The New Addiction That Is Social Media

Today social media is a NEED to many people. Americans get up in the morning, check social media, check it several times throughout the day and again before bed. Some spend hours, yes hours, each day on social media! There is a constant urge to check Facebook or other social sites as well as post status updates, pictures, etc to let everyone else know what you are doing. Why has social media become such an important part of our day? Part of the problem is that we are constantly surrounded by technology at our fingertips.

 

We all have some form of technology whether it be cell phones, computers, lap tops, and/or Ipads that can connect us to any form of social media we wish with a click of a few buttons. These forms of technology are allowing us to be absorbed into this social media addiction. On phones alone, one can set "notifications" to go off whenever there is a comment or message on one of these social sites. In hearing these notifications, one feels the need to instantly check their phones to see what is going on. Many are too focused on capturing events to post onto social media to get "liked" or "comments", that they aren't really "in the moment". Life is too short to capture memories for someone else. People need to learn to put the phones down and back away from social media but Americans have become addicted to using it! People like feeling connected and rewarded. Social media feeds into this by allowing people to receive "likes" and "comments" on their status updates and pictures which in turn leave them wanting more and more.

Many out there cannot even go to the bathroom or go anywhere without having their phones with them for fear of missing out on something. When did the world get so concerned on missing out on what is going on with people on social media than spending time with those that are with them in the moment? I have seen people out to dinner with friends or spouses and on their phones rather than talking with the ones they are with. Social media is disconnecting our relationships with others instead of what it was originally intended for, which was to CONNECT us! People are always on social media whether it be at work, school, sitting in traffic, etc. There is a huge problem with social media taking over and it will only get worse if we continue to allow it. The problem is that most people do not consider themselves to be addicted.