Social media addiction is a behavioral disorder characterized by a compulsive and uncontrollable need to be connected to social media, leading to a loss of control and significant interference in a person's daily life.
This addiction can manifest itself in symptoms such as anxiety, stress, irritability, and lack of concentration when the person is away from social media, as well as decreased sleep quality, lack of productivity, and interpersonal problems. Social media addiction can affect a person's mental and emotional health, so it is important to seek professional help if these symptoms are experienced.
Is it possible that you are addicted to social media and don't even know it?
We are aware that social media addiction exists and is a real thing, but now that you know some of the most obvious consequences and symptoms, it is common to think:
- “I do not suffer from this.”
- “This is only in very extreme cases.”
- "This is not my case".
On many occasions, we close ourselves off to the possibility that we are part of this problem, or we don't know if we are fighting against this difficulty. It is also possible that we are simply not aware that we unconsciously suffer some consequences of social media.
Social media is a part of our daily lives, and it is easy to not accept that there is a problem. To analyze and refute this situation, we suggest you do a little reflection on the daily use of your electronic devices and measure the time you spend on digital media. One way to make a brief diagnosis of your current situation is by answering the following questions:
- Do you know how many hours you spend on social media?
- Have you ever wanted to stop or reduce your time on social media?
- Is browsing the web the first thing you do in the morning or at night?
- How many times have you delayed your bedtime to spend more time on social media?
- How many times have you wished you could spend your time on things other than social media?
- How many valuable opportunities do you miss because you are not paying attention to the present?
- Have you ever felt like a lot of time has passed and you haven't been able to make progress on your tasks
- How many times do you ask for things to be repeated due to lack of attention?
- Have you ever failed at your homework because you didn't want to put your device down?
In most of the questions, a large part of young people tend to fail or feel identified, however, it is very important to do a deep self-analysis, to be alert and know the possible consequences of social networks. Remember that to deal with the problem, the first step is to recognize that it exists.
Consequences of social media
Now that you know what social media addiction is, we must be aware of its repercussions. Although it is difficult to list in detail all the direct and indirect consequences of social media in everyday life, there are some that stand out and need to be mentioned, due to their great negative weight in the long term.
1 - Increase in social media addiction at an early age
More and more underaged children are starting to use electronic devices, which leads to a higher percentage of addiction to social networks from an early age. Early and prolonged use of social networks in children can also have other negative effects on their development. It can affect their ability to socialize effectively in the real world, decrease their ability to concentrate and reduce the quality of sleep.
On the other hand, children may be exposed to inappropriate or dangerous content for their age on social media if their use is not properly supervised. Parents need to be careful and, above all, informed about the risks associated with early use and the consequences of social media.
2- Change of habits and lifestyle
Another consequence that gradually affects us is when addiction to social networks shapes the rhythm of our lives and generates new habits that directly and negatively affect our routine.
Due to the large amount of information and different mass media, users tend to change and create new customs and habits that directly harm our physical and mental health, as they directly decrease our productivity and quality of life; since the greatest tendency is not being able to leave social networks to meet the objectives of our day and achieve a day with good performance. In these cases, the key is to use social networks to our advantage and not let them control us, we must use them responsibly and consciously.
3- Decrease in social skills of young people
Fewer and fewer people choose to have physical interactions with others. It is more common to find people who do not know the correct way to relate to others and the biggest culprit is addiction to social networks, since young people prefer to interact through that medium and when they are faced with reality, they do not know how to act.
Many young people feel insecure around other people, as excessive use of social media can significantly affect their soft skills, those that allow us to physically interact with others, create long-term relationships and work as a team.
People often feel more comfortable behind a screen than in person, which can lead to a lack of confidence in face-to-face social situations. Not to mention that social media can promote constant comparison and competition between users, resulting in decreased self-esteem and self- confidence when in social settings. All of this can have a negative impact on interpersonal relationships, which in turn can affect people’s mental and emotional health. It’s important to remember that social media is not a substitute for physical interactions and that a healthy balance needs to be found between the two.
4- Disconnection from the real world
Another consequence of social media that should be mentioned and is often overlooked is the problem of the constant loss of reality, because even though social media connects us digitally with more people regardless of borders and time zones, the tendency is for it to disconnect us from the people closest to us, those we see daily and not on a screen, but face to face.
It is true that social media informs us about distant things, such as the political situation in other countries, environmental and ethical problems; but it misinforms us about what is really happening to the people around us and alters our true reality.
5- Stop being people who act and be just spectators
Another negative point that social media addiction has caused is the fact that we have stopped being social protesters and have become virtual protesters. That is, through digital media it is very easy to complain or give our opinion, however, we never take physical and real actions to change something we do not like. We publish a lot, but we do little. The above may make us feel offended or uncomfortable, but that is what social media generates, it causes exhaustion and makes us less active people; and gradually it turns us into simple spectators , we stop being the protagonists of our own lives.
Why does this problem happen? We tend to feel safer behind a screen, which gives us greater security to criticize people, circumstances or situations, without feeling one hundred percent committed. Most people tend to put on a mask, exposing a small portion of who they really are. It is easy to comment on a post where we express our discontent or publish our position on a topic, expressing what we believe is easier when we do it through social networks. However, the real test is to maintain our convictions and opinions on a point, regardless of the circumstances and beyond that, it is to decide to act to change the situations that we do not like. The key to this is to be consistent with who we show ourselves on networks and with our day-to-day reality.
How to treat social media addiction?
Now that we have analyzed the consequences of social networks, we can conclude that it is a problem that we need to recognize, to subsequently solve it. The main objective is to find a balance with the use of this technology. The main step is to work to avoid the consequences that can most affect our person and development, such as mental health problems, decreased time for important activities, affectation in interpersonal relationships and social isolation.
Let us be truly aware and recognize when there really is a problem that overwhelms us, at this point you should ask for professional support or guidance. Remember that addiction to social networks can cause sleep disturbances, it is possible that your energy and potential are being drained through electronic devices and generating effects that directly and seriously damage your mental health.
Remember that technology can be an extremely powerful tool, with which we can achieve many projects, goals and it can even help us reach our objectives more effectively. However, everything in excess can be harmful and instead of being a privilege and a tool that we use to our advantage, there is the possibility that it becomes a bond, which if not mastered in time, controls us and unbalances us.
To combat addiction to social media, never forget the great power they have and learn to have a healthy life with them, by forming methods of use and daily disciplines to turn them into something fruitful for our lives and not into an addiction.
