We live in a time of technology and innovation. Everything is becoming newer, better, and faster at a pretty incredible rate. With all these new inventions, problems are sure to arise, and sure enough, they have. Technology can provide many benefits and improve the lives of many, but addictive behaviors can affect one’s ability to take advantage of the amazing resource that is the Internet. Social media and frequent phone use may be the lead cause for this.
First of all, social media can be very addictive and cause many problems to those who log on frequently. For example, cell phones and laptops emit a blue light. This blue light can be harmful in many ways, but most notably causes sleeping issues. If someone has been browsing their phone late at night or before going to sleep, studies have shown it may cause them to stay up later and encourage them to browse more, which often affects sleep. Also, Daria Kuss and Mark Griffiths from Nottingham Trent University in the UK studied about 43 previous studies on internet addiction. They came to the conclusion that excessive usage of the internet was linked to relationship problems, worse academic success, and being less active in the real world.
Researchers writing in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships conducted an experiment in which 34 pairs of strangers would have a quick 10 minute conversation with each other about a recent event. Half of the pairs had a cellphone visible on the top of their table. The experiment concluded that the conversations in which a phone was visible were recalled as less positive, had a less meaningful conversation, and felt less of a connection towards their partner than the others, who instead had a notebook on their table.
A study from 2013 texted 79 participants five times a day for two weeks. They asked them how they felt and how much they had used Facebook since the last text. The results showed that the more time was spent on Facebook, the worse they felt later on and the more their life satisfaction declined. Social media also showed a trend where it seemed to have a more negative effect on those who are more socially isolated.
While social media is revolutionary for connecting with anyone around the world, it can quickly turn into addiction and cause problems for those who use it excessively. While the effects of social media can change from person to person, problems can still occur. It's best to just balance the amount of phone use with regular everyday activities. Social media isn’t necessarily bad, but it definitely can be when frequent phone use becomes the norm. It is important to maintain a balanced lifestyle to ensure a healthy and happier life.
Works cited
“Is Social Media Bad for You? The Evidence and the Unknowns.” BBC Future, BBC, 5 Jan. 2018, www.bbc.com/future/article/20180104-is-social-media-bad-for- you-the-evidence-and-the-unknowns.