Social Media Addiction

Rev. Kat Carroll

Why do we feel the need to follow, post or respond to posts in social media?

Is there an inner need to show appreciation or to feel like we’ve participated?  Do you ever feel like you’re missing out on something if you don’t check Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, messenger and the other slew of platforms available to us?

Social media tends to be addictive, but the addiction has effects that many don’t realize. It was designed to be this way.  The more you engage, the more you freely share information about yourself; Your’ likes and dislikes, your political and religious views, what you are shopping for (which conveniently shows up as an add on your page). We are tempted at all turns, and it is hard not to engage.

Since all our social media and even our phones are monitored, we are constantly bombarded with advertisements hoping to get you to buy products.  That’s why the service is free. You’re the commodity!

How about all those likes on YouTube? If you get enough followers, you can eventually become monetized. Is that the real inspiration behind posting and reposting repeatedly, or have the likes and hearts become an addiction as well?  I say yes and Facebook admitted as much.

Facebook’s own insiders have admitted that the platform was intentionally designed to be addictive. According to Sandy Parakilas, a former Facebook platform manager, “There was definitely an awareness of the fact that the product was habit-forming and addictive.”

Sean Parker, Facebook’s founding president, also acknowledged the company’s intention to exploit human psychology, stating that Facebook was “exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology” and aimed to “consume as much user time as possible.”

In other words, it’s a huge distraction from doing things that matter.  You matter!

If we give up our freedom of expression in favor of someone else’s, we also give up that side of us that’s intuitive and creative. I’ve watched the trend over the years, where technology replaces our inner knowing. Do you recall when you remembered every phone number or address of the people you spoke with? Do you recall being able to find places on a map or from memory before AI and GPS took over that task?

I’m also confused by the number of posts that are simply sharing someone else’s article, quotes or memes.  Have we lost the ability to be original?

If you don’t use those abilities, you’ll lose them over time.

 Social media is very addictive, like sweets, cigarettes, drugs and gambling.  We want those likes. Like gambling, you keep pulling on the lever hoping to hit the jackpot. When you get a small amount of change back (also in the way of likes and comments) your body produces that hit of dopamine that makes you feel good and keeps you coming back for more. Gambling addictions make us take risks we normally would avoid. That’s the “hopium” that’s also produced.  More friends, more likes, more engagement…. Are you strong enough to recognize and end the addiction?

I’m guilty of the addiction as well but I try to share information that I’ve research or experienced and not just repost other people’s work. We live in the information age. Some platforms, are meant to share information in a “one stop shop” sort of way.  But it can be difficult to keep up on the number of posts and it an create a sense of information overload. That’s generally when people start backing away and not responding, even to posts from friends.

My intention is not to offend anyone, but to make you think. I hope it also inspires you to become creative or do some research or writing for yourself. Like mainstream media which we learned is a form of mockingbird press, repeating a specific script for all to see can be harmful if negative. As apposed to the dopamine that makes you feel good, constant bad news produces stress hormones so, you may want to limit your uptake of that kind of information. Make sure what you share has some original thought and something beneficial for others, be it information or humor (we all need that!).

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