Have you ever sat down to view social media and found yourself still scrolling hours later? You’re not alone. Worldwide, the average time spent on social media amounts to nearly 2.5 hours per day. Catching up on the news or reading friends’ updates sounds like a great time, but it can get out of hand. When you notice that you can’t stop scrolling, you may be dealing with digital addiction. With this information, you’ll understand the psychological effects of cell phone addiction and some ways you can build a healthier relationship with social media.
Understanding Digital Addiction
If you notice that you go to your social media accounts the moment you pick up your phone, you can see how digital addiction takes hold. As with substance use disorders, the causes and effects of social media addiction often come from mental health concerns. People are looking to fill a gap, and then they find that social media doesn’t accomplish it. Excessive social media consumption is associated with a variety of cognitive issues, including:
- Low attention span
- Poor social skills
- An increasing sense of loneliness or disconnection
Recent studies on social media addiction and mental health have shown a significant correlation between time spent on social media platforms and an increase in severe depression or anxiety.
Recognizing the Signs of Social Media Addiction
Even with an understanding of the correlation between social media addiction and depression, you may not realize that you are caught in it. The impacts of cell phone addiction and mental health concerns look similar, with signs including:
- Loss of interest in non-digital activities, such as crafts or outdoor sports
- Failing to meet or forgetting about commitments to work, family, and friends
- Difficulty disengaging from social media, even when spending time with others or doing something else
- Spending much more time on social media than intended
- Fatigue from missing sleep due to late-night scrolling
This addiction can present in other ways as well, by creating irritability or cravings when you can’t get on social media.
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
While social media purports to depict ordinary people’s lives, it often sets a standard that feels exclusionary. The curated photos on Instagram or Facebook often give people a sense of failure that they can’t look like that or live similar lives. FOMO, or the fear of missing out, has become a marketing trend that incentivizes people to keep scrolling all day. When you feel like you can’t disengage, even when you need to work or spend time with your family, it’s not surprising that the correlation between social media addiction and depression is so strong.
Tips for Overcoming Digital Addiction
Fortunately, you can take steps to lessen social media’s hold on your life. These actions can help you feel better and set reasonable boundaries for phone use:
- Develop hobbies that take you away from your phone, such as gardening or playing games.
- Set limits on your social media consumption, using timers or apps to keep you on track.
- Use mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing or yoga, to help you get past social media cravings.
- Seek help for phone addiction and depression.
Call on family, friends, and local support groups to help you set boundaries and stick to your goals.
Get Help Fighting Social Media Addiction
Digital addiction doesn’t have to rule your life. The effects of social media addiction and mental health disorders can make it hard to function, but you can find help. When your social media consumption becomes a compulsion rather than a fun activity, you should know it’s time to consider individual therapy or teletherapy. For experienced therapists who can help you address a range of mental health challenges, contact MySpectrum today!