Social Media Abuse is Real
Table of Contents
Many of us spend hours on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or other social media apps each day. Using these social networks is entertaining and informative for most people. Social media also makes it easy to connect with friends, meet new people, and keep up with the news. However, there’s a small percentage of individuals who use social media to such an extent that it becomes excessive or compulsive. This has been termed social media addiction. However, some professionals question whether social media overuse is really a mental disorder.
A person can’t be officially diagnosed with a social media addiction. The American Psychiatric Society does not consider it a behavioral disorder. The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) calls it a “condition for further study.” However, some researchers believe such an addiction is possible. Research in this area is now emerging. These researchers say more studies are needed to truly understand social network addiction.
That being said, some psychologists see social media addiction as a clear behavioral addiction. However, only a small percentage of people would meet the criteria.
Even though many people say they’re addicted to social media and many parents fear this is the case with their children, the term shouldn’t be thrown around loosely.
What Characterizes A Social Network Addiction?
Behavioral addictions are quite similar to substance addictions as it relates to compulsive pleasure-seeking and constant preoccupation. Some professionals also believe people addicted to social media may experience tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, much like people addicted to drugs or alcohol. Tolerance means the individual needs to use social media more and more to get the same effect they once did.
Meanwhile, withdrawal symptoms are unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms that occur when the individual isn’t using social media. There is also the possibility of relapse – returning to excessive social media use after successfully abstaining for a while.
A person who is addicted to social media may experience:
- A compulsion to use one or more social media apps or sites
- Negative emotions such as anger or frustration when unable to use social media
- Excessive longing, anxiety, or worry when not using social media
- A preoccupation with whether their content is getting attention or what other people are doing online
- A willingness to engage in risky behaviors to access social media
Essentially, a person shows signs of social network addiction when their use of online media disrupts their daily life. Identifying the first stages of addiction can help you to nip the problem in the bud. Some of the early signs include:
- Having few interests other than social media
- Using social media for a lot longer than you intended
- Spending time on social media instead of taking part in real-life social activities
- Having other people comment that you spend too much time online
- A drop in your performance at work or school
- An inability to meet household or family obligations
What Causes Social Network Addiction?
Likes, shares, and mentions trigger the same chemical reaction in the brain as recreational drugs. Social media overuse, therefore, is largely due to the dopamine release that results from successful social interactions. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that motivates us to act in one way or another because we desire a particular feeling. The dopamine system is also known as the brain’s reward system. It also gets activated when we have sex, exercise, and eat foods we enjoy.
Social media users experience feelings of pleasure when they consume other users’ content and see other people react to their content. Since social media provides an almost never-ending supply of content and attention, the brain gets positive reinforcement. This is why people find themselves posting constantly or scrolling for hours.
Another factor contributing to social media overuse is that the brain’s rewards center is most active when talking about oneself. Since people tend to self-disclose on social media more than they do in real life, even more dopamine is released.
The Role of the Algorithm
The often discussed social media algorithms also need to be taken into consideration. If the content you saw on social media was irrelevant, you probably wouldn’t spend so much time looking at your phone. However, the algorithms consistently deliver personalized content informed by demographic data and your online habits. Artificial intelligence can predict the types of content you’re most likely to engage with based on your previous actions. Therefore, the posts you see are largely the ones that are most likely to grab and maintain your attention. Furthermore, these posts are more likely to influence your thoughts and behavior.
The Effects of Social Network Addiction
Neither the algorithm nor the dopamine reaction is inherently negative. However, social media use becomes an issue when people rely on it to cope with depression, stress, loneliness, or anxiety. Some people use social media to make up for the interactions and attention they lack in real life.
The almost constant use of social networks can cause people to ignore real-life relationships and responsibilities, leading to a variety of interpersonal problems. Some people also neglect their health. All these issues can cause further disruption to the individual’s mood, leading to more social media use and increased psychological dependency on these apps.
Risk Factors for Social Overuse
Anyone can develop a social network addiction. You may start out using social media responsibly only to find that it starts taking over your life at some point. However, some people are more likely to progress to problematic use, including those with addictive personalities and low self-esteem. Children and young adults are also especially vulnerable since their brains aren’t fully developed. They’re more likely to give in to peer pressure. Adults who depend on their phones for meetings, banking, email, and other daily activities are also at increased risk.
Using Emoji for Drugs in Social Media and SMS Chats
Along with the rise in social media addiction and abuse has come the recent trend for teens, young adults, and drug dealers more generally to communicate using coded emoji for drugs. Parents and friends of loved ones should be aware of the ways that these tools can also be employed to keep messaging secret and even facilitate the spread of drugs to teenagers and those who may be unaware of what they are actually buying (especially in the case of laced fentanyl pills or ‘fentapills‘.)
The Link Between Social Media and Mental Health
There are several benefits to social media, but research also points to a clear link between the use of social media, low self-esteem, and poor mental health. People who use social media too much can become more and more dissatisfied with themselves. Not only is there constant pressure to share, but there’s a temptation to compare oneself with others. Influencer Content and advertisements can make it seem like everyone else is making lots of money and living the perfect life. Filters and other forms of photo edit help to perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards.
Some people may be inspired by these social media posts, but others feel varying levels of jealousy and depression. The constant comparison to other people can result in increased self-consciousness, poor perception of self, and an unrealistic desire for perfection. This can lead to social anxiety disorder.
Using social media can also cause the fear of missing out (FOMO). Seeing videos from an event to which you were not invited or reading about a friend’s big trip can make you feel left out. Some people feel that no one remembers them or misses them when they aren’t there. This can also lead to social anxiety and the compulsive checking of social networks, making it hard to focus at work or school.
Get Treatment for Social Network Addiction Today!
Many people use social media every day for personal and professional reasons without experiencing any significant problems. However, some people become consumed by their social network(s) of choice, and they experience negative consequences. If you’ve developed an unhealthy relationship with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or another app, you can successfully break your habit.
You can start with simple things such as not using social media during meal times or making sure you don’t take your phone to bed. Turning off the notification sounds on your phone or allocating specific time slots to social media can also be helpful. Many people find that these strategies reduce their reliance on social networking apps, and they’re able to increase their real-world engagement.
However, some people need professional support to manage social media overuse. If you’ve found it difficult to control your screen time on your own, you should seek professional help for your social network addiction. If you’re also dealing with anxiety, depression, or another mental health problem, you should get treatment for this. Contact Rehabs Of Armerica today to learn about the available resources so you can take back control of your life.
Edward lives and works in South Florida and has been a part of its recovery community for many years. With a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts, he works to help Find Addiction Rehabs as both a writer and marketer. Edward loves to share his passion for the field through writing about addiction topics, effective treatment for addiction, and behavioral health as a whole. Alongside personal experience, Edward has deep connections to the mental health treatment industry, having worked as a medical office manager for a psychiatric consortium for many years.
