What Happens When Social Media Takes Over Your Life

Have you ever noticed how attached people are to their screens? Everything we do is on them. If you want to, you can never leave your home. Well, not really, because it won’t take your trash out, but working from home, ordering food delivery, chatting with friends, watching exercises, train tickets, even doctor appointments - feeling unwell? Just call your doctor - everything is on our digitals.

The first time I noticed this problem was when I started reducing my screen time. You come into a room filled with people, put your phone down, look up and see about 7 people with their eyes glued to their phones.

Your mom? I think she was the one who kept saying “everything is because of that damn phone”, look at her now, leaving you on “heard” whenever you try to speak with while she’s scrolling.

Hell yeah!

Why does it affect our brain so much?

You and that thing are looking for happiness. Since the lockdown, self-improvement has gained it’s popularity. You do your research. Where? Online. Where everyone is stunning, smiling from ear to ear, and everything seems perfect.

Now, there are two things that you get. Insecurities for yourself and dopamine for your brain.

You feel obliged to prove yourself and others wrong. The thing you’re looking for is happiness. But instead, you get problems.

What’s paradoxical, though, even when concern about felicity and welfare is rising, depression, burnout, anxiety, and numbers of antidepressants are right behind the corner. Real fun!

Back to what we were talking about. You get insecurities, your brain-dopamine.

Our brain LOVES dopamine. It receives a “reward” and then associates the drug or activity with positive reinforcement.

This happens when you get a like, mention, repost or whatever there is. In this case, the “reward” is likes, comments, reposts, mentions, and the activity is scrolling.

OMG! You got 1k likes?! Ding, ding, ding! Dopamine is rushing through your brain. Ahh…Pleasure. Life is good again.

Why it’s bad

Even if it’s a pleasure source, it’s not good for you.

Communication is what you need. Everybody does. Well, how can you get that while everyone’s eyes are down, scrolling? On a train- silence. Get into taxi- silence apart from saying “hello, how are you”. Bored? Just take a scroll! Need to prepare for an exam? No worries, you’ll be procrastinating doing guess what? Scrolling!

Think of how many missed opportunities you have. To make new friends, maybe find a job, or simply find a secret spot to it at. Everything because of that damn phone. Our moms were right, but now they, too, just scroll their day away.

Don’t get me wrong, technologies are superior. It is our fault how we overdo it. Just a little bit of discipline and will would fix many things. We have soo many opportunities and everything is so easy to reach, but at what cost?

How it affects you

Low self-esteem or maybe even eating disorders is what you’re playing with. Filtered photos with special poses to make their body look phenomenal are posted. You see them. Perfectly shaped, on an expensive vacation and most importantly, super duper happy. And it starts, fasting, dieting, over-exercising, then burning out, laying in bed, eating a gigantic tub of ice cream, watching you comfort TV show, wondering why you were born looking like this. Lastly, you accept your destiny, does it make you happy? You’ll try to convince yourself otherwise, but no, it doesn’t.

Even social media has its perks, the unrealistic beauty standards are a big no-no.

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. You are forced to compare yourself. How much richer they are, happier, skinnier or maybe fitter, how they can run faster, follow a diet, or just have a ginormous house. And you are just left to circle the same thought over and over again: ”How lucky they are. I’m never going to be enough”

Then again, fear of missing out is at your doorstep. You do want to travel, you do want to party, and you do want to have a great time with your friends. This is where you start making mistakes.

Don’t prioritise something just because they are doing it. Do travel and do other fun stuff, but do it at the right time. Prioritise yourself over anything else.

How to know

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do you view social media as a coping mechanism to relieve stress or loneliness?

• Do you feel the urge to use social media?

• Do you fail to reduce your screen time no matter what you do?

• Does social media have a negative impact on your job, studies or relationships?

If these check out the boxes, you, my friend, have a social media addiction.

OH NO! I’M SCREWED!

Fix it, Felix!

No, everything is fixable if you have the will and the power. Here are some ways you can try to fix your addiction

A digital detox - saying goodbye to all digital devices and social media connections. Detaching from your devices will do wonders. You’ll realise there’s so much more than your phone. Go out to the real world. This doesn’t have to be for a long time. Maybe a few days or a week, depending on your preferences. This may work for some, but if disconnecting from the “world” is too much for you, try reducing screen time. Set boundaries and make sure you don’t abuse your time on social media. Find a way that’ll benefit your emotional and physical health. It’s all about being mindful.

At last

When you think about it, people are actually glued to their phones. But phones are not the problem; we are. It’s how we prioritise everything. If you do want that “perfect” life, get up and do something about it. Work, earn money, travel. If that’s not possible for you right now, go out with friends and make the most out of your time. When you’ll have your shit together, devices won’t be a problem.

“It is okay to own a technology, what is not okay is to be owned by technology.” - Abhijit Naskar

“Take off your clothes and post a selfie, A million animals will shower you attention. But cover up all and open your heart, Only precious few humans will care to listen.” - Abhijit Naskar,