Identifying The Signs Of Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction is a growing concern not just in the United States but worldwide. Who would have thought that a platform for communication would harm our overall well-being?

That is why identifying the signs is crucial. By doing so, the problem can be recognized early, and treatment can be sought. In this article, we will share the signs of social media addiction.

What is Social Media Addiction?

People may use social media as a pastime. To some with mental health problems, social media allows them to relax and is their form of escape. Social media helps keep them happy. However, this harmless hobby later on turns into a form of addiction. 

Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction. The development of addiction is often caused by the dopamine-inducing environment online. The California State University Fullerton article states, “Social media provides rewarding experiences that generate dopamine in the brain, the same substance produced when we eat cake or have sex.”

Social media interactions, likes, comments, and shares trigger the brain to release dopamine, which gives a person a sense of pleasure. People use social media to keep feeling this happiness and pleasure until they become addicted to it. 

Why is Social Media So Addictive?

Social media can be addictive as dopamine triggers pleasure in the brain. You would notice this during a social interaction. Do you feel happy when someone likes your post or you get a positive comment from others? Since the brain finds it rewarding, it classifies it as an activity you must experience again. 

You return to the social media platform when that rewarding feeling wears off. The increased use results in social media addiction. A person who is addicted to social media may find it hard to log off, as their brain already reinforces the idea that it is a pleasurable activity. 

Signs of Social Media Addiction

Dependency on social media has become prevalent. It worsens a person’s mental health issues and affects their overall well-being. Here are some signs that an individual may have a social media addiction:

Excessive Social Media Usage

Despite the consequences, people would spend excessive time on social media apps. Staying online becomes addictive. They lose control of themselves and spend almost all day on social media. Due to increased social media use, they forget to eat, do physical activities, or even get enough sleep.

Withdrawal Symptoms

One of the warning signs is withdrawal. You will notice this once an individual is unable to use social media. They can’t help but crave social media use, and they later experience withdrawal symptoms. They feel unsettled whenever their phone is not on hand, when they don’t have access to the Internet, or when social networking sites aren’t working.

Obsession

This is among the symptoms of social media addiction. For some, social media has become an obsession. It doesn’t matter if there are no updates or notifications; they have this intense urge to check their accounts. Others have a different form of obsession, wherein they constantly think about people they follow online even though they don’t personally know them. They use social media as they become invested in other people’s lives.

Problematic social media use is not only harmful to one’s physical health but also to their mental health. Though social media addiction symptoms in a person can vary, recognizing the signs early can help in dealing with addiction effectively. 

Causes of Social Media Addiction

There are indeed a lot of positive aspects of social media. However, it can become addictive when misused. The following are some of the causes of social media addiction:

Brain Chemistry

Social media use may trigger the brain to release dopamine, a chemical often associated with happiness and pleasure. This surge of dopamine increases the desire to experience this sensation of euphoria repeatedly. People’s social media time increases as they find it hard to log out of the social networking app and put their phones down.

Instant Gratification 

Getting likes, comments, and shares on social media posts provides instant gratification. It may be a momentary pleasure, but the social approval and recognition give them a feeling of fulfillment. Even if those interactions are from strangers online, the feeling can get you addicted to social media. 

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

The urge to regularly check social media sites for updates and notifications can result in FOMO. Such social media habits can then lead to addiction, as people fear that they might miss any updates. To avoid missing out, they develop a need to stay connected online. 

Depression and Lack of Self-Esteem

Studies have linked social media and mental health. Although it has some significant impact, one has to take caution as excessive use of social media can cause issues such as depression and low self-esteem. Because of the unrealistic expectations portrayed online, their self-esteem is affected. Individuals suffering from depression also feel isolated and lonely, so they go to social media to “escape”, making them susceptible to addiction. 

Genetics

It may be surprising to some, but genetics is also one of the causes of addiction. Just like internet addiction and gambling addiction, it is classified as a behavioral addiction. Social media use and its instant gratification stimulate the brain to release dopamine. This fosters dependency on experiencing a “feel good” sensation. The inherited levels of dopamine cause addiction to be passed down from one family member to another. 

Long-Term Effects Of Social Media Addiction 

Social media use may be beneficial, as people can communicate and interact. Others may have a positive relationship with social media. However, overuse and addiction to social media have adverse effects. 

Insufficient Sleep

Individuals with social media addiction are often sleep-deprived. Because of their compulsive checking of social media notifications, they don’t get enough sleep. Their sleep is interrupted as they constantly wake up at night to look at their phones. 

Academic Decline

A growing concern about social media usage is academic decline. Social media distracts students from studying. Instead of doing their homework or school projects, students spend their time constantly scrolling through social media.

Displaced Relationships

Individuals prefer communicating on social media than in real life. They prioritize their virtual relationships over meeting someone face to face. Even during mealtime, their focus is on their phone. When joining events, individuals only participate so they have photos or videos to post instead of enjoying the activities. This addiction often results in them losing friends, being isolated, and being socially shunted. 

Diminishing Self-Esteem

People portray perfection on social media. As others get used to their relationship with “social media friends”, they develop social anxiety. They get anxious that others may judge them and have an intense fear when interacting in social situations. Others develop body image issues as they perceive others to look more attractive than them.

Their self-worth diminishes as they constantly compare themselves with the perfection they see on social media and want to meet these unrealistic expectations. This social media addiction may result in eating disorders (e.g., anorexia, bulimia).

Anxiety and Depression

The link between social media and mental health is often studied. Individuals isolate themselves to avoid being in social settings or doing physical activities. To some, it is their way of dealing with anxiety. However, studies have shown that social media aggravates one’s mental health condition. It worsens their anxiety and depression over time.

Support And Treatment For Social Media Addiction

Social media becoming easily accessible contributes to the higher rates of social media addiction. It is found that social media use and addiction are prevalent among children, teens, and young adults. If you feel like you’re addicted to social media or you’ve been there more than you need to be, there are ways to reduce your social media use.

• Turn off your phone: This is important during activities, work, school, and mealtime. It prevents you from getting distracted by your phone and includes social media notifications. If you don’t want to turn it off if you miss important calls or messages, there is an option on each social media app to turn off notifications. 
• Meet people: Set a time to meet friends and family in person. This way, you can catch up with them and depend on social media. 
• Limit their time: Parents shouldlimit their time spent on social media. You can start by limiting it to a few hours and slowly decreasing it to a few minutes. You can install apps on your child’s phone to help you with this. 
• Get a new hobby: Do something non-technology-related, such as art, sports, dancing, etc. 

Getting help to treat a social media addiction is the first step to recovery. An individual may not notice that their social media use is already excessive. However, through conversations with someone whom they can open up to without judgment, their problems can be addressed. 

It can be challenging, but seeking professional help is crucial. Our team at the Twilight Recovery Center provides social media addiction treatment support to individuals wanting to recover. 

Improve Your Mental Health and Beat Addiction at Twilight Recovery

Excessive use of social media can lead to social media addiction. It affects our overall well-being, especially our mental health. If you or someone you know finds it hard to stop, contact Twilight Recovery.

Our experts have a deep understanding of the link between social media use and mental health, so we offer comprehensive treatment solutions and various therapeutic approaches to help combat its effects. It only takes one call to treat social media addiction. Talk to our experts today to be provided with a tailored solution.

Frequently Asked Questions