Addicted to Social Media

Question: I'm addicted to social media. My screen time averages 6 hours a day. Is this normal?

Dear Addicted,

Normal? Sadly, yes. Healthy? No.

Social media produces the same neural patterns (or "high") caused by recreational drugs. When we receive a like or mention, we experience a rush of dopamine - a chemical associated with pleasure. Humans naturally fear disapproval, and social media amplifies our search for acceptance.

The constant flow of edited, curated content facilities a "compare and despair" attitude and feeds the illusion that our lives are boring compared to others. Eventually, our ability to express ourselves authentically and form our own ideas and choices is hindered. We convince ourselves to buy a new outfit, cut curtain bangs, or adopt a particular aesthetic to our lives, hoping to feel more connected. We treat likes and followers as the currency of our internal wealth, yet anxiety has overcome our generation.

At the heart of our addiction to social media is a desire for deeper connections, access to information, and a place to zone-out and distract ourselves. These needs can be met with more productive, positive solutions. Resist the temptation to engage in mindless scrolling, and instead, reach out to friends, read a book or an article, and take a hot shower to unwind at the end of the day. Despite the original intention to connect people and encourage self-expression, social media has simply become an avenue for negativity and self-destructive habits.

Lots of love,

Gabby