Problem-Solution Essay - Social Media Addiction (Final Draft)

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 suggest alternative ways to deal with the addiction and health problems.

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. 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 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 being 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 one 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 advice 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 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.

References

Alison, 2013. Top 5 health risks of social media. The Proof Fairy website. Retrieved from: http://www.theprooffairy.com/social-media/top-5-health-risks-of-social-media/

The Economist, 2013. Facebook is bad for you “Get a life!”. The Economist website. Retrieved from: http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21583593-using-social-network-seems-make-people-more-miserable-get-life

Helpguide.org, (n.d.). Internet and Computer Addiction. Helpguide.org website. Retrieved from: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/internet-and-computer-addiction.htm

Kirsten Braun, (n.d.). Health risks of social media. Women’s Health website. Retrieved from: http://www.womhealth.org.au/healthy-lifestyle/109-health-risks-of-social-media

Personal Development nperov.com, (n.d.). Why Social Networking Is Bad for Your Mental Health. Nperov.com website. Retrieved from: http://nperov.com/health/social-networking-bad-mental-health/

Daria J. Kuss and Mark D. Griffiths, 2011. Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011 Sep; 8(9): 3528–3552. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3194102/