entertainment, self-presentation, information, and communication.

  14. Research trends in social media addiction and problematic social media

    Andreassen has received the most citations among the 10 most significant papers on social media addiction, with 405 (Table 2). The main objective of this type of studies was to identify the associations and the roles of different variables as predictors of social media addiction (e.g., (19, 68, 69)).

  15. Social Media Addiction: Consequences and Strategies for Recovery

    To analyze the effects of social media addiction, this essay will describe related health problems and suggest alternative ways to address the addiction. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned'? Get original essay. FOMO.

  16. Risk Factors Associated With Social Media Addiction: An Exploratory

    Excessive and compulsive use of social media may lead to social media addiction (SMA). The main aim of this study was to investigate whether demographic factors (including age and gender), impulsivity, self-esteem, emotions, and attentional bias were risk factors associated with SMA. The study was conducted in a non-clinical sample of college ...

  17. Essay on Social Media Addiction

    Essay on Social Media Addiction: Essay on Social Media Addiction: Social media is a technological application and website, enabling users to have interactive communication and participation in sharing information, opinions, pictures, videos, etc. via internet connection. It allows the transfer of data with a blink of an eye in real-time.

  18. (PDF) SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AND YOUNG PEOPLE: A ...

    social media addiction is negatively associated, in which the. higher the addiction in social media, the lower the young. people's academic performance (Hou et al., 2019). This i s. because ...

  19. (PDF) Social Media Addiction: A Systematic Review through Cognitive

    As a result, social media addiction, a type of behavioral addiction related to the compulsive use of social media and associated with adverse outcomes, has been discussed by scholars and ...

  20. PDF Young users' social media addiction: causes, consequences and preventions

    The motives for social media use mainly were to & look at posts, particularly involving social interaction and diversion motives. Addiction partially mediated the impact of overuse on emotional fatigue and interstress. 37 Sanz-Blas et al. Examined the impact of excessive use of Instagram on users' emotions.

  21. Is Social Media Addictive? Here's What Science Says

    The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale was developed by the professor Cecilie Andreassen to measure social media addiction. There are six questions, designed to measure addiction factors like salience, tolerance, mood modification, relapse or loss of control, withdrawal and functional impairment. To every question, you may answer with a number ...

  22. Essay on Social Media Addiction in English for Children and Students

    Essay on Social Media Addiction 300 Words: Damaging Young Minds. Social media is a good thing if used in the right way, but it can be as damaging if one becomes addicted to it. Unfortunately, more and more people, especially the youth are becoming addicted to the social media and it is damaging their minds.

  23. Social Media Addiction Essay

    Social Media Addiction Essay: Social media is a mechanical application and site, empowering clients to have intuitive correspondence and cooperation in sharing data, conclusions, pictures, recordings, and so on through web association. Social media such as Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Twitter, etc., have brought many benefits to society. It permits the exchange of information with a flicker ...

  24. Impact of Social Media on Youth: Communication, Addiction, and

    The main point of this article is to discuss how internet addicts use the internet to provide a medium for creating false senses of interaction, which can cause users to become isolated from their peers and from social interactions. The article also discusses how students will be able to uncover the dangers of social media addiction and advocate against those dangers.

  25. Social Media Addiction: What Is It? How to Overcome It?

    Social media addiction is a behavioral pattern in which people are constantly concerned about social media and driven by an uncontrollable urge to check or use social media every few minutes. They devote most of their time and efforts to social media, which they must invest in their studies, careers, or other areas of life.

  26. Social Media Addiction: क्या मशहूर होने के लिए ये Reel की नई जानलेवा लत

    Social Media: बीते दस साल में ये देश जैसे एक नई लत का शिकार हो गया है. वह जहां भी जाए, बस अपना चेहरा देखना चाहता है, अपनी हरकत और गतिविधि दिखाना चाहता है। लोग इन ...