Social Media Addiction

The cornerstone of modern communication primarily revolves around Instagram, Facebook, Tinder, and Twitter. This is because these services create a sense of belonging and redefine their way of being by connecting people all over the world. However, of late, concerns have been raised regarding the same. Social media addiction is creating a negative impact on the health and well-being of users.

Signs of Disorder

The first alarming signs that show one is addicted to social media are as follows:

You check your smartphone every now and then for any notification received on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tinder. An addict is likely to feel that the world is crashing down when they are unable to get internet access.

Addicts have a tendency of posting and announcing everything they do on social media, such as brushing teeth, having a snack, etc.

You will always tag your friends in a picture even when it does not involve them. This is done to make sure that they like the picture and it features in their timeline. On not getting adequate likes and comments, you become upset.

Stalking your friends and random people on social media is your favorite pastime. If someone doesn’t respond to your friend request, you take it seriously and ponder over it day in and day out.

Social anxiety and isolation is a common symptom for social media addicts as well. They lack touch of a real life and associations because of which they tend to suffer from low self-esteem and loneliness.

What Are the Symptoms of the Internet Addiction?

The symptoms can be presented in both physical and emotional manifestations. The emotional symptoms include:

Depression

Anxiety

Euphoric feelings while using the computer

Inability in prioritizing and keeping schedules

Lack of sense of time

Avoidance of work

Isolation

Mood swings

The physical symptoms consist of headaches, backaches and neck pain due to sedentary lifestyle. IAD can be cured only if treated at an early stage when the first symptoms show.

The Key Risk Factors of Medical Complexities

As per a case study, in the year 2012, the number of 3G smartphones in Macau had increased from 8% of the population to 95%. This dramatic escalation is owing to the growing popularity of social networking sites (SNSs).

While SNSs can be ideal for building relationships and networks such as two old friends connecting after a long time; excessive usage can lead to compulsive behavior and addiction. The consequences of these include loss of control and an experience of withdrawal. Apart from that, an individual runs risks of neck pain, back aches, headaches and lack of concentration. Sitting with a smartphone for hours is likely to cause muscle issues, dry eyes and tumors especially a gliomas which occurs in the region between our brain and spinal cord due to inadequate blood flow.

Some Prevention Methods and Treatments

Given below are some tips on how one can control their social media addiction:

Turn off the notifications so that you are able to concentrate on your regular work properly.

Try setting a timer in the clock or phone by which you can limit the amount of time spent on social networking sites. A large number of people lose their jobs and perform poorly in their academics since they are not able to limit their usage of SNSs.

Switch off your cellphones during bedtime. The microwaves and X-rays generating from phones are hazardous for the brain, thereby causing memory loss and brain cancers.

Spend time with your family members and loved ones. There is nothing better than connecting with people in real life and making memories.

Even though there is a growing debate worldwide whether social media addiction is a clinical condition or not; there have been various researches which establish that addicts require treatments if not medical therapies.

The Prospects of Digital Detox

One of the major treatments for curing or at least limiting social media addiction is digital detox. This is a strategy that forces one to limit the amount of time spent in SNSs.

This is generally achieved by turning off the media sound on your phone, followed by restricting yourself from checking the phone every now and then.

It also includes a dedicated period of ‘self imposed no phone time’ on a regular basis. Over the years, researches have also shown that SNSs addicts suffer from loneliness, depression, hyperactivity disorders and anxiety.

Therefore, it is recommended to seek professional counseling and medical therapies for treating these problems. Since these disorders result in social media addiction, once the issues have been taken care of, addiction can also be constrained.

Social media addiction is a sensitive issue containing negative connotations. Hence, it is imperative for victims and people around them to start resorting to treatments or prevention methods the very moment early signs of addiction show.