Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
According to new research, if you feel isolated from society, and spend more time on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others, then such a habit can make the situation worse for you. Social media is increasing depression among youth. Facebook increased the risk of depression by 7% and the risk of irritability by 20%. Social media has added to the problem of obesity, insomnia, laziness and concerns about the ‘fear of missing out have also increased. According to the study, social media has even increased the suicide rate.
Checking in and scrolling through social media has become an increasingly popular activity over the past decade. The use of social media by most people is getting addicted to social networking sites. Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive worrying about social media, driven by an uncontrollable urge to log on or use social media, and so much for social media. Takes time and effort which affects other important life areas.
In the present time, the phone has become essential for everyone from the elder to children. Children’s schooling has also been done online. In such a situation, children spend more time on the phone. Due to excessive use of phones, children are also getting addicted to social media. Children’s sleep is being affected due to addiction to social media. The eyesight also becomes weak. It is clear in the report of the National Institutes of Health that if a child uses social media continuously for a week, then he can lose even a night’s sleep. It often happens with children that when they sleep using social media, even after closing their eyes, the things that they have slept after seeing continue in their mind.
Social media addiction is a behavioral disorder in which teens or young adults become fascinated by social media and are unable to reduce or stop using online media despite obvious negative consequences and serious drawbacks. While many teens engage in some form of online media (including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Vine, Snapchat, and video games) daily, teen social media addiction is highly dangerous, leading to a growing sense of well-being. Dependence on social media as a way of life, loss of friendships, decreased physical social engagement, and the inability to stop this behavior despite negative effects at school has become a matter of concern.
Every fifth youth in the world i.e. about 19% of the youth has invested money in some kind of sport within a year. In this, he has been a victim of online betting most of the time. In today’s time, due to excessive use of social media, not only confidence is decreasing in the youth, but the feeling of loneliness is also increasing. This is the reason why frustration and anxiety also increase. Although the activity of all sections has increased on social media for a long time, the most affected are the youth. Even the thoughts of suicide are increasing among the youth. Being on social media for a long time is hurting mental health. In such cases, more cases are coming to the fore in the age group of 15 to 45 years. Due to this lack of sleep as well as the ability to work are also affected. Today’s era is incomplete without gadgets like mobiles, and laptops. In such a situation, you can avoid social media addiction by taking care of your mental health and adopting some measures.
Most of us today are addicted to social media. Whether you use it to connect with friends and relatives or to watch videos, social media is a familiar way for every one of us. In a world dominated by technology and smart devices, it’s all too common to lose minutes and hours these days, bingeing on Netflix or scrolling through Facebook. These websites and apps are consuming most of our time, so much so that it has now turned into an addiction. Social media addiction can quickly eat away at the precious time that could be spent developing skills, enjoying time with loved ones, or exploring the outside world. Studies have shown that it can cause mental health issues such as low self-esteem, feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
At least once or twice a week, celebrate “Social Media Free” day. It can be on Saturday/Sunday or whatever day you feel is suitable for you. Over time, we get used to the little Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook icons appearing on our screens. It has become a habit for us to check our phones regularly to see what’s new. You can check your notifications once a day to reduce your social media usage. Consider your need for social media because sometimes social media addiction can be due to our need for attention or connection with others. Spend some time writing down your thoughts on this and try to work on how you can reduce your usage.
The first and foremost task of teen social media addiction treatment is to reduce the number of time teens spend on social media. By limiting the number of time teens spend interacting online, we help them prioritize genuine social interaction with their peers. Not only is this healthier, but as such, they are more likely to develop a better sense of themselves. We know that spending more time in the fresh air is important for teens struggling with social media addiction. Think about why beautiful natural sites have been created all around us, from beaches to parks and hiking trails.
The writer is Poet, Independent Journalist, and Columnist, All India Radio and TV Panellist.
