Social media is a major part of the modern world. For many, it’s how they keep up with friends who live far away. For others, it’s a job. They either market themselves on social media or are paid to market a company or product.
Social media is a major industry, with many platforms worth billions of dollars. Many people use social media daily. However, some social media users can find themselves developing an addiction.
Like any other behavioural addiction, being addicted to social media can have detrimental effects on a person’s life. However, treatment can help, and Sivana Rehab offers world-class treatment in a tropical paradise.
What is Social Media Addiction?
Social media addiction is a form of internet addiction wherein a person may become addicted to social media. People who suffer from social media addiction are often unable to control their urge to be on social media sites, even if they suffer adverse consequences as a result of their use.
This behaviour can lead to disruptions in sleep patterns, decreased productivity, and increased anxiety or depression.
Social media addiction is driven by the brain’s reward system, which releases dopamine in response to the likes, comments, and shares that a post gets. This creates a cycle of dependency not unlike that of substance addiction. Over time, individuals may develop tolerance, which makes them need more social media engagement to achieve the same level of satisfaction.
Social media addiction can also lead to social isolation, reduced interpersonal communication skills, and distorted self-esteem, as users often compare their lives to the curated images and posts of others, especially wealthy influencers.
Treatment for Social Media Addiction
Treating social media addiction needs to help a patient change their relationship with social media. Some of the treatment options to achieve this include:
A potent way to treat many forms of addiction, both substance and behavioural, is with inpatient rehab. While in a residential treatment centre, patients will receive intensive care and support for their addictive behaviours. Being in a treatment facility can isolate a person from their triggers and enablers, allowing them to reflect on their addiction with clarity.
While there isn’t a medication that can directly treat the use of social media directly, there are medications that can help address the underlying causes behind a person’s problematic use of social media. If the root cause behind a person’s excessive time on social media platforms is a condition such as anxiety or depression, the medication for these disorders can help alleviate their social media usage.
CBT is a type of therapy that is focused on identifying negative thought patterns that can lead to unhealthy behaviours. CBT is a highly adaptable treatment and can be used to treat various mental health disorders and forms of addiction, including social media addiction.
DBT was originally developed to treat Borderline Personality Disorder; it has since proven helpful in treating many other disorders. It can help address social media addiction by teaching skills like mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance.
By focusing on the present moment, individuals can reduce impulsive behaviour and have better control over their emotions. DBT also emphasises interpersonal effectiveness, which can help users build healthier real-world relationships and reduce the need to turn to social media for validation.
Psychodynamic therapy helps treat social media addiction by exploring the unconscious motives and past experiences that may contribute to the behaviour. By understanding underlying emotional conflicts and patterns, individuals can gain insight into their need for external validation.
This form of therapy encourages self-awareness and emotional processing, helping users develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Support groups can be vital for helping people who struggle with social media addiction. By joining a support group, a person who struggles with social media addiction can find a sense of community in the real world.
These groups can offer numerous benefits other than that sense of community. They can also offer people suffering from addiction to social media encouragement and accountability. They can also be learning opportunities, as some people in the group may be further along in their recovery from problematic social media use than others.
Who is at Risk of Excessive Social Media Use?
Social media addiction can affect anyone. However, the age group most likely to become addicted to social media is teens and young adults because this age group primarily uses digital technologies as their main methods of communication.
That said, anyone who feels persistent loneliness can also develop this form of addiction, as social media usage can sometimes be a substitute for real-world interactions.
This addiction can also be prevalent in those with low self-esteem, as they may turn to social media to receive validation, which makes them more prone to excessive use.
Poor impulse control can also contribute to this form of addiction, as this can make it hard for people to limit their social media use.
Social media influencers and content creators are also at risk for their addiction as they are professionally reliant on social media for their careers and financial well-being.
Symptoms of Social Media Addiction
Social media addiction can manifest through a variety of symptoms that can significantly impact daily life and well-being. One of the primary signs is compulsive checking, where individuals feel an uncontrollable urge to check social media frequently, often leading to hours spent online.
This behaviour often results in neglecting responsibilities, as people prioritise social media over work, studies, and personal duties, causing a decline in productivity and performance. Mood changes are also common, with individuals experiencing anxiety or irritability when unable to access social media and feeling euphoria when engaging with it.
Social withdrawal is another symptom of addiction, as individuals who are affected may prefer online interactions over real-world communication, which results in social isolation and weakened real-life relationships.
Social media addiction can lead to self-esteem issues as users constantly compare themselves to others on social media, resulting in low self-esteem and body image issues.
Many can also be dishonest about the extent of their social media use to family or friends by denying or downplaying the severity of their behaviour.
Get Help For Problematic Social Media Use With Us
Social media may be a major utility when used correctly. It can help deliver news, market products, and help people achieve their dreams. Social media is one of the defining aspects of the 21st century.
But like any other tool, social media can be misused. Some people find themselves in a situation where social media use dominates their lives. Spending time on social media is common enough, but it shouldn’t be to the point that it detrimentally affects life in the real world.
When it gets to that point, professional help is often needed. At Sivana Rehab, we can offer the care and support to help you reframe your relationship with social media into a more positive one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Decrease Social Media Use?
There are numerous ways to decrease social media use. Apps can be downloaded that warn users of how much time they’re spending on a social media app, and some can even block access entirely until a preset time.
Another way to decrease time spent on social media is to downgrade from a smartphone to a dumb one. Because social media is often accessed via apps, having a phone that can’t do more than call and text can limit a person’s access to social media.
Why is Social Media so Addicting?
A major reason why social media is so addictive is that it is designed to keep users engaged with social media feeds. Platforms use algorithms to show users content that they are likely to enjoy. This keeps users scrolling on the platform.
Another reason social media can be addictive is FOMO, the fear of missing out. Some people are so afraid of being the last to know or of not being part of an in-group that they continuously check their social media feeds to avoid missing news.
Is Social Media Addiction a Behavioural Disorder?
Yes, social addiction is a behavioural or process addiction. This is when a person becomes addicted to a certain process or behaviour as opposed to a substanc