Tag Archives: addiction

When I was growing up, there was no social media. No one owned cell phones or computers, and phones were attached to a wall in our home.

Fast-forward to today; there are numerous social media platforms on which you can be active. While there are many positives to electronic vs personal contact, including regular contact with distant family and friends, there are also negatives. Here are five problems with social media.

1. Rude Behavior

People can hide behind the wall of a social media platform. Even those you know are more likely to behave rudely. When it is people with whom you have no personal relationship, bullying becomes even worse. When people converse in person, things you disagree with are politely disputed or let pass. Under the guise of a social media platform, people are more likely to insult and attack those with whom they disagree, referring to them as stupid, ignorant, old, or in any other way demeaning them.

According to an article in Psychology Today, anonymity contributes to rudeness and trolling. However, the lack of eye contact is the chief contributor to a person’s inability to control inappropriate behavior online. Before the advent of social media, people tended to be more courteous, even when disagreeing on specific points. Social media allows people to hide behind their computers and be aggressive and rude.

2. Time Spent/Wasted

The average user between 16 and 64 spends approximately 2.5 hours on social media platforms daily, with YouTube and TikTok experiencing the highest usage. That doesn’t sound like much out of 24 hours until you consider that it adds up to 14 to 17.5 hours per week that we no longer spend on other activities.

Even more concerning is that teens spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media daily.  That is over 33 hours a week! When you consider how easy it is for adults to fall into bad online behavior, think about how vulnerable teens are to cyberbullying and its impact on their self-esteem. Suicide rates among teens have increased during the social media era, and about 42% of teens admit that social media use keeps them from connecting with their friends in person.

3. Political Hostility

Before the advent of social media, politics adhered to the rules of proper etiquette. Etiquette traditionally held that three topics were never discussed in polite company–religion, politics, and money. Social media has eroded the belief in being courteous and following the rules of etiquette. This has impacted political discussions and encouraged people to become outright hostile toward those with differing beliefs.

A University of Michigan study found that political anger and cynicism are rising in the United States and democracies worldwide. Social media contains a lot of political information and news, but much of the content is toxic rather than factual. These toxic news streams are often hostile and insulting, which increases anger and bad behavior toward those with differing beliefs.

When was the last time you held a cordial exchange of political information on a social media platform with someone supporting an opposing candidate? It may start okay, but eventually, one person will become insultingly aggressive and argumentative. This undermines the ability to exchange information, leading commentators to prioritize presenting their side over engaging in an open-minded exchange of facts.

The problem is that algorithms reward hostile behavior because they perceive heated exchanges as more engaging. This shifts political attacks to the forefront of media platforms, increasing their visibility and distorting public opinion. People should conduct research using various sources rather than relying on social media when making decisions about election candidates or policies.

4. Cyberbullying and Cyber-Harassment

Cyberbullying is bullying that is done through SMS, text messaging, apps, gaming, or social media platforms. It encompasses sending, posting, and sharing false, negative, harmful, or mean content about another person. The information shared can be personal or private and is done with the intent to cause that person embarrassment or humiliation. This behavior can cross the line into criminal or otherwise unlawful behavior.

Examples of cyberbullying:

• Sharing embarrassing pictures or videos online
• Posting rumors on social media
• Sharing someone else’s private information online
• Threatening someone online
• Creating fake accounts and posting information to embarrass someone

Cyber-harassment is behavior intended to torment the recipient. This occurs on public forums and is carried out by the harasser to seek peer approval or build their image to appear superior and vital.

Examples of cyber-harassment:

• Threatening or harassing emails or instant messages
• Using electronic technology to bully, harass, or intimidate
• Spreading rumors
• Sharing private information
• Spreading hurtful information
• Intentionally provoking or annoying someone online

Visit the Stopbullying.gov website to learn about the laws and policies against bullying in your state. Click on your state for additional information about state, commonwealth, and territory cyberbullying laws and policies. Seven states have laws only; most states have laws and policies.

5. Addiction

Although not formally recognized in the medical profession, social media is more addictive than cigarettes or alcohol. Addiction can lead to negative consequences that impact mental health. The main tell-sign is an obsessive need to check and update social media platforms frequently to the extent that it disrupts real-world relationships and activities.

It is easy to become addicted because social media platforms are designed to trigger the release of dopamine. This triggers a feeling of pleasure, reinforcing the desire to repeat the process. Any positive feedback received, such as likes, comments, and shares, validates and encourages repeat usage.

Signs that you may be addicted to social media include spending an exorbitant amount of time on your platforms, sometimes to the extent that you forgo other responsibilities or activities. Your reliance on social media may become so obsessive that you feel compelled to check it constantly, and any inability to do so leaves you feeling anxious and stressed. This can also lead to depression if you find yourself comparing your abilities with those of others online.

To manage your social media interactions for better mental health, set time limits for platform use and plan regular breaks when you engage in real-life relationships and activities. Establish times when social media is not accessed, such as during meals or when socializing with friends and family. It is also helpful to turn off notifications so you are not constantly distracted.

Social Media is here to stay. In 2005, only 5% of Americans were using social media; that number grew to 72% by 2021. Over 4.8 billion people worldwide are active on social media daily, and estimates are that by 2027, that number will reach six billion. It is essential to exercise caution when using the platform’s responsibility.  We must not allow ourselves to fall into a pattern of abuse toward others, nor should we tolerate such behavior from others. If you or someone you know becomes a victim of cyber harassment or bullying, report it to the appropriate legal authorities.