How to break social media addiction, or spend less time online

  • You may be able to break a social media addiction by going on a cleanse, setting limits, and deleting apps.
  • While you don't need to abstain from social media entirely, experts say it's important to set limits.
  • This article  was medically reviewed  by  Zlatin Ivanov, MD , who is certified in psychiatry and addiction psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology at  Psychiatrist NYC .
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories .

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The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as a behavior that becomes compulsive or continues despite negative consequences. In 2017, 43% of Americans reported checking social media constantly, and 20% said social media is a source of stress. 

In addition, interacting with social media can trigger a dopamine response in the brain, similar to that triggered by drug or alcohol use. That response can leave you wanting more and feeling addicted. Here's how to fight it. 

How to break social media addiction

In 2018, people with internet access worldwide spent an average of 144 minutes on social media every day. Yet research indicates that limiting social media use to 30 minutes a day is optimal for mental health.  

Abstinence is often recommended for treating drug or alcohol addiction, but for social media addiction, the ideal psychological outcome is controlled use of the internet. It's not necessary to give up social media entirely, but it is important to have strategies for setting limits. 

Lin Sternlicht , a licensed mental health counselor at Family Addiction Specialist, recommends that people who are concerned about social media addiction take the following steps:

  • Go on a social media cleanse: Challenge yourself to go a certain time without checking social media, whether it's for a few hours or an entire week. One 2019 study found that some students who went for five days without social media experienced a "sense of serenity," although others were afraid of missing out. 
  • Delete apps, or disable notifications from social media: Most people check into social media mindlessly, so put a small barrier in the way by turning off notifications . If you don't see a social media icon or alert every time you pick up your phone, you're less likely to spend time there. 
  • Set limits and stick to them. Most phones and tablets allow you to see the time you've spent on certain apps. Set a limit for your time spent on social media and stick to it, or use an app that blocks social media after you've hit your limit. For teens , the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that social media use not interfere with activities like family meals, exercise, or "unplugged downtime."
  • Dedicate time to hobbies or activites. A hobby or new activity can help curb your desire to check in to social media. "The idea here is to fill up your free time with things that you enjoy that are good for you," Sternlicht says. "Naturally you will find less time to be on social media and more time to be present in life, and hopefully even socialize in person instead of through a screen."

Accountability is more important than abstinence 

Going on a digital detox — or totally abstaining from social media for a certain period of time — can be effective for some people, but not others, says Neha Chaudhary , MD, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. 

"For some, it may break a cycle that has started to feel toxic or have negative effects," she says. "For others, stopping altogether may lead to craving its use and not being able to sustain the break, or might keep someone from accessing the beneficial parts of social media, like a way to stay connected and reach out for support."

Rather than relying on a total detox, Chaudhary recommends setting limits and recruiting some of your friends and family to join you. 

"Accountability plays a big role in trying to make any change," she says. "Maybe decide with a friend that you want to both reduce use, or tell your family member your goals so that they can check in with you about it. Whatever it is, find a way to have someone help keep you on track — breaking habits alone can be difficult."

In severe cases, someone who is worried about social media addiction should also consider seeking professional help from a therapist or mental health specialist.

social media addiction problem solution essay

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Social Media Addiction: Consequences and Strategies for Recovery

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Table of contents

Introduction, suggested solution, social media anxiety disorder.

  • David Blackwell, 21 April 2017 Extraversion, neuroticism, attachment style and fear of missing out as predictors of social media use and addiction. From https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.04.039 .
  • Przybylski et al., 2013 A.K. Przybylski, K. Murayama, C.R. DeHaan, V. Gladwell Motivational, emotional, and behavioral correlates of fear of missing out Computers in Human Behavior (2013), pp. 1841-1848, 10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.014.
  • Weidman, A.C., Fernandez, K.C., Levinson, C.A., Augustine, A.A., Larsen, R.J., & Rodebaugh, T.L. (2012). Compensatory internet use among individuals higher in social anxiety and its implications for well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(3), 191-195. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1016/j.paid.2012.03.003
  • Parade, S.H., Leerkes, E.M., & Blankson, A.N. (2010). Attachment to parents, social anxiety, and close relationships of female students over the transition to college. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(2), 127-137. doi: 10.1007/s10964-009-9396-x.
  • Cludius, B., Stevens, S., Bantin, T., Gerlach, A., & Hermann, C. (2013). The motive to drink due to social anxiety and its relation to hazardous alcohol use. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(3), 806-813. doi: 10.1037/a0032295.

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social media addiction problem solution essay

Social Media Addiction: Causes and Effects

The causes of sm addiction, the effects of sm addiction.

Problematic or addictive social media (SM) use and its implications for health have become popular research topics in recent years. SM addiction refers to a type of behavioral addiction characterized by an individual’s excessive concern with SM communication that results in an obsessive desire to check SM feedback in a frequent manner. Eventually, those developing this form of addiction start to devote too much time to SM-related matters. In some instances, this approach to priority-setting can impair a person’s activity and success in other crucial areas of life, such as in-person communication, studying, and career progression. The causes and effects of excessive SM use require an in-depth investigation to achieve clarity in formulating a new public health concern and developing resources to address addictions. The issue stems from SM platforms’ technical characteristics and being a source of dopamine and a relief for socially unhappy individuals, and its effects include poorer mental health, physical health issues, and impaired productivity.

The chosen problem can be caused by various interacting factors, including SM sites’ addiction-inducing characteristics, the ability to trigger dopamine release, and offering spaces to compensate for previous relationship-building failures. The first cause refers to modern SM platforms’ addictive features, for example, the promotion of endless scrolling. SM applications’ news feed functions expose the user to an endless and unrestricted stream of information, resulting in immersion combined with distortions to chronoception (Friedman, 2021; Montag et al., 2019). Exposure to such streams of data can create the habit of mindless SM scrolling without realizing how much time has passed. This can give rise to addiction and the symptoms of distress in SM users (Montag et al., 2019; Zenone et al., 2022). The second cause is that rewarding SM experiences can elicit neurotransmitters’ activity, making SM platforms similar to certain drugs. For instance, SM websites are referred to as “dopamine-inducing social environments” as the stream of positive attention, including likes or personal messages, induces pleasure and affects reward pathways in the brain (Hilliard, 2022, para. 3). Getting positive reactions evokes temporary feelings of joy and satisfaction, and this effect is inextricably connected to dopamine release (Burhan & Moradzadeh, 2020). The user can feel the urge to receive even more attention to remain in this positive state. Finally, SM addictions can stem from the individual’s desire to compensate for previous social failures, for instance, insecure attachment. It has been shown that the intensity of Facebook use is positively correlated with the degree of the user’s attachment anxiety (Burhan & Moradzadeh, 2020). The desire to alleviate negative feelings linked with in-person communication might encourage heavier and more addictive SM use (Burhan & Moradzadeh, 2020). Therefore, both neurological and psychological reasons can be involved in the issue.

SM addiction can have various types of negative effects, including a greater likelihood of mental health issues, alterations to individual productivity, and deficiencies in a person’s subjective physical well-being. First, psychological and mental issues become more likely as a result of overusing SM. Specifically, excessive and addictive long-term SM use has been positively associated with developing self-esteem issues, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and an increased sense of guilt (Rast et al., 2021). Increased SM use limits in-person interaction and physical activity levels while also promoting the fear of being judged during face-to-face communication, thus contributing to the aforementioned conditions (Rast et al., 2021). Second, both academic and workplace performance can decrease due to SM addictions. Specifically, unhealthy SM use has been linked with sleep issues and some reductions in cognitive capacity, as well as extra distractions and time wastage (Priyadarshini et al., 2020; Rast et al., 2021). In combination, these effects can promote barriers to users’ academic and workplace achievements by causing disengagement and information overload (Priyadarshini et al., 2020; Rast et al., 2021). Third, negative physical health outcomes can stem from SM overuse and, more specifically, its effects on the amount of health-promoting physical activity and sleep. For instance, aside from higher C-reactive protein levels, the degree of SM use has a positive relationship with backaches, eye strain, chest pain, and headaches (Lee et al., 2022; Priyadarshini et al., 2020). These consequences are likely to be related to the unhealthy screen staring practices, adopting more sedentary lifestyles, and sleep issues that are the components of SM addictions (Priyadarshini et al., 2020). Thus, the adverse effects of excessive SM use on a person’s life are all-encompassing.

Finally, SM addiction is a complex health issue that can result from the causes of different nature, including the peculiarities of human psychology and neurological functioning, and influence both health and individual productivity. Based on the discussion of hypothetical causes, it is likely that the most popular social networking sites are built in a way to capture and redirect users’ attention. They also offer some illusionary remedies for users’ psychological issues and unmet attachment-related needs. The phenomenon’s outcomes also signify that SM addiction can be more dangerous than it is currently portrayed. These points give support to an opinion that the global healthcare community and researchers should explore the behavioral issue more intensively to develop safe SM use guidelines and effective practices to address the addiction. Additionally, researching how addictive information presentation technologies are used for profit-making might be essential to get at the problem’s root cause.

Burhan, R., & Moradzadeh, J. (2020). Neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and its role in the development of social media addiction. Journal of Neurology & Neurophysiology , 11 (7), 1-2. Web.

Friedman, E. (2021). Internet addiction: A critical psychology of users . Routledge.

Hilliard, J. (2022). Social media addiction . Addiction Center.

Lee, D. S., Jiang, T., Crocker, J., & Way, B. M. (2022). Social media use and its link to physical health indicators . Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking , 25 (2), 87-93.

Montag, C., Lachmann, B., Herrlich, M., & Zweig, K. (2019). Addictive features of social media/messenger platforms and freemium games against the background of psychological and economic theories. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 16 (14), 1-16.

Priyadarshini, C., Dubey, R. K., Kumar, Y. L. N., & Jha, R. R. (2020). Impact of a social media addiction on employees’ wellbeing and work productivity . The Qualitative Report , 25 (1), 181-196.

Rast, R., Coleman, J. T., & Simmers, C. S. (2021). T he dark side of the like: The effects of social media addiction on digital and in-person communication. The Journal of Social Media in Society , 10 (2), 175-201.

Zenone, M., Kenworthy, N., & Maani, N. (2022). The social media industry as a commercial determinant of health. International Journal of Health Policy and Management , 1-4.

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Likecoholic: Social Media Addiction Essay

Introduction, “likecoholic” analysis, wågström’s perspective, works cited.

When people talk about the addiction to social media, they often approach the issue from a humorous perspective, with phrases such as “I depend on my daily dose of social media” being mentioned in conversations frequently. However, what many fail to recognize is that the psychology of depending on sources of online interaction is based on severe levels of manipulation from major corporations that need to make their content appealing for it to go ‘viral’ and get as many advertisement views and clicks as possible. Thus, despite the vast amount of positive implications of social media, recognizing its harmful psychological effects is imperative. To illustrate this, an analysis of Asaf Hanuka’s “Likecoholic” will be conducted, connecting it with a recent Forbes article covering this topic.

Upon seeing Hanuka’s piece of art, one cannot help to think about a Black Mirror episode in which the reputation and the livelihood of each person were solely dependent on their virtual rating that was based on the number of likes they get. Although such a prospect is terrifying to imagine in real life, especially for the target audience – regular social media users, the metaphor used in “Likecoholic” is extremely similar to what occurs today.

The overuse of the ‘Like’ button on Facebook is an issue that most Facebook users encounter, which is why the piece of art is so honest despite its dark humor undertones. Modern scholars have started likening the addiction to the use of social media to smoking, stating that companies such as Facebook must be regulated “exactly the same way you regulated the cigarette industry,” in which the interests and safety of users are put at the forefront (Wågström). However ambitious this proposition is, multiple facts point to the increased addiction of people to social media, as Hanuka smartly highlighted.

In the illustration, one sees a man sitting behind a computer with an overindulged expression on his face as he plugs his computer into his vein, which is a clear metaphor for substance addiction (Hanuka). Dozens of ‘Like’ icons float out of his mouth and scatter around him, representing evident repetition and close resemblance of these components of the work. The man’s computer shows an open Facebook page, from which the ‘Likes’ are being downloaded to curb his need to get more and more likes.

To persuade observers that social media is addictive, the artist used striking imagery that would be remembered. Thus, the repetition of ‘Like’ icons can be considered a metaphor for the increased need of society to get recognition from strangers. The computer, the phone, the empty disposable coffee cup on the table, the red cord connecting the man to his iMac all represent the logical strands that tie the image together. There is also a binary opposition, an anomaly between the grey tones of the image and the vibrant colors of ‘Like’ icons, which suggests that only artificial approval and recognition makes the illustration’s protagonist satisfied and happy.

The ‘poop’ emoji that replaces the Apple logo on the computer also adds to Hanuka’s metaphor as technologies are the tools that people use for facilitating their addiction to social media. The irony in Hanuka’s “Likecoholic” is that only new likes and new engagement matter. One can see some of the ‘Like’ icons being thrown out in the garbage as they have already served their purpose of momentary pleasure and were discarded in the search for a new ‘dose.’

Unfortunately, Hanuka’s metaphors have some basis in reality. According to the Forbes article by Wågström, multiple studies have shown that social media addiction is real. To persuade readers about the addictive qualities of social media, the author cites statistics from all over the world. With billions of worldwide Facebook users and millions of Tweets posted daily on Twitter, social media attracts people with its design and manipulation tactics that are based on engagement maximization (Wågström).

Regarding repetitions in the article, the term addiction is used consistently to underline the adverse impact of social media on society. Logical strands are built by using the following terms: likes, follows, emojis, FOMO, ego, platform, validation, which are similar to Hanuka’s strands. Binary opposition is seen in the comparison of social media use to smoking, both of which are addictive: the more one smokes, the more he or she wants to smoke; the more one scrolls and posts online, the more one wants more.

The addiction to social media is explained by simple facts about human psychology. This can also be linked to Hanuka’s perspective as there is a clear psychological undertone present in “Likecoholic.” For instance, humans are social creatures and require interactions with others to feel as if they belong. They need validation for thoughts and behaviors they share, especially when it comes to ego recognition.

This is seen in “Likecoholic” – the superficial approval fuels a person’s ego and sense of belonging to society. Findings to support this were made by Harvard University researchers who concluded that human brain chemistry encourages engagement online as self-disclosure leads to pleasure (Walker). This is especially relevant when applied to Hanuka’s illustration as the man in it is experiencing pleasure by receiving likes online from strangers.

Asaf Hanuka’s “Likecoholic” is both a disturbing and comedic piece of art that mocks the problem of social media addiction while also pointing out its dangers. The research conducted by modern scholars supports the artist’s views, suggesting that there are both physical and psychological implications of social media addiction. For society not to end up like the Black Mirror episode, imposing better rules to address social media addiction is paramount.

Hanuka, Asaf. “Likecoholic.” 2008. Asafhanuka . Web.

Wågström, Göran. “ Is Social Media Addiction Worse Than Cigarettes? ” Forbes . 2018. Web.

Walker, Leslie. “Study: Social Media Fires Up Brain’s Pleasure Center.” Lifewire . 2018. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2022, May 11). Likecoholic: Social Media Addiction. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-media-addiction/

"Likecoholic: Social Media Addiction." IvyPanda , 11 May 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/social-media-addiction/.

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1. IvyPanda . "Likecoholic: Social Media Addiction." May 11, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-media-addiction/.

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IvyPanda . "Likecoholic: Social Media Addiction." May 11, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-media-addiction/.

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Social Media Addiction Essay

How it works

As a part of our daily life, social media shows a significant impact on society and has become a strong way to stay updated. Nothing spreads information faster than social media, which helps many people keep informed about the world’s current affairs. It has changed the way the world interacts by presenting many useful tools, namely, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. These technological advances assist those who are socially isolated to feel more connected to society, such as socially anxious citizens, since “More than 25% of teens report that social media makes them feel less shy, 28% report feeling more outgoing, and 20% report feeling more confident” (Are).

It also has proved to contribute to education in schools. , Its continuous use and high adherence rate made the world a powerful and better place to live in. However, even with many benefits, there are a lot of negative effects that come with this technology. Not only is social media made for personal use, but it also is a benefit for the catching and prosecuting process of criminals more efficiently.

According to “73% of federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals surveyed think social media helps solve crimes more quickly” (Are). Considering how easy it has become to find people on the internet due to the high online exposure, it is possible to track down almost anybody on websites nowadays. People may post pictures of criminals to alert others, as well as share a criminal’s last location when spotted. The fast share of information among the community can lead police departments to add tracking units to arrest criminals more effectively. Not only the population facilitates the task, but also some outlaws may contribute for their own detention by boasting about their crimes online, as in the case of “A gang charged with the beating of a gay couple in Philadelphia in 2014.” (Are).

Besides, social media has allowed students to work with new technologies. It helps them do research on topics that they have trouble understanding or use it to discuss educational topics when needed. Furthermore, these technologies assist those who are absent from school to catch up on missing assignments or even discussing group projects by contacting one another efficiently and needlessly of an in-person meeting. According to studies, “59% of students with access to the internet report that they use social media to discuss educational topics, and 50% use the sites to talk about school assignments” (Are).

Comparatively, a school in Oregon introduced an educational program that encourages kids to learn, “grades went up by 50%, chronic absenteeism went down by 33%, and 20% of students school-wide voluntarily completed extra-credit assignments” (Are). Educational programs make studying more entertaining by inserting a daily element on a youngster’s life, which includes the chance of writing in digital media over the traditional paper and pencil. The educational programs that are created now also allow teachers to understand the student’s struggles and work on them. In other words, social media can and should be used for educational purposes since it is intrinsically connected to students nowadays.

As research appears to show, “Social media users have been responsible for reporting events before traditional media outlets, including the Paris attacks in France on Nov. 13, 2015” (Are). It is correct to affirm that it is common nowadays to consider the internet a fundamental font of breaking news for professionals and casual users. It also plays an important role when it comes to alert people in emergencies, such as the Ebola outbreak that has happened in Nigeria and Sierra Leone in July 2014.

Despite all the benefits of social media, it is important to clarify that most of the bullying that happens nowadays takes place on the internet. Students, and even adults, have experienced cyberbullying. This unfortunate situation not only affects the self-image and esteem but also can cause, or worse, psychological pathologies, such as depression and anxiety. Indeed, in terms of negative effects caused by the unceasing use of these technologies, the mental health damages, mainly in the youngsters is the principal concern of neuro-physicians. Not only the negativity shared in the social media can be a reason for the disadvantages, after all, this is an essay on social media addiction.

As per analyzed, “With 91% of young people using the internet for social networking and rates of depression and anxiety in young people having risen by more than 70% in the past 25 years” (this.). But why is social media addictive? Studies portray that social media’s effects on the brain include a rush of dopamine, the hormone responsible for pleasure and satisfaction. The high and fast rushes created by the use of those media generate a pattern that ends up in an addictive cycle.

Overall, there are many positive effects that social media has on our society today. As revealed in the thesis statement, it has become essential for social interactions, educational purposes, access to the news, criminal investigations, and many other situations behalf of people’s lives. However, it can not be ignored that it also has a negative impact on the mental health of thousands of users. So it is important, for all intents and purposes, to pursue ways to minimize the damaging impacts and prevent future users from repeating the same negative cycles that lead to unhealthy relations with the technology. And undoubtedly, it is hard to imagine how society would be today without all the technologies acquired until now; besides, as common sense, these technologies only tend to be even more present in daily life. So it is important to be aware of the conscientious use of it. With all things considered, social media networking sites will continue to grow, play a fundamental role in our lives, and affect human life, whether positively or negatively.

  • “Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our Society.” socialnetworking.procon.org 2018 ProCon.org, 17 August 2018. Web. 26 October 2018.
  • Hatcher Patrick, Jon “20 Pros and Cons of Social Media.” www.sucess.com 2018 Success Magazine, 6 December 2017. Web. 3 November 2018.
  • Errington, Keith “Social Media Pros and Cons: The Top 10.” www.equinetmedia.com 2018 Equinet Media Ltd, 21 September 2018. Web. 3 November 2018.
  • Moreau, Elise “The Pros and Cons of Social Networking.” www.lifewire.com 2018 Lifewire, 19 November 2018. Web. 3 November 2018.

Social media addiction can have both favorable and unfavorable effects on an individual’s life. Benefits may include staying connected with loved ones, discovering new business opportunities, and accessing information. On the other hand, it can result in negative consequences such as feeling disconnected from the real world, excessive screen time, and missing important life events.

Determining the cause of social media addiction is complex, as it can result from a variety of factors. Individuals may develop an addiction due to the need for approval from others, while some may struggle with separating their online and offline lives. Moreover, some individuals may have a greater propensity for addiction based on their personality traits or impulsivity levels.

The influence of social media on mental health is a multifaceted and intricate matter. While some specialists argue that social media can positively impact mental health by providing a community of support and aiding individuals in staying connected, others claim that it can lead to negative effects such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

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Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Fazida karim.

1 Psychology, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA

2 Business & Management, University Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, MYS

Azeezat A Oyewande

3 Family Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA

4 Family Medicine, Lagos State Health Service Commission/Alimosho General Hospital, Lagos, NGA

Lamis F Abdalla

5 Internal Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences and Psychology, Fairfield, USA

Reem Chaudhry Ehsanullah

Safeera khan.

Social media are responsible for aggravating mental health problems. This systematic study summarizes the effects of social network usage on mental health. Fifty papers were shortlisted from google scholar databases, and after the application of various inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 papers were chosen and all papers were evaluated for quality. Eight papers were cross-sectional studies, three were longitudinal studies, two were qualitative studies, and others were systematic reviews. Findings were classified into two outcomes of mental health: anxiety and depression. Social media activity such as time spent to have a positive effect on the mental health domain. However, due to the cross-sectional design and methodological limitations of sampling, there are considerable differences. The structure of social media influences on mental health needs to be further analyzed through qualitative research and vertical cohort studies.

Introduction and background

Human beings are social creatures that require the companionship of others to make progress in life. Thus, being socially connected with other people can relieve stress, anxiety, and sadness, but lack of social connection can pose serious risks to mental health [ 1 ].

Social media

Social media has recently become part of people's daily activities; many of them spend hours each day on Messenger, Instagram, Facebook, and other popular social media. Thus, many researchers and scholars study the impact of social media and applications on various aspects of people’s lives [ 2 ]. Moreover, the number of social media users worldwide in 2019 is 3.484 billion, up 9% year-on-year [ 3 - 5 ]. A statistic in Figure  1  shows the gender distribution of social media audiences worldwide as of January 2020, sorted by platform. It was found that only 38% of Twitter users were male but 61% were using Snapchat. In contrast, females were more likely to use LinkedIn and Facebook. There is no denying that social media has now become an important part of many people's lives. Social media has many positive and enjoyable benefits, but it can also lead to mental health problems. Previous research found that age did not have an effect but gender did; females were much more likely to experience mental health than males [ 6 , 7 ].

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Object name is cureus-0012-00000008627-i01.jpg

Impact on mental health

Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which people understand their abilities, solve everyday life problems, work well, and make a significant contribution to the lives of their communities [ 8 ]. There is debated presently going on regarding the benefits and negative impacts of social media on mental health [ 9 , 10 ]. Social networking is a crucial element in protecting our mental health. Both the quantity and quality of social relationships affect mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk [ 9 ]. The Displaced Behavior Theory may help explain why social media shows a connection with mental health. According to the theory, people who spend more time in sedentary behaviors such as social media use have less time for face-to-face social interaction, both of which have been proven to be protective against mental disorders [ 11 , 12 ]. On the other hand, social theories found how social media use affects mental health by influencing how people view, maintain, and interact with their social network [ 13 ]. A number of studies have been conducted on the impacts of social media, and it has been indicated that the prolonged use of social media platforms such as Facebook may be related to negative signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress [ 10 - 15 ]. Furthermore, social media can create a lot of pressure to create the stereotype that others want to see and also being as popular as others.

The need for a systematic review

Systematic studies can quantitatively and qualitatively identify, aggregate, and evaluate all accessible data to generate a warm and accurate response to the research questions involved [ 4 ]. In addition, many existing systematic studies related to mental health studies have been conducted worldwide. However, only a limited number of studies are integrated with social media and conducted in the context of social science because the available literature heavily focused on medical science [ 6 ]. Because social media is a relatively new phenomenon, the potential links between their use and mental health have not been widely investigated.

This paper attempt to systematically review all the relevant literature with the aim of filling the gap by examining social media impact on mental health, which is sedentary behavior, which, if in excess, raises the risk of health problems [ 7 , 9 , 12 ]. This study is important because it provides information on the extent of the focus of peer review literature, which can assist the researchers in delivering a prospect with the aim of understanding the future attention related to climate change strategies that require scholarly attention. This study is very useful because it provides information on the extent to which peer review literature can assist researchers in presenting prospects with a view to understanding future concerns related to mental health strategies that require scientific attention. The development of the current systematic review is based on the main research question: how does social media affect mental health?

Research strategy

The research was conducted to identify studies analyzing the role of social media on mental health. Google Scholar was used as our main database to find the relevant articles. Keywords that were used for the search were: (1) “social media”, (2) “mental health”, (3) “social media” AND “mental health”, (4) “social networking” AND “mental health”, and (5) “social networking” OR “social media” AND “mental health” (Table  1 ).

Out of the results in Table  1 , a total of 50 articles relevant to the research question were selected. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, duplicate papers were removed, and, finally, a total of 28 articles were selected for review (Figure  2 ).

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PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Peer-reviewed, full-text research papers from the past five years were included in the review. All selected articles were in English language and any non-peer-reviewed and duplicate papers were excluded from finally selected articles.

Of the 16 selected research papers, there were a research focus on adults, gender, and preadolescents [ 10 - 19 ]. In the design, there were qualitative and quantitative studies [ 15 , 16 ]. There were three systematic reviews and one thematic analysis that explored the better or worse of using social media among adolescents [ 20 - 23 ]. In addition, eight were cross-sectional studies and only three were longitudinal studies [ 24 - 29 ].The meta-analyses included studies published beyond the last five years in this population. Table  2  presents a selection of studies from the review.

IGU, internet gaming disorder; PSMU, problematic social media use

This study has attempted to systematically analyze the existing literature on the effect of social media use on mental health. Although the results of the study were not completely consistent, this review found a general association between social media use and mental health issues. Although there is positive evidence for a link between social media and mental health, the opposite has been reported.

For example, a previous study found no relationship between the amount of time spent on social media and depression or between social media-related activities, such as the number of online friends and the number of “selfies”, and depression [ 29 ]. Similarly, Neira and Barber found that while higher investment in social media (e.g. active social media use) predicted adolescents’ depressive symptoms, no relationship was found between the frequency of social media use and depressed mood [ 28 ].

In the 16 studies, anxiety and depression were the most commonly measured outcome. The prominent risk factors for anxiety and depression emerging from this study comprised time spent, activity, and addiction to social media. In today's world, anxiety is one of the basic mental health problems. People liked and commented on their uploaded photos and videos. In today's age, everyone is immune to the social media context. Some teens experience anxiety from social media related to fear of loss, which causes teens to try to respond and check all their friends' messages and messages on a regular basis.

On the contrary, depression is one of the unintended significances of unnecessary use of social media. In detail, depression is limited not only to Facebooks but also to other social networking sites, which causes psychological problems. A new study found that individuals who are involved in social media, games, texts, mobile phones, etc. are more likely to experience depression.

The previous study found a 70% increase in self-reported depressive symptoms among the group using social media. The other social media influence that causes depression is sexual fun [ 12 ]. The intimacy fun happens when social media promotes putting on a facade that highlights the fun and excitement but does not tell us much about where we are struggling in our daily lives at a deeper level [ 28 ]. Another study revealed that depression and time spent on Facebook by adolescents are positively correlated [ 22 ]. More importantly, symptoms of major depression have been found among the individuals who spent most of their time in online activities and performing image management on social networking sites [ 14 ].

Another study assessed gender differences in associations between social media use and mental health. Females were found to be more addicted to social media as compared with males [ 26 ]. Passive activity in social media use such as reading posts is more strongly associated with depression than doing active use like making posts [ 23 ]. Other important findings of this review suggest that other factors such as interpersonal trust and family functioning may have a greater influence on the symptoms of depression than the frequency of social media use [ 28 , 29 ].

Limitation and suggestion

The limitations and suggestions were identified by the evidence involved in the study and review process. Previously, 7 of the 16 studies were cross-sectional and slightly failed to determine the causal relationship between the variables of interest. Given the evidence from cross-sectional studies, it is not possible to conclude that the use of social networks causes mental health problems. Only three longitudinal studies examined the causal relationship between social media and mental health, which is hard to examine if the mental health problem appeared more pronounced in those who use social media more compared with those who use it less or do not use at all [ 19 , 20 , 24 ]. Next, despite the fact that the proposed relationship between social media and mental health is complex, a few studies investigated mediating factors that may contribute or exacerbate this relationship. Further investigations are required to clarify the underlying factors that help examine why social media has a negative impact on some peoples’ mental health, whereas it has no or positive effect on others’ mental health.

Conclusions

Social media is a new study that is rapidly growing and gaining popularity. Thus, there are many unexplored and unexpected constructive answers associated with it. Lately, studies have found that using social media platforms can have a detrimental effect on the psychological health of its users. However, the extent to which the use of social media impacts the public is yet to be determined. This systematic review has found that social media envy can affect the level of anxiety and depression in individuals. In addition, other potential causes of anxiety and depression have been identified, which require further exploration.

The importance of such findings is to facilitate further research on social media and mental health. In addition, the information obtained from this study can be helpful not only to medical professionals but also to social science research. The findings of this study suggest that potential causal factors from social media can be considered when cooperating with patients who have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression. Also, if the results from this study were used to explore more relationships with another construct, this could potentially enhance the findings to reduce anxiety and depression rates and prevent suicide rates from occurring.

The content published in Cureus is the result of clinical experience and/or research by independent individuals or organizations. Cureus is not responsible for the scientific accuracy or reliability of data or conclusions published herein. All content published within Cureus is intended only for educational, research and reference purposes. Additionally, articles published within Cureus should not be deemed a suitable substitute for the advice of a qualified health care professional. Do not disregard or avoid professional medical advice due to content published within Cureus.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Social Media: Its Problem and Solution for the Modern Society

Table of contents, cybercrime and bullying: hazards and resolutions, health issues stemming from social media and their remedies, the issue of falling victim to fake identities and its solution.

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Social Media Problems And Solutions

It’s no secret that social media has taken over our lives. We’ve all become addicted to checking our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages multiple times a day. But what happens when this addiction starts to take over our lives? When we begin to neglect our work, school, and family in favor of scrolling through our newsfeeds?

This is becoming an increasingly big problem in society today. More and more people are finding themselves unable to tear themselves away from their devices, even for just a few minutes. And while social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, it can also be a major source of stress and anxiety.

If you find yourself spending too much time on social media, it’s important to take a step back and evaluate your usage. Are you using social media in a way that’s productive and positive, or are you just wasting time? If it’s the latter, then it’s time to cut back.

Here are a few tips for reducing your social media usage:

– Set limits for yourself. Decide how much time you want to spend on social media each day, and stick to it. Once you reach your limit, log off and do something else.

– Delete apps from your phone. This will help reduce the temptation to check your social media accounts every few minutes.

– Stay busy. The more time you have on your hands, the more likely you are to turn to social media to kill time. Find ways to stay busy, whether it’s taking up a new hobby or spending time with friends and family.

– Be aware of the way social media makes you feel. If scrolling through your newsfeed leaves you feeling angry, stressed, or jealous, it’s time to take a break. Social media should be enjoyable, not stressful.

If you find that you can’t cut back on your social media usage on your own, there are plenty of resources available to help you. There are many apps and websites that can track your social media usage and help you cut back. And if you feel like you’re really struggling, there’s no shame in seeking professional help. Remember, your mental health is more important than anything else.

In today’s society, social media has had a considerable impact. It has changed everything from how we interact with each other to where we get our news. It moved so swiftly that few people recognized how their lives had altered. Personal and professional communities are now interwoven, and they’re at your fingertips, much like in the old days when you could only imagine extending your reach by placing your hand out the window of a moving vehicle.

The way we interact with each other has been completely revolutionized by social media. It has made it possible for us to connect with people all over the world in a matter of seconds. We can communicate with them, share our thoughts and experiences with them, and even build relationships with them. Social media has also made it possible for us to connect with people we would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise.

However, social media has not only had a positive impact on our lives; it has also had some negative consequences. One of the biggest problems that social media has created is that it has given rise to a lot of cyberbullying. With the anonymity that social media provides, people feel emboldened to say things that they would never say to someone’s face. This has led to a lot of harassment, bullying, and even cyberstalking.

Another problem that social media has created is the spread of fake news. With the ease of sharing information on social media, it has become very easy for false information to be spread around. This can lead to people believing things that are not true and can cause a lot of confusion and misunderstanding.

However, despite the problems that social media has caused, it is still an incredibly powerful tool that can be used for good. It can be used to connect with friends and family, to meet new people, and to stay up-to-date on what is happening in the world. It can also be used to share important and useful information. If used correctly, social media can be a force for good in the world.

Like any other revolution or period of growth, the world of social media has both positive and negative elements. The realm of social media is complicated, and it still has a long way to go. It’s fascinating to consider where we’ll be in the years ahead as a result of this innovation.

For the moment, let’s focus on the problems social media has brought to light in society today and some potential solutions.

The way we communicate has drastically changed since the introduction of social media. In some ways this is great, we are now able to connect with people all over the world with ease. The problem lies in the fact that we often take this connection for granted. We assume that because we are connected to someone online, that they are just an extension of our offline life and that there are no consequences to our actions.

This lack of consequence is one of the main problems with social media. Because there are no real world repercussions for our actions, we often say and do things online that we would never dream of doing in person. This can lead to a lot of hurt feelings and even cyber bullying.

A solution to this problem is to be more conscious of the way we communicate online. Just because there are no real world consequences, doesn’t mean there are no consequences at all. The words we use and the actions we take online can have a real and lasting impact on the people we interact with.

Another problem with social media is that it can be very addictive. We often find ourselves scrolling through our feeds for hours without really taking anything in. This can lead to us feeling like we are missing out on what’s happening in the world and can cause us to feel anxious and stressed.

To put it another way, since the advent of social media, our communication has accelerated significantly. It’s made keeping in touch with people all over the country or all over the world much easier. Social media has even made looking for love a little less difficult in certain respects by broadening our social networks. People with shared interests may connect and chat on social media.

However, social media has also had its fair share of problems. One such problem is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying can be defined as the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature. It is a serious problem that can have lasting effects on the victim.

Another problem with social media is that it can lead to addiction. A study conducted by the University of Chicago found that people who use Facebook are more likely than non-users to develop certain addictions. The study found that Facebook users were twice as likely to become addicted to the internet and three times as likely to become addicted to their cell phones.

Finally, another problem associated with social media is that it can be a distraction. A study conducted by the University of California found that students who use Facebook while studying scored 20% lower on their exams than students who did not use Facebook while studying.

So what can be done to solve these problems?

When it comes to cyberbullying, one solution is to report the bully to the social media platform. Most social media platforms have policies against cyberbullying and they will take action if you report the bully. Another solution is to block the bully. This will prevent them from being able to contact you or see your profile.

If you are addicted to social media, one solution is to delete your account. Another solution is to limit your time on social media. You can do this by setting a timer and only allowing yourself to be on social media for a certain amount of time each day.

If you find that social media is a distraction, one solution is to only use it when you have free time. For example, you can allow yourself to use social media for 30 minutes after you finish your homework. Another solution is to study with friends who don’t use social media so that you can stay focused.

Social media has its pros and cons but, overall, it’s a great way to stay connected with friends and family. Just be sure to use it in moderation and be aware of the potential problems that can come with it.

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social media addiction problem solution essay

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Problem Solution Essay on Social Media Addiction

Problem Solution Essay on Social Media Addiction

Introduction.

My painful experience with social media addiction drives my passion to write extensively about the topic to help others who may be struggling with similar trouble without help and awareness.

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Transition: social media is addictive just like gambling, alcohol or any other substance abuse

If an individual cannot have control how much time they use in social media soon they will end up being sad, distressed and begging for help from anyone who can help them out of addiction troubles. Evidence from peer-reviewed research confirms that increased use of social media networks increases depression, anxiety, insomnia and other related addiction problems (Salehan & Negahban, 2013) (Ayas & Horzum, 2013).

  • Too much use of social media has created problems for people in relationships. Partners accuse each other of spending too much time with their phone leading to a lack of attention
  • Too much social media have a negative impact on individual physical communication skills (Griffiths & Kuss, 2017).
  • More time in social media promote introvert character and stress

Transition sentence: while social media addiction is high research shows that there several ways that can help reduce the amount of time in social media.

Evidence-based research shows that the risks of social media addiction can be reduced through pre-occupation with other leisure activities such as physical sports, the use of innovated applications as well as self-control mechanisms such as shutting down internet and notifications (Montag & Reuter, 2017) (Bozoglan, 2018).

Visualization Step

  • Using less time on social media will help reduce the risks of addictions, mental illness such as depression and lower the risks of stress and insomnia.
  • Less time on social media enhances social skills by engaging in other physical interactions (Wilson, 2013).
  • Evidence-based research also indicates that less time on social media for students reduce levels of addiction.

Action Step

  • People suffering from social media addiction should seek help from counselors while those with high-risk behaviors need to work on discussed tips to help avert the problem.

Ayas, T., & Horzum, M. B. (2013). Relation between Depression, Loneliness, Self-Esteem and Internet Addiction. Education, 133(3), 283-290

Bozoglan, B. (2018). Psychological, social, and cultural aspects of Internet addiction. Hershey, PA : Information Science Reference

Griffiths, M. D., & Kuss, D. J. (2017). Adolescent social media addiction (revisited). Education & Health, 35(3), 3-6.

Montag, C., & In Reuter, M. (2017). Internet addiction: Neuroscientific approaches and therapeutical implications including smartphone addiction

Salehan, M., & Negahban, A. (2013). Social networking on smartphones: When mobile phones become addictive. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2632-2639.

Wilson, C. (2013). Under the Social Influence : Going From Reckless to Responsible in Today's Socially Distracted Society. New York: Morgan James Publishing.

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Essay on Social Media Addiction in English for Children and Students

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Table of Contents

Essay on Social Media Addiction: Social media addiction is one of the most common new age addictions gripping people across the globe. Social media platforms have caught the interest of the masses ever since their inception around a decade back. More and more such platforms have come into being, since then. Their popularity has grown with time and so has the number of social media addicts.

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Long and Short Essay on Social Media Addiction in English

Here are essay on social media addiction of varying lengths to help you with the topic in your exam.

After going through the Social Media Addiction essay you will know all the vital facts on the addiction of social media, how the social media addiction is influencing youths and damaging their minds, symptoms and consequences of social media addiction, ways to overcome the addiction of social media etc.

Hope you will enjoy reading these essays because all are well written using easy and simple language. So, do not waste time, go hurry up and find your best one essay:

Short Essay on Social Media Addiction 200 Words

Social media addiction has become a cause of concern. It is hampering the student’s studies and affecting their grades. It has become a hindrance in work for the working professionals, as well as home makers. It is also creating relationship problems and leading to issues such as anorexia and depression.

Instead of connecting with their near and dear ones via social media, people have started competing with them. They want to post better pictures and status updates than others and want their profile to look the best. Social media addicts spend most of their time thinking as to how they can make their profile better than the rest.

Social media addicts also have a constant urge to scroll through the social media platforms. They keep refreshing their notifications, stalk people’s profiles, update their status, upload their pictures frequently and keep commenting here and there.

Many social media sites such as Facebook also offer several games to play. These games are all the more addictive. Players try to compete with other players on their friend list. They spend most of their time playing these games in order to increase their level and score. They get angry and frustrated when they aren’t able to achieve it.

Social media addiction symptoms must be recognized and the problem should be addressed before it is too late.

Essay on Social Media Addiction 300 Words : Damaging Young Minds

Social media is a good thing if used in the right way, but it can be as damaging if one becomes addicted to it. Unfortunately, more and more people, especially the youth are becoming addicted to the social media and it is damaging their minds.

The Craze for Approval

Social media platforms allow us to share pictures, videos and status updates revealing what’s going on in our lives. They basically give us an opportunity to boast about ourselves. We want to look good and feel good about ourselves and show it to the world. A research conducted at the Harvard University reveals that talking about ourselves makes us feel happy and high.

Social media helps in rendering this affect. We post the best of pictures and talk highly about ourselves and our family on the social media. We try to show the amount of fun we are having in our lives. However, this is not it. We, then seek approval of others. We want to see as to how many people actually ‘like’ what we are doing in life.

It feels even better when people post good comments on our pictures and status updates. Social media addicts seem to be crazy for approval of others on their list. It gives them a high when someone talks good about them, which is quite natural. The problem is they feel stressed and depressed when people do not acknowledge or like what they upload online.

The Feeling of Jealousy

The feeling of jealousy is one of the worst feelings one can experience. Instead of being content with what they have, young social media addicts try to copy others and feel jealous when they aren’t able to achieve it. They live in jealousy and agony. The feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration often takes over them. They don’t feel good about themselves and their lives and often go into depression.

Young people should think about their career and concentrate on their studies but instead they are largely caught up in futile activities on social media sites. This is not only hampering their personal growth but the development of the nation as a whole.

Essay on Social Media Addiction 400 words: A Big Social Problem

Social media sites serve as a platform to connect with our friends and relatives. We share our happy as well as sad moments on social media platforms to let those on our friend list know how we are feeling and what we are doing in life. People ‘like’ our status updates and photographs and ‘comment’ on them to tell us how they feel about it all. This is a great way to socialize in this busy world. It makes us feel that everyone we love and want to be in touch with is just a click away. However, social media becomes a problem when we get addicted to it.

Many people living in different parts of the world are suffering from social media addiction and are bearing its consequences.

Social Media Addiction: Cutting Us Off from the Society

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter may help us connect with our distant relatives and long lost friends but social media addiction is distancing us from our immediate family and close friends. People addicted to social media are hooked to these platforms for hours. They do not care if their loved ones are sitting with them or trying to make a conversation. All they care about is who updated what, on the social media and how many people liked or commented on their posts.

Social media addicts frequently check updates/ notifications on the social media platforms. This can be as frequent has twenty-thirty times in an hour. Viewing a new notification especially one involving their posts gives them a high. Lack of it, on the other hand, can make them feel sad and depressed.

All that the social media addicts care about is to maintain an attractive social media profile. They are mostly seen clicking pictures during social events, family gatherings and even during getaways with friends. They hardly enjoy the moment or talk to people around. They are only focused on collecting pictures that can be uploaded on their social media accounts or busy checking and commenting on the status updates of those on their friend list.

They post updates stating they are enjoying with their family or having fun with their friends while in reality they do not even interact properly with anyone around. This is the grave reality of social media addicts. Even when they are around people, their mind is gripped by the social media platforms.

Social media addiction is becoming a big problem. It is ironic how a platform created to help people socialize is actually cutting them from the society.

Essay on Social Media Addiction 500 words: Ways to Overcome

Social media is a great way to connect with our friends and relatives living at distant places. It is also a great place to meet like-minded people, boost our business, follow our favourite celebrities, enhance our knowledge and see what is happening around the world. However, using social media excessively can have negative repercussions. Many people grow addicted to social media and this has an impact on the normal functioning of their lives.

Social Media Addiction: Increasing by the Day

Social media has brought the world closer. People of different age groups around the world have social media accounts. While many social media users keep their profiles low key others keep it up to date. There is yet another category of social media users. These people post almost everything happening in their life on their social media accounts and spend most part of their day scrolling through different pages on social media sites. They have profiles on all the social media platforms and are addicted to them.

The number of social media addicts is increasing with every passing day. This is because social media platforms are coming up with several new and interesting ways to keep people engaged and hooked on to them.

Ways to Overcome Social Media Addiction

It may seem difficult to overcome social media addiction at once however you can do so with little effort over the time. Here are some ways to overcome social media addiction:

  • Limit the Time

There are apps that help you limit the time spent on different apps on your mobile. They send an alert when you exceed the time set for using a particular app. It is a good idea to download such an app to limit your social media usage. You can decrease this time gradually.

  • Stop the Notifications

Turn off the notifications for all your social media platforms on your phone. When you know you won’t be notified about any new update, you will not wait for your phone to beep or have the urge to constantly view the notification. There will be no disturbance and you will be able to concentrate better on the task at hand.

  • Delete the App

It is suggested to delete few social media apps from your phone and stay active only on few of them. Also, don’t place these apps on your home screen. This simple trick can also go a long way in overcoming your social media addiction.

  • Spend Time with Family and Friends

Keep your phone aside when you are with your family and friends. Talk to them, indulge in activities you enjoy and listen to all that they have to say. Plan to spend more and more time with them as you try to overcome your social media addiction. This can serve as a good distraction from the false world you have created for yourself.

  • Indulge in Your Favourite Activity

Identify the activities you love the most. It may be dancing, gardening, singing, jogging or anything else, for that matter. Engage in these activities for an hour or so each day to keep your mind off social media.

Social media addicts display compulsive behavior. They often disconnect from the real world and become socially isolated. It is important to recognize this problem and overcome it to lead a happy and healthy life.

Long Essay on Social Media Addiction 600 words: Symptoms and Consequences

Social media addiction is a real problem and it has grave consequences. Many people around the world are addicted to social media platforms and it is taking a toll on their personal as well as professional lives. They are not only ruining their lives but also impacting the lives of those around them.

Symptoms of Social Media Addiction

Some of the symptoms of social media addicts have been discussed below in detail:

Constant Urge to Check Notifications

Social media addicts feel a constant urge to check notifications on their social media accounts. They check their phones frequently to see if there is any new notification. They feel delighted at the sight of a new notification and feel sad when there is none.

Social Media over Everything Else

Social media addicts give priority to social media over everything else in their lives. It is the first thing they check in the morning and last thing they see before going to bed. Their work, friends and family – everything and everyone takes a back seat.

Procrastination

Social media addicts waste time indulging in useless activities on Facebook, Instagram and other social media sites. They procrastinate or delay the actual tasks they are required to accomplish during the day.

Need for Internet Connection

They need an internet connection wherever they go as they require checking their social media updates every few minutes. They feel restless at places those do not have good internet connectivity.

No Interest in Real Conversation

Social media addicts may be present with you physically but they will hardly indulge in any conversation with you. They are busy scrolling through different social media platform as that is the only thing they are interested in. They prefer connecting with people via these platforms rather than any other medium.

Consequences of Social Media Addiction

Here are the consequences of social media addiction:

Drop in Productivity

A person addicted to social media ignores his work. He is constantly busy updating and improving his social media profile and stalking the profiles of others online. Social media becomes his priority and he begins to ignore his work. Social media addicts often get late to office, skip important meetings and are unable to meet the deadlines at work. Their productivity decreases by the day.

Social Isolation

Social media addicts do not like socializing with people face to face. They prefer socializing with people on social media platforms. They often miss social events or just go there to click pictures to upload on their profiles. They hardly interact with people or enjoy during such events. Gradually, they become socially awkward and isolated.

Impact on Academic Performance

Students who grow addicted to social media are badly impacted. This addiction causes a hindrance in their studies. Their academic performance dips. They also lose interest in sports and other activities. Their future is at stake.

Stress and Depression

Social media addicts want some new activity on their social media profiles constantly. This is practically not possible. While many people are active on social media, we cannot expect them to keep liking or commenting on our updates all the time. Social media addicts feel anxious and stressed when they do not see any new notification. They also feel sad when people do not like their photographs or other people get more likes. Many of them go into depression over the time.

Health Issues

People addicted to social media often experience weak eyesight and migraine. They also avoid physical activities and this leads to health issues such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

It is essential to keep a check on the amount of time you spend on social media platforms. If you feel the urge to check the notifications/ updates a bit too frequently then you must take it as a warning sign. There are many ways to overcome this addiction and you must adopt them to lead a better life.

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Essay on Social Media Addiction FAQs

What is social media addiction in short notes.

Social media addiction is an excessive need to use platforms like Facebook or Instagram, leading to negative impacts on daily life.

How is social media an addiction essay?

Social media addiction can be caused by factors like FOMO, seeking validation, and easy access to platforms, affecting mental health and relationships.

What causes social media addiction?

Social media addiction is caused by factors like loneliness, peer pressure, and the compelling design of social media apps.

What is the cause and effect of social media addiction?

The cause of social media addiction is often feelings of isolation, leading to effects like decreased real-life social interactions and increased anxiety.

What are the causes and effects of social media on youth?

Social media can cause loneliness and insecurity while decreasing face-to-face communication, affecting youth's mental health and self-esteem.

What are the causes and effects of excessive usage of social media on youth essay?

Excessive social media use can result in reduced real-world interactions, lower self-esteem, and anxiety, impacting youth negatively.

What is the conclusion of social media essay?

In conclusion, social media influences our lives profoundly, both positively and negatively, shaping how we connect, learn, and share information.

What is social media addiction summary?

Social media addiction, in summary, involves an unhealthy attachment to social platforms, affecting daily life and well-being.

What are the conclusion about the bad effects of social media?

Concluding, the bad effects of social media include addiction, reduced face-to-face communication, and negative impacts on mental health and self-esteem.

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  1. Social Media Addiction Causes and Solutions

    The analysis conducted on the causes of social media addiction has identified three main factors: weaknesses in life skills, resiliency issues, and poor problem-solving skills. The underlying issues and the root of all these factors are psychologically oriented, which reveals the need to use psychological interventions to help find the best ...

  2. Social Media Addiction: [Essay Example], 538 words

    Social Media Addiction. Social media addiction, also known as social media dependency or problematic social media use, refers to a compulsive and excessive engagement with social media platforms, to the extent that it interferes with one's daily life, relationships, and well-being. Individuals who are addicted to social media often exhibit ...

  3. Social Media Addiction: a Growing Concern in Today's Society

    Conclusion. Social media addiction is a pressing issue with far-reaching consequences. The addictive nature of social media, coupled with various psychological factors, can lead to adverse effects on individuals' mental health, relationships, and society as a whole.By raising awareness, promoting responsible use, and implementing preventive measures, we can strive for a healthier relationship ...

  4. How to break social media addiction, or spend less time online

    How to break social media addiction. In 2018, people with internet access worldwide spent an average of 144 minutes on social media every day.

  5. Social Media Addiction: Consequences and Strategies for Recovery

    Moreover, a social media anxiety disorder can affect academic performance. As Willoughby said, it is difficult for socially anxious students to form the social connections necessary for academic success. Suggested solution. A suitable solution for social media addiction could be using more strategies face - to - face.

  6. Why people are becoming addicted to social media: A qualitative study

    Introduction. Today, social media (SM) (e.g., WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) have enjoyed such rapidly-growing popularity[] that around 2.67 billion users of social networks have been estimated worldwide.[] After China, India, and Indonesia, Iran ranks fourth in terms of using SM, having approximately 40 million active online social network users over the past decade, these networks have ...

  7. Research trends in social media addiction and problematic social media

    Introduction. Social media generally refers to third-party internet-based platforms that mainly focus on social interactions, community-based inputs, and content sharing among its community of users and only feature content created by their users and not that licensed from third parties ().Social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are prominent examples of social media ...

  8. Social Media Addiction: Causes and Effects

    Impact of a social media addiction on employees' wellbeing and work productivity. The Qualitative Report, 25(1), 181-196. Rast, R., Coleman, J. T., & Simmers, C. S. (2021). The dark side of the like: The effects of social media addiction on digital and in-person communication. The Journal of Social Media in Society, 10(2), 175-201.

  9. (PDF) SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION AND YOUNG PEOPLE: A ...

    social media addiction is negatively associated, in which the. higher the addiction in social media, the lower the young. people's academic performance (Hou et al., 2019). This i s. because ...

  10. PDF Young users' social media addiction: causes, consequences and preventions

    social media addiction scales, or general addiction in a population, and theories or models that have been applied in studies of social media addiction. Yet, it appears that 70 these reviews have a limited focus and narrow perspective. They do not cover up-to-date facets of social media addiction among young users. For example, Sun and Zhang

  11. Likecoholic: Social Media Addiction

    Asaf Hanuka's "Likecoholic" is both a disturbing and comedic piece of art that mocks the problem of social media addiction while also pointing out its dangers. The research conducted by modern scholars supports the artist's views, suggesting that there are both physical and psychological implications of social media addiction ...

  12. Social Media Addiction Essay

    Social Media Addiction Essay. As a part of our daily life, social media shows a significant impact on society and has become a strong way to stay updated. Nothing spreads information faster than social media, which helps many people keep informed about the world's current affairs. It has changed the way the world interacts by presenting many ...

  13. Social Media Use and Its Connection to Mental Health: A Systematic

    Abstract. Social media are responsible for aggravating mental health problems. This systematic study summarizes the effects of social network usage on mental health. Fifty papers were shortlisted from google scholar databases, and after the application of various inclusion and exclusion criteria, 16 papers were chosen and all papers were ...

  14. Solution Of Social Media Addiction Essay

    Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction that has major risk factors, such as girls being more addicted to internet usage due to lower body satisfaction, extraversion, narcissism, or higher physical attractiveness (Perris et al. 13-15). Girls' social interaction is more evident through social media, whereas boys use it more for online ...

  15. Social Media: Its Problem and Solution for the Modern Society

    To commence, this essay primarily focuses on social media, its issues, and corresponding solutions. "Social media is a compilation of digital communication platforms dedicated to community-based interaction and content sharing.

  16. Social Media Addiction Essay

    This essay will present pro arguments regarding this topic because of overuse of social media, chemical changes in the human brain, and psychological problems and disorders associated with it. Apart from this, social media should be considered a highly addictive drug or addiction as it influences the human psychology and behavioral pattern of ...

  17. Essay on Social Media Addiction

    Short Essay on Social Media Addiction 200 words in English. The brief essay on 'Social Media Addiction' is in English. The essay on Social Media Addiction is helpful to students classes 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. Moreover, children can utilize this piece for debates, speeches, and other extracurricular activities.

  18. Essay on Causes and Effects of Social Media Addiction

    One of the main causes of this addiction is the extensive use of social media. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey, 95% of all teens (ages 13-17) have access to a smartphone. In the same survey, 45% of teens say that they are online almost constantly. Anytime I go anywhere, I can find someone completely hooked into their phone.

  19. Social Media Problems And Solutions Essay

    Another problem that social media has created is the spread of fake news. With the ease of sharing information on social media, it has become very easy for false information to be spread around. ... Another problem with social media is that it can lead to addiction. A study conducted by the University of Chicago found that people who use ...

  20. Problem Solution Essay on Social Media Addiction

    Less time on social media enhances social skills by engaging in other physical interactions (Wilson, 2013). Evidence-based research also indicates that less time on social media for students reduce levels of addiction. Action Step. People suffering from social media addiction should seek help from counselors while those with high-risk behaviors ...

  21. Essay on Social Media Addiction in English for Children and Students

    Essay on Social Media Addiction 300 Words: Damaging Young Minds. Social media is a good thing if used in the right way, but it can be as damaging if one becomes addicted to it. Unfortunately, more and more people, especially the youth are becoming addicted to the social media and it is damaging their minds.