The Social Hiatus

The Social Hiatus

Social Media has become a huge part of our culture and our way of life where updates from friends and family come at you faster than a caffeinated dingo! Thanks to the wonders of technology, social media is now as accessible as your favorite snack stash, with smartphones and tablets paving the way for a 24/7 digital fiesta (Smith, 2017).

Back in 2017, a whopping 69% of Americans were riding the social media wave in some shape or form (Smith, 2017). I imagine that number has skyrocketed like salamanders since then – but who's counting? Well, hopefully someone, I just could not find them.

Hold onto your memes because it's not all sunshine and rainbows in the digital realm. Social media, like that extra slice of pizza, can have its downsides, causing mental health hiccups. Studies are buzzing around like kookooburras, pointing out the link between social media and an uptick in depression, anxiety, loneliness, and other not-so-fun side effects (Bozzola et al., 2022). It's like an emotional rollercoaster ride, only without the safety harness.

The comparison game is the real MVP of downer moments. Sure, you get to see your pals' highlight reels, but then you're stuck comparing your messy life to their filtered Instagram-worthy perfection. FOMO alert! And don't get us started on finding out about parties you weren't invited to – cue the sad trombone turtle. But hey, life's a rollercoaster, right? Maybe we just don’t need to ride all the rollercoasters at one time.

Speaking of rollercoasters, social media addiction is the loop-de-loop of the digital world. It's all about dopamine, the brain's VIP guest at the pleasure party (Haynes, 2021). Your brain gets a hit of this feel-good chemical, and suddenly you're hooked – blame the persuasive technology and the algorithms for keeping you scrolling like there's no tomorrow (Social Media and the Brain, 2021). It's like a never-ending carnival, and you're the main attraction.

While some folks can handle the social media circus, it's not all fun and games for everyone, especially the younger crowd. Pubescent kids might find themselves on an emotional rollercoaster that's harder to navigate than a maze made of zucchini noodles (for more info, check out the article: "The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks").

Fear not, social media adventurers and you water buffaloes! The journey doesn't have to be a wild ride into the unknown. You can choose your own adventure. Setting healthy limits on your digital escapades could be the secret sauce to a happier you. In fact, one study found that cutting down on social media is like hitting the reset button on your well-being, waving goodbye to loneliness and depression (Hunt et al., 2018). The power is in your hands – literally.

If reading isn't your jam, fear not! Netflix has your back with a documentary called "The Social Dilemma." It's like a movie night, but with eye-opening insights into the digital universe. So, grab your veggies, hit play, and let the social media adventure continue!

References:

Bozzola E, Spina G, Agostiniani R, Barni S, Russo R, Scarpato E, Di Mauro A, Di Stefano AV, Caruso C, Corsello G, Staiano A. The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 12;19(16):9960. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19169960. PMID: 36011593; PMCID: PMC9407706.

Haynes, T. (2021, February 4). Dopamine, smartphones & you: A battle for your time. Science in the News. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/dopamine-smartphones-battle-time/

Hunt, M. G., Marx, R., Lipson, C., & Young, J. (2018). No more Fomo: Limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 37(10), 751–768. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2018.37.10.751

Smith, A. (2017, January 12). Record shares of Americans now own smartphones, have Home Broadband. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/01/12/evolution-of-technology/

Social Media and the brain. Center for Humane Technology. (2021). https://www.humanetech.com/youth/social-media-and-the-brain