Experts have been sounding the alarm for a while now, but I don’t know what took people so long to realize that constant scrolling could be detrimental to their mental health. If you feel like social media is taking over your life, you’re not alone. More and more people are realizing that social media is not as beneficial as its touted by many, that it has downfalls such as forming an isolated community, causing mental health issues and addiction. It’s time to get hooked on real life instead.
Why has social media become more addictive?
Social media has become more addictive when people began to take away their personal responsibility of setting boundaries. Instead, they turn to the escapism that social media provides. Social media teaches people to escape from their problems instead of confronting them. Manipulating photos has also been a massive contributor because it makes them feel like the person in the picture is happier and has a better life than the one they have at the moment.
How long is too long on social media?
Research has shown that the average person starts their day checking their social media account before they even get out of bed. Checking the feed is the first thing they do before answering the phone, tending to their children or cooking breakfast. Then there’s work, television, and homework to finish up. By bedtime, the average person has spent two hours or more surfing on social media sites and checking in on what everyone else is doing.
The pros and cons of social media
Social media is pretty much all around us. On Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, you can keep up to date on the most current happenings, check out your friend’s latest post or watch funny videos. For many people there is a fine line between the positive aspects of social media and how it can be harmful to society. Some people consider it to be a necessity, whereas others try to stay off the grid altogether.
One of the benefits of social media is that it gives people an online support system that they might not have in their personal life. It also gives them a means of sharing their latest endeavors and successes with their friends. It allows them to share their creative work such as writing, photos, or videos. It also offers work opportunities for those without jobs.
On the other hand, some see social media as one of the things destroying society because it encourages materialism and shallow behavior. Another downside includes users becoming more aggressive towards one another through social media battles. Bullying on social media networks is more prevalent than offline bullying. The advertising that they see on social media influence people to buy products they had no intention of buying before seeing an ad.
Conclusion
Everywhere you look, there is social media. While it has its place in society, is not without its drawbacks. The “obsession” with social networking posts is dangerous. While we can advise and give proofs of the problems associated with social media addiction such as mental health issues, depression, and feeling of isolation, unless people experience it themselves, they may not get convinced. They need to realize that it’s time to get hooked on real life instead.
