What Is Social Media Addiction?

Checking and scrolling through social media has become an increasingly popular
activity over the last decade. Although the majority of peoples’ use of social media is
non-problematic, there is a small percentage of users that become addicted to social
networking sites and engage in excessive or compulsive use. In fact, psychologists
estimate that as many as 5 to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media
addiction today. Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction that is characterized as
being overly concerned about social media, driven by an uncontrollable urge to log on to
or use social media, and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs
other important life areas.

Addictive social media use will look much like that of any other substance use disorder,
including mood modification (i.e., engagement in social media leads to a favorable
change in emotional states), salience (i.e., behavioral, cognitive, and emotional
preoccupation with social media), tolerance (i.e., ever increasing use of social media
over time), withdrawal symptoms (i.e., experiencing unpleasant physical and emotional
symptoms when social media use is restricted or stopped), conflict (i.e., interpersonal
problems ensue because of social media usage), and relapse (i.e., addicted individuals
quickly revert back to their excessive social media usage after an abstinence period).

The phenomena of social media addiction can largely be contributed to the dopamine-
inducing social environments that social networking sites provide. Social media
platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram produce the same neural
circuitry that is caused by gambling and recreational drugs to keep consumers using
their products as much as possible. Studies have shown that the constant stream of
retweets, likes, and shares from these sites have affected the brain’s reward area to
trigger the same kind of chemical reaction as other drugs, such as cocaine. In fact,
neuroscientists have compared social media interaction to a syringe of dopamine being
injected straight into the system.
How Social Media Affects the Brain

Due to the effect that it has on the brain, social media is addictive both physically and
psychologically. According to a new study by Harvard University, self-disclosure on
social networking sites lights up the same part of the brain that also ignites when taking
an addictive substance. The reward area in the brain and its chemical messenger
pathways affect decisions and sensations. When someone experiences something
rewarding, or uses an addictive substance, neurons in the principal dopamine-producing
areas in the brain are activated, causing dopamine levels to rise. Therefore, the brain
receives a “reward” and associates the drug or activity with positive reinforcement.

This is observable in social media usage; when an individual gets a notification, such as
a like or mention, the brain receives a rush of dopamine and sends it along reward
pathways, causing him or her to feel pleasure. Social media provides an endless
amount of immediate rewards in the form of attention from others for relatively minimal
effort. Therefore, the brain rewires itself through this positive reinforcement, making
people desire likes, retweets, and emoticon reactions.

Another perpetuating factor of social media addiction is the fact that the reward centers
of the brain are most active when people are talking about themselves. In real life, it’s
estimated that people talk about themselves around 30 to 40% of the time; however,
social media is all about showing off one’s life and accomplishments, so people talk
about themselves a staggering 80% of the time. When a person posts a picture and
gets positive social feedback, it stimulates the brain to release dopamine, which again
rewards that behavior and perpetuates the social media habit.

Social media use becomes problematic when someone views social networking sites as
an important coping mechanism to relieve stress, loneliness, or depression. For these
people, social media use provides continuous rewards that they’re not receiving in real
life, and end up engaging in the activity more and more. This continuous use eventually
leads to multiple interpersonal problems, such as ignoring real life relationships, work or
school responsibilities, and physical health, which may then exacerbate an individual’s
undesirable moods. This then causes people to engage in the social networking
behavior even more as a way of relieving dysphoric mood states. Consequently, when
social network users repeat this cyclical pattern of relieving undesirable moods with
social media use, the level of psychological dependency on social media increases.

Recognizing a Social Media Addiction

Although many people habitually use social media, very few are genuinely addicted. If
you’re worried that someone may be at risk of developing an addiction to social media,
ask yourself these six questions:

 Does he/she spend a lot of time thinking about social media or planning to use
social media?
 Does he/she feel urges to use social media more and more?
  Does he/she use social media to forget about personal problems?
 Does he/she often try to reduce use of social media without success?
 Does he/she become restless or troubled if unable to use social media?
 Does he/she use social media so much that it has had a negative impact on
his/her job or studies?

If you answered “yes” to a more than three of these questions, then you may have or be
developing a social media addiction.

As a precaution, that person should engage in a digital detox; a period of time during
which someone significantly reduces the time spent or abstains from using electronic
devices such a smartphones or computers. This can include simple steps, such as
turning off sound notifications and only checking social media sites once an hour. Other
changes can include having periods in the day where there is self-imposed non-screen
time, such as during meal times, or leaving the phone in a separate room at night so as
not to disturb sleep. This allows for a restored focus on social interaction in the physical
world and reduces dependency on networking sites.

Ready to get help?

Don’t waste another second. Enter your number to receive a call

from a compassionate treatment expert.

Contact a treatment expert at(855) 826-4464

Request a call now
Get a Call

Social Media and Mental Health

Research has shown that there is an

undeniable link between social media use, negative mental health, and low self-esteem.
While social media platforms have their benefits, using them too frequently can make
people feel increasingly unhappy and isolated. These negative emotional reactions are
not only produced due to the social pressure of sharing things with others, but also the
comparison of material things and lifestyles that these sites promote.
On Instagram and Facebook, users see curated content – advertisements and posts
that are specifically designed to appeal to you based on your interests. While scrolling
through this curated content, people may see a post by an individual that has a great
job, excellent partner, or beautiful home and feel happy or inspired by this person.
Others, however, may see these pictures and feel jealous, depressed, or even feel
suicidal due to the fact that their own life is not as “perfect” as those that they see on
Facebook or Instagram.

Recent studies have found that frequent social network users believe that other users
are happier and more successful than they are, especially when they do not know them
very well in real life. Social media facilitates an environment in which people are
comparing their realistic offline selves to the flawless, filtered, and edited online versions
of others, which can be detrimental to mental well-being and perception of
self. Excessive social media use can not only cause unhappiness and a general
dissatisfaction with life in users, but also increase the risk of developing mental health
issues such as anxiety and depression. Constantly comparing oneself to others can
lead to feelings of self-consciousness or a need for perfectionism and order, which often
manifests itself into social anxiety disorder.

Another aspect of social anxiety triggered by online media use is the fear of missing out
(FOMO); the extreme fear of not being included or missing a social event. For example,
someone may see pictures of a party where he or she was not invited, or of a fun outing
that they were unable to attend because of work or school obligations, and experience
anxiety that no one misses them as a result or that they will be forgotten since they’re
not there. FOMO can take a toll on self-esteem and lead to compulsive checking of
social media platforms to ensure that an individual isn’t missing out on anything, which
can cause problems at the work place and in the classroom. In a 2017 study conducted
by Harvard University, researchers found that social media has a significant detrimental
effect on the emotional well-being of chronic users and their lives, negatively impacting
their real life relationships and academic achievement among those still in an
educational setting.

At-Risk Youth

An estimated 27% of children who spend 3 or more hours a day on social media exhibit
symptoms of poor mental health. Overuse of social networking sites is much more
problematic in children and young adults because their brains and social skills are still
developing. Research has shown that adolescents who habitually use social media from
a young age have severely stunted social interaction skills. Despite the fact that users
are interacting with each other on these platforms, many of them don’t necessarily
translate to the real world. Studies have found that these individuals have worsened
social anxiety in groups, higher rates of depression, negative body-image, and lowered
levels of empathy and compassion towards others when surveyed.

A study performed by California State University found that individuals that visited any
social media site at least 58 times per week were 3 times more likely to feel socially
isolated and depressed compared to those who used social media fewer than 9 times
per week.

The constant barrage of perfectly filtered photos that appear on social network sites can
also cause low self-esteem and disordered eating in young adults. Though many teens
know that their peers share only their best pictures and moments on social media, it’s
very difficult to avoid making comparisons. The ongoing exposure to unrealistic beauty
standards through social networking sites can affect how teenagers perceive their own
bodies. One study from the University of Pittsburgh found a correlation between time
spent scrolling through social media apps and negative body image feedback. Those
who had spent more time on social media had 2.2 times the risk of reporting eating and
body image concerns, compared to their peers who spent less time on social media.
Everything from physical appearance to life circumstances to perceived successes are
scrutinized and processed by users. The need to gain likes on social media can cause
teens to not only alter their appearance, but make choices they would otherwise not
make, including accepting risky social media challenges and engaging in negative
behaviors.

The competition for attention and likes can even lead to online bullying. Name-calling,
rumor-spreading, and harassment among adolescents has always happened, but social
media presents young users more opportunities to do so than ever before. Teenage
girls are at particular risk for cyberbullying through use of social media; however, boys
are not immune. In addition to the implemented techniques of face-to-face bullying, the
spreading and posting of non-consensual explicit pictures is a form of cyberbullying that
has gained popularity within recent years. One-quarter of teens say they have been
sent explicit images they didn’t ask for, while 7% say someone has shared explicit
images of them without their consent. This type of abuse, along with other forms of
cyberbullying, has led to increased suicide rates among young adults. Additionally,
these factors have also contributed to the development of increased levels of anxiety in
teens and adolescents.

Find Treatment Today

While many people are able to use social media on a daily basis with no problem, those
suffering from a social media addiction are consumed by their need to use and engage
on social networking sites. Luckily, the condition is very treatable and many have
successfully recovered. One of the best ways to break an addiction to social media is to
set boundaries and reduce screen-time; however, if the addiction is too severe you may
require professional help.

If you have a hard time controlling your social media use and think you may be
addicted, contact a dedicated treatment specialist. They can help you find the
rehabilitation program that’s best-suited for your needs and get you started on the path
towards recovery today.
Previous PageSex AddictionNext PageVideo Game Addiction
Last Edited: December 6, 2019
 Author

Jena Hilliard

 About
 Sources

Medically Reviewed: August 22, 2019

Medical Reviewer

Theresa Parisi

 About

All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified
addiction professional.
Get help today

Don't go through the process of recovery alone. Get in touch with someone who can
help.

Get a Call
Browse drug rehab centers

No matter where you live, there is a drug rehab center that can help you overcome your
addiction. We'll help you find it.

Select a state

























































Featured Rehabs
Capo by the Sea

San Juan Capistrano, CA

Multiple Levels of Care
855-426-9590View Center

Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders

Wickenburg, AZ
Inpatient
888-537-2878View Center

Cove Forge Behavioral Health Center

Williamsburg, PA
Detox
844-225-6578View Center

Options Behavioral Health Hospital

Indianapolis, IN
Inpatient
844-530-2836View Center
View All Treatment Centers

 Find a Center
o All listings
o Add your center
 Alcohol
o Symptoms and Warning Signs
o Treatment and Rehab
o Alcohol Community
 Drugs
o Benzodiazepines
o Illicit Drugs
 o Opiates
o Sleeping Pills
o Stimulants
 Treatment
o Drug and Alcohol Detox
o Inpatient Rehab
o Outpatient Rehab
o Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
o Questions About Rehab
o Support Groups
 Addiction
o How to Stage an Intervention
o 10 Most Common Addictions
o Dual Diagnosis
o Community Resources
 Community
o Education
o Lifestyle
o Recovery

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Addiction Center supports SAMSHA.

Copyright © 2019 AddictionCenter.com | For immediate treatment help call: (855) 826-4464

 About Us
 Contact Us
 Privacy Policy
 Disclaimer

 Where do calls go?

AddictionCenter.com is a referral service that provides information about addiction treatment
practitioners and facilities. AddictionCenter.com is not a medical provider or treatment facility
and does not provide medical advice. AddictionCenter.com does not endorse any treatment
facility or guarantee the quality of care provided, or the results to be achieved, by any treatment
facility. The information provided by AddictionCenter.com is not a substitute for professional
treatment advice.
s