Addiction usually refers to compulsive behavior that leads to negative effects. In most addictions, people feel compelled to do certain activities so often that they become a harmful habit, which then interferes with other important activities such as work or school. In that context, a social networking addict could be considered someone with a compulsion to use social media to excess.
If you want to know whether you are a social media addict, look at how you live your life and how you spend your time. Social media addiction can be considered a habitual disorder and the signs can be identified from what you do each day. Some of the common symptoms include anxiety in the absence of internet connection, depression due to constant comparison with peers and procrastination.
Our reward area located in the midbrain, and its pathways, affect our decisions and sensations. When we experience something rewarding, neurons in the principal dopamine-producing areas in the brain are activated, causing dopamine levels to rise. Therefore, the brain receives a “reward” and associates the drug or activity with positive reinforcement.
Social media has grown and become a big part of our daily living and without control, social media can overtake and control your life. Most people underestimate how social media can influence and affect their lives. However, we can always take steps and turn around the clock before it is too late.
When you hear the term “alternative reality” or “parallel universe” our
minds immediately jump to science fiction.
It is a concept that many
people speculate but in the end there is no scientific evidence that
such a place exists. However, there is something very similar that is in
fact a reality and it won’t be found looking up to the stars.
It is
right here on earth, among us on a daily basis and influencing our
perception of reality.
It is our social media accounts.
Social media has become a place for people of all ages to escape reality and
create their own perfect world.
It is a world that can then be broadcasted
to thousands, even millions, of people across the globe. People can no longer
understand or accept flaws since what they are seeing online is a painting
of a perfect life.
When you stop notifications from disturbing your normal routine, you might find it easier to concentrate on your daily tasks and not get distracted so easily. Notifications are a constant reminder that something is happening in the online world and you might feel like you're missing out. So to quell your FOMO, turn off your notifications. The bonus is, when you do come around to checking your social media, you may have a build up of more notifications which will make it more exciting and will make the experience more rewarding.
Set a timer on your watch or phone, to limit the amount of time you spend on social media. Choose a limit depending on the severity of your addiction – say an hour a day, which equates to seven hours per week – and whenever you check your accounts, start your timer going. When you reach your limit, be strong and don't be tempted to add on extra time. This will be a strong test of your willpower, but it will be worth it in the end.
Look at social media as a treat. You might not buy an artisanal coffee everyday or get your nails done every week, but you may reward yourself with these kinds of small treats when you feel like you deserve it. So think of social media in the same way: only allow yourself screen time when you've achieved something or you've done something productive first. This way you might change the way you think about social media.
Depending on how bad things have gotten, it might be time to go cold turkey. If you're spending more time on social media than you are interacting with people in real life, give yourself a reality check by having a holiday from social media. Decide how long it's going to be, inform your friends online how long you'll be away and how they can reach you if they need you in person, and delete your apps. If you normally spend a minimum of two hours on social media per day, you will have an extra fourteen hours per week which are totally free to do whatever you want with – you could even setup your own small business or get a part-time job with all your newly freed up time!
You may have a lot more free time on your hands now that you're trying to cut down on your social media usage, so why not pick up a new hobby to fill your spare time? You could learn a new skill or do something you've always wanted to do but never had the time. You'll probably surprise yourself at how much free time you have when you stop mindlessly scrolling through your newsfeed. Plus your new hobby will keep your mind and hands preoccupied when you're craving social media.