The Social Media Sinkhole
Aminah, Nick, Onyinye, Gabe
We all know the feeling: You lie in your bed on your phone, mindlessly surfing through Tik Tok, Instagram, or whatever social media platform you’ve chosen to numb your brain for this particular night. As your thumbs swipe through post after post, the hours begin to add up. By the time you check the clock, you realize your scrolling has gotten out of hand, and your alarm is set to ring in only a few hours.
This scenario is something the majority of teenagers are familiar with. Social media addiction has become a very real problem in today’s society. Platforms continue to implement new techniques and methods to maximize engagement, with little regulation. As a result of this, social media has tightened its grip on the younger generation, reflected in the growing number of social media addictions reported. Furthermore, the negative consequences that coincide with social media have catastrophic effects on those affected.
This article will explore why social media is so addictive, the negative effects that come with a social media addiction, and finally, methods to combat this growing issue.
Why Social Media Addicts
Because of the grasp social media has on many, experts and researchers were forced to ask why these platforms are able to hook its users. A 2020 study from Cambridge University explored this question, and found that there are three main methods companies employ to keep their users wanting more:
“The use of intermittent variable rewards (the slot machine effect), design features that take advantage of our desires for social validation and social reciprocity, and lastly, platform designs that erode natural stopping cues”
The Cambridge study also adds that companies are able to measure which tactics are successful in capturing a user’s attention, and which are not. They are then able to employ the best strategies to maximize engagement on their platforms.
Imbedded is a 2018 video from Vox, where Tristan Harris, the founder of Time Well Spent, a non-profit organization whose goal is to advocate for social media addiction awareness. In the video, Harris explains, “It’s (social media) not designed to help us, it’s just designed to keep us hooked.”
While experts credit these three factors as the main drivers of addiction, there are also other factors that play roles in an addcition to social media. The following link explains these other factors, explores how platforms target different age groups, and looks at statistics showing social media usage.
The Effects of the Sinkhole
An addiction to social media, like all addictions, comes with negative consequences that can begin to alter one’s life. The meme below shows the irony of the decision that many make, choosing to stay up late scrolling on their phone over a good night’s rest. Although the image is meant to be humorous, loss of sleep due to screen time is a real problem that plagues many youths.
But loss of sleep is far from the only consequence of a social media addiction. There are many more side effects, all of which are detrimental to one’s health. The infographic below sheds light on other health outcomes:
In addition to side effects caused by addiction, social media overuse can also lead users to be exposed to content that leaves them feeling overwhelmed, sad, or angry, thus negatively effecting their mental health. A poll posted on Twitter by Nick Chen asked users where their mental health and social media use intersect:
The last piece of content pertaining to the dangers of social media is Nick Chen’s podcast, “Social Media in Conversation”. In the podcast, Nick interviews three Tik Tok content creators, asking them about their social media habits and the negative aspects of apps like Tik Tok.
Regulating Social Media
Social media companies currently operate with very few restrictions from the government. But experts have begun to speak out against these companies who have prioritized profits over the health of their customers. These companies aim to maximize their revenue by exploiting human psychology, while failing, or refusing, to take into account the terrible effects their tactics have on their consumers. The audio slideshow below explains the need for government regulation on big tech companies:
In 2019, a bill was introduced that would prohibit tech companies from “using practices that exploit human psychology or brain physiology to substantially impede freedom of choice”. Unfortunately, the bill has yet to be passed. So rather than waiting for government regulation to curb your social media addiction, there are steps you can take by yourself to limit your use shown in the infographic:
Regardless if regulations are passed, or if they are not, it is imperative to understand the dangers that the overuse of social media presents. Knowing these risk and detriments to your health, you can begin to take steps to create a healthier relationship with your social media platforms.
