October 24th, 2022
by Kim Myles
Over the last decade, people use social media more than any time in history. In 2005, only 5% of American adults were using social media, as opposed to 69% in 2017. It has become an integral part of our daily existence. The problem is many individuals’ health is at risk because of their increasing dependency on it.
“Social media use becomes problematic when someone views social networking sites as an important coping mechanism to relieve stress, loneliness, or depression. Social media use provides these individuals with continuous rewards that they’re not receiving in real life, so they end up engaging in the activity more and more. This continuous use eventually leads to multiple interpersonal problems, such as ignoring real-life relationships, work, or school responsibilities, and physical health, which may then exacerbate an individual’s undesirable moods.”
Addiction Center
According to studies, up to 10% of the American population meets the criteria for social media addiction. As social media use continues to rise, so do the numbers.
All the information we digest on social media isn’t necessarily good for us. If you’re negatively triggered by what you see on social media, taking breaks or limiting the time you spend on it can help to improve your mood.
“Mental health experts advise people to regularly evaluate how social media is making them feel. People may need to rethink their social media use if they are getting easily annoyed by people’s posts or comments, checking notifications even when in the company of others or during an activity, getting into arguments on social media, or missing deadlines because they are distracted by their phones.”
Taking a Break from Social Media
Heavy social media use has a direct impact on your mental and physical health. Clinical studies show frequent social media use cause depression, fatigue, and sadness to increase in young adults. Many people use social media as a coping mechanism, but it doesn’t help them to solve their underlying issues. If it is affecting your overall functionality, it might be time to re-evaluate your usage.
In short, too much of anything isn’t good for anyone. Taking a social media detox periodically is crucial to maintaining a good mental and emotional balance. If you think your social media habits are doing you more harm than good, reboot your health by logging off to recharge your batteries.
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