Why Are We Addicted to Social Media? Exploring the Causes and Consequences

According to statistics, about 60% of people worldwide use various social media platforms. That's approximately 4.8 billion people. Whether this is a little or a lot, I'm sure you, the reader of this article, are definitely part of that number.

 Social media has become an integral part of our society. It's no longer just about sharing family photos with distant relatives or friends; it's about building your brand and promoting yourself to the public. Even many educational institutions and employers check the social media profiles of candidates to assess them and get to know them better. Some might argue that this is a reasonable approach and that there’s nothing wrong with it. However, the reach of social networks is so extensive that some practices seem quite questionable. For example, to contact a support team at an institution, you may be required to have an account on one of the social media platforms, as they don’t engage with applicants through the familiar method of email. Additionally, many small businesses sell their products exclusively through social media, lacking either a website or a physical storefront. Take a look at your phone and open the default "camera" app. If you have a modern smartphone, you’ll notice the function to record videos for just 15 or 30 seconds at most. Why do you think this feature was introduced in recent updates? It’s undoubtedly due to the popularity of social media, especially the short video format used in "stories" on platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. These are just a few examples of the widespread influence of social networks.

 Naturally, with such a close relationship, people can become quite engrossed. It seems that before, you could wake up and get out of bed without a second thought, but now you can't even put your phone down while brushing your teeth. This leads directly to a decrease in concentration and attention because our brains become accustomed to frequent task-switching, diminishing our ability to focus on one thing at a time. It also reduces your mindfulness, making you lose awareness of your body and surroundings, and so on. While this doesn’t directly cause ADHD, it can significantly exacerbate symptoms that resemble it.

 To determine if you have a social media addiction, try going completely without it for a day. To participate honestly in this experiment, I recommend deleting all social media apps for a day (hey! I can already see you opening YouTube in your browser! Close it now! And yes, YouTube is also a social network). If you manage to get through the day without feeling symptoms like isolation, physical anxiety, sadness, searching for alternatives (like reading the news to fill the void), a persistent sense of boredom even when you’re occupied, or difficulties with concentration, then you’re probably fine and not addicted to social media. However, if you do experience these symptoms, I encourage you to keep reading this article.

 Like any addiction, social media dependency negatively impacts our quality of life. We can’t live fully in the moment; we stop feeling life as it is. Let’s analyze how social media affects us.


1. Emotional State
• Anxiety and stress. They are often stemming from the need for validation from others through likes on posts, stories, comments, and following.
• Issues with self-esteem. People frequently compare themselves to others, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction, often regarding their physical appearance or financial status. Even those who are generally confident may begin to doubt themselves and their abilities. An excessive focus on appearance can create insecurities.
• The fear of missing out (FOMO). The anxiety of missing something important and the desire to stay informed about all the world’s events, especially if you follow news channels on social media.

2. Cognitive and Intellectual Changes
• As mentioned earlier, there is a decline in the ability to concentrate and maintain focus on a single task. People become accustomed to short "bursts" of information, which affects the levels of neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain.
• Memory issues also arise, impairing the brain's ability to retain and analyze information.

3. Physical Condition
• Sleep Disruption: Engaging in messaging or scrolling through feeds negatively impacts sleep quality by increasing hormone levels in the brain.

4. Social Behavior and Relationships
• Communication Issues in Real Life: Spending excessive time in the online world diminishes face-to-face communication skills. The online environment prevents you from picking up on people's facial expressions and gestures—elements of nonverbal communication that account for about 55% of interactions—as well as tone of voice.
• Development of Narcissistic Traits (for Creators): The constant search for approval and a desire for recognition leads to conversations that focus solely on oneself. This behavior shifts to accommodate algorithms, aiming to please the audience. Such focus can reduce empathy, as individuals become preoccupied with their own feelings and needs, often overlooking the emotions of others.
• Focus on Others (Viewers): Watching the lives of others fills your mind, causing you to neglect your own thoughts, desires, and overall life. It’s as if all your attention is directed toward someone else, rather than focusing on yourself, which is crucial for your well-being!

5. Professional Activity and Productivity
• Decreased Productivity and Procrastination: Constant distractions reduce concentration, hindering the completion of assigned tasks.
• Diverting Attention from Life Goals: Free time is often spent on social media rather than personal development, causing individuals to push their priorities to the back burner.

6. Financial Consequences
• Impulsive Purchases: Influencer advertising often triggers impulsive buying behavior.
• Financial Investments in Image Creation (for Creators): The desire to appear a certain way or to maintain a specific status leads to spending on expensive clothing, gadgets, and attractive living spaces. All efforts are focused on creating a "beautiful image for the camera" to engage the audience and optimize algorithm performance.

7. Changes in Self-Perception and the Surrounding World
• Distorted Perception of Reality: Social media creates unrealistic expectations regarding one's life and future. People often forget that we are all born into different circumstances; for some, the first milestone may be buying a ticket to Dubai, while for others, it might simply be securing any form of housing.


Overall, social media creates quite a few "little" problems for people, doesn't it? :)
However, it’s difficult to let go of something that is so deeply embedded in our society, especially if you use social media to promote your business or work in a creative field. Is it really impossible to maintain a healthy relationship with social media while continuing to work in that space? It is possible! As a musical artist, I will share my experiences in the next part of this article: (coming soon)