Social Media Addiction

Kardaras, Nicolas. "Generation Z: Online and at Risk?." Scientific American Mind, vol. 27, no. 5, Sep/Oct 2016, pp. 64-9. MasterFILE Premier. Kardars discuss generation z use of social media affecting them negatively. He opens his article with a story of Heidi who becomes addicted to social media when her school issues her a Chromebook. Before Heidi is issued the laptop, she was a sweet innocent girl and after having it for a semester she became someone her parents could not recognize. He states that social media is a “perfect storm” for humans because having a social connection key to “happiness and health”. Having the ability to always use social media leads to hyper texting the illusion of a real connection making it hard for teens to have face to face conversations, making a teens become “glow kid[s]“, someone who is raised on mostly digital social interactions. Facebook depression” can result in the teen to have lower grades and behavior problems in teens. He concludes his article with facts proving that Facebook can become addictive in some people. This source helps support my thesis that Facebook affects teens mental health.

However, Twenge makes an emphasis on the decline of mental wellness that smartphones seem to cause. She includes quotes from teens in her article stating how certain environments on smartphones, such as social media, effect their emotions. Twenge says that teens not invited to social events are made very aware through posts from friends on social media, leading to feelings of loneliness and exclusion. In addition, cyberbullying is a majorly targeted issue, teens who spend more time on their phones are more likely to be bullied online which can lead to depression. There are also percentages of the increase teens who report feelings of loneliness or wishing for a good friend, things that can lead to depression. She explains how allowing for more room for feelings of loneliness and exclusion to lead to depression can eventually lead to suicide. The article explains how smartphones can become a hazard if slept with in bed as well as how they can lead to sleep deprivation. She explains how teens use language of addiction when they speak of their

Social media is killing you! I know that got your attention, but it is taking your time. Nowadays, a lot of people are using social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on. Social media is a bad thing for use, so I’m going to be exhibiting to you all about it. Since the Internet has propagated rapidly, social media has progressed a lot. The generalization of the internet makes us to live conveniently and fast. People are using smart phones, laptops or comfortable devices which can access to internet. These equipment’s allow us to use social media easily. It helps contact friends, family, and other people even though they live far away. It could be, however, abused, if you don’t use properly. Especially, it is important that we understand and regulate the use of social media for young children.

Addictions may seem like simple pleasures at first. Unfortunately, that's the trap with any addiction. It starts out at a pleasurable interest. Gradually, it can turn into something that's life-altering and all-consuming. Not only can it alter your own life, it can ruin your family life. When it comes to addiction, most people think about the most popular ones like drug and alcohol addictions. However, there are many addictions that fly under the radar.

73% of teenagers use what seems to be harmless, social media. Although it’s main function is to provide online communities for friends to interact on the internet, social media is a direct link to developing mental illnesses. Mental health is a very important issue, especially in the millennial generation, because it can impact a life drastically. Mental well-being is at risk when using social media because it flaunts what society considers “perfection” to be, can become easily addictive and social net workings can be a hostile environment. All of these issues that are promoted by social media or that exists there can seriously deteriorate mental health and drive illnesses forward.

Social media is used widely by many across the nation, it is very prevalent in the lives of today’s college student and young adults to connect with friends attending different institutions or even friends sitting just across the room. In a generation where technology is so heavily relied on and even addicting to some, we have seen an increase of addictive behaviors. Does the overuse of technology contribute to the rising alcohol and drug addictions as well as mental health issues? In this paper I will discuss addiction and it’s prevalence in the U.S.  I will also discuss the use of social media in both teens and adults and the effects it has on the use of alcohol and drugs.

In the modern society of internet and technological advancement, there are plenty of very sophisticated devices that make addiction to social media even more relatable in the daily events of life. The study has revealed that the majority of network users and addicts are the young people in the society more specifically between the ages of 14 and 19 years old. Further, research has also revealed that up to 54% of the social network subscribers are already addicts to the same. Some of the way I do not think so that TV shows, video games and internet increase violence in our society because these thinks teach us how to learn technology but it is all depend on people’s mentality how they are using the technology. The social network platform hosts a variety of services to choose from each a bit different from the other. The addiction is more accurate to the services that the addict has subscribed to on their devices.

“Today’s teens see more of what life has to offer — both good and bad — on television, at school, in magazines and on the Internet” (“Depression in Teens”). When teenagers see how negative life can get, it sometimes makes them feel as though they cannot get out of their situations. Because of television, literature, and music, they have the opportunity to be exposed to the good of life as well. “Adjusting to the rigors of middle and high school as well as hormonal changes are certainly contributing factor” (Abbondanza). Depression can affect hormones, emotions, and even thoughts. It can be dangerous to the person struggling, especially if they are not receiving help. “Adolescence is always an unsettling time, with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life” (“Depression in Teens”). Many adults today would say that their teenage years were some of the most difficult times of their lives and that they would not go back to them if they were given the opportunity. Although a lot is still the same, one big change in the teenage world is social media. With things like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, teenagers today are more connected than ever. Even though this can be a wonderful thing, it can have unfavorable effects. “Those who log on, particularly during night time, are highly 'emotionally invested' and therefore are susceptible to suffering from low self-esteem, anxiety

The study pointed out that students are addicted to social media and digital devices including smartphones, computers, and MP3 players in the similar way of drug and alcohol addictions. They do not feel comfortable without texting. Likewise, without connecting with media, students feel disconnected to their friends and family. Moreover, they feel extremely anxious when they have less information than other people. However, the study shows that there are not many students watching TV, reading newspaper, listening to radio, or checking mainstream media to update news. They tend to prefer to receive news via narration and personal interactions. This article will be helpful in supporting my argument in my research paper because the information can be used to support my stand, which is how social media affects mental health and social behaviors.

Social media corrupts the mental health of teens in high school by causing an addiction,

Two studies with the involvement of over 700 students have found that depressive symptoms, for instance low moods and feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness were regarding online interactions. Those who have reported negative interactions were where the researchers found higher levels of depressiveness. Another study that took place in 2016 which involved 1,700 people found a high risk of depression and anxiety within the people who used the most social media platforms. The reasons behind the higher risk among people who use social media platforms include cyber bullying, having a twisted view of other people’s lives and feeling like the time spent on the platform is a waste. The reasons behind these studies were looking at how social media can be used to diagnose depression, which could then result in people receiving earlier treatment. Jessica Brown

Social media seems to be one of the many hot topics of discussion recently, and consequently many people have the false sense of security that they have a profound knowledge on how it affects the health of the teenage population. A sedentary lifestyle, decreased sleep, as well as other physical health conditions seem to come to mind when one links health and social media. However, there is a much bigger problem that can go unnoticed because it can be impossible to see: the impact it has on mental and emotional health. These branches of health are just as important, and even arguably more important than physical health is. Social media can be utilized to connect with distant friends and express oneself; however, teenagers should refrain from the overuse of social media due to its detrimental effects on their mental and emotional health.

The most genuine complication of social media is addiction. A reporter on Salem health characterized that text messaging is no longer the biggest teenage obsession, and enormous phone bills from lengthy phone calls are no longer the biggest doubts for parents. These teenage addictions still remain, but in our generation and in analogy to the Facebook mania, it’s quite insignificant. Facebook addiction is advised to be a disorder driven by a craving. Not being able to access Facebook creates anxiety among fanatics. It is one of the most prominent social networking sites and has over one billion users without exception. People detach themselves from family and friends. Further symptoms of Facebook addiction have been related with needy sleep patterns. Researchers have also attempted to evaluate certain personality traits to the obsession. Being in touch with friends and family might clarify the logic why people are unreasonably obsessed.

In today’s society almost every individual has some type of social media, whether it is Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, or Twitter, People have accustomed to utilizing these types of social media and it has become part of their life and daily use. According to the essay “Students Addicted to Social Media” by the International Center for Media and Public Agenda, the study from the University of Maryland claims “American college students today are addicted to media” (Signs of Life in the USA 403). The university discovered that when these students are restricted from using media it is similar in terms of drug and alcohol addictions. During the study that the university conducted, students discuss how boring it is without media and how it gives them anxiety about not receiving information through social media. Other students claimed that texting and IM'ing gives them comfort and if they do not have these items then they feel alone and isolated from the world ( Signs of Life in the USA 404). Students are not the only ones who have an addiction of media but also parents and non-students. However, the International Center is accurate in some aspects and the responses students gave are very relatable which some people can agree with.

With the development of advances in technology, communication through social networking has risen immensely. Communicating is not only less complicated, it is also relatively inexpensive. “Many teens in relationships view social media as a place where they can feel more connected with the daily events in there significant other’s life, share emotional connections, and let their significant other know they care” (Lenhart, Anderson, and Smith). However, the ease of access to social networking has allowed many adolescents to become overly involved. Networking has the potential to influence adolescents both emotionally and physically which in turn may lead to negative behaviors. An article from procon.org stated, “The use of social networking sites is correlated with personality and brain disorders, such as the inability to have in-person conversations, a need for instant gratification, ADHD, and self-centered personalities, as well as addictive behaviors” (ProCon.org). Essentially, social networking has rising negative influences on teens because of increased cyber bullying, lack of respect for personal privacy, and its addictive qualities.