Social media have been a convenient and practical way to
make new acquaintances and obtain updates from friends we do not usually meet
as it facilitates communication between peers on the internet. Almost everyone
these days owns a social networking page and it can be time-consuming to
maintain it. Keeping an online status, frequently updating the profiles as well
as games on social media sites require much attention. While spending time
online can be useful in gaining updates of everyday life, excessive and
compulsive use of social media can cause addiction. Social media addiction can
interfere with one’s daily life and cause health problems. This essay will
describe social media addiction and the health problems associated with it in
America and suggests alternative ways to deal with the addiction and health
problems from existing methods.
Studies gave evidence which suggests that addiction to
social media and networking may be a potential mental and physical health
problem. Statistics show that 55% of youths uses social media networks and the
time spent on Facebook by people increased by 566% from 2007 to 2008 (Kuss
& Griffiths, 2011). People who have higher usage of social networking sites
(SNSs) were perceived to be less involved with their real life communities. The
typical profiles of addiction can be introvert or extrovert. This can be
compared to people who are introverts or have a negative social identity tend
to use more of social media in order to compensate for their loss in real life
interactions. As giving and receiving negative feedback may be more common on
the internet than in real life, people who are introverts or have a negative
social identity who look into SNSs for compensation in real life network may
experience a negative feedback with the use of SNSs (Kuss & Griffiths,
2011). This may potentially result in increasing addiction to the use of SNSs
and developing lower self-esteem. In the same way, people who are extraverts in
real life may increase their usage of SNSs for self-enhancement, related to
high narcissism. The increasing usage of SNSs may lead to social media
addiction. Past investigations showed that mental health problems like
jealousy, social tension, isolation and depression are associated with the use
of Facebook (The Economist, 2013), which may be due to people who turn to SNSs
usually are more prone to negative emotions and thoughts in the first place
(Kuss & Griffiths, 2011). Apart from mental health problems, physical
health problems may appear with association to excessive use of social media.
Sitting for long hours in front of the computer or phone may lead to back and
neck aches, headaches and increased risk of heart disease and diabetes (Alison,
2013). Using the mouse or mobile device for surfing SNSs can cause Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome, which is pain and numbness in hands and wrists, dry eyes
and/or strained vision. With more time spent on using SNSs, sleep disturbances
may be experienced by users (Helpguide.org, n.d.). An article found that using
social media can lead to loss impulsive unhealthy snacking, which may result in
pronounced weight gain or weight loss in addicted users of SNSs (Alison, 2013).
Existing methods of dealing with social media addiction
include self-recognizing and identifying if oneself is having symptoms of
addiction to using SNSs, listing our one’s underlying problems which supports
the addiction. It also involved strengthening one’s support network and coping
skills in real life. Finally, addicts must modify the use of internet in
gradual amounts (Helpguide.org, n.d.; Braun, n.d.; nperov.com, n.d.). The
strength of these methods is that people will know what their problem are and
start working from there.
However, the limitation of these methods is that the first
step for people to start to realise or recognize they have a problem themselves
is extremely difficult. The main problem is that addicts might not be aware of
their problem. As most methods to deal with social media addiction require an
individual to recognize or identify themselves if they have an addiction, it
would not be effective in allowing an actual social media addict to admit and
take an effort to realise his or her addiction in social media.
A more effective solution would be for social media sites
like Facebook to produce “pop-up” messages on their sites to users who are
online for over 2 hours and beyond. Messages could include inform users how long
they have been online, self-help tips and advices on dealing with social media
addiction. This could be aiding social media addicts in self-identifying their
addiction which is the first milestone of dealing with social media addiction
as it is the social media sites themselves which are giving actual advices to
generate awareness in themselves for the users’ symptoms of addiction.
Apart from introducing messages from SNSs to users,
campaigns can be used to create awareness about social media addiction to
everyone. Advertisements on television and SNSs are examples of platforms in
which these campaigns can be raised. The target audience should be everyone, as
they could hit an addict and the people around the addict. With more awareness
to the problem of social media addiction, there would be more help in a current
addict recognizing his own problem as the people around him or her and will be
able to help as they are aware of the problem too.
Addiction to social media may be associated to many health
problems relating to mental health and physical health. Excessive use of social
media may result in more negative consequences than positive ones. Current
methods of dealing with social media addiction may not be effective and ways to
modify the methods should be implemented in order to reach to social media
users directly.
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