Can Social Media Be Addictive?

Numerous people accept the fact that drugs and alcohol are addicting. However, do they accept that social media is just as, if not more addictive? In fact, what even is an addiction? And, can social media even be addictive? The definition of an addiction, as in the Merriam Webster dictionary is: compulsive need for use of a habit-forming element (such as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal (Addiction, 2017). Is social media an addiction? According to this definition, yes. Social media is classified as a psychological addiction, rather than a substance addiction. The first part, compulsive need of a habit-forming element, completely relates to social media. Nir Eyal,

Why is this? Well, when users feel lonely, they go onto social media in order to feel less lonely. They watch interactions take place with people all over the world who seem to be connecting, and in turn, feel lonely themselves. Many people will agree that social media contributes to FOMO. FOMO is the fear of missing out (which was recently added to the Oxford dictionary, due to the millions of people who suffer from it . . . thanks social media!) Social media users see what people around them are doing, and experience and feel like they do not have as exciting of a life, or they are not successful—they feel like they are missing out. FOMO is particularly prevalent in youth ages 14-24 (Wallop, 2017). This type of toxic thinking is threatening social media users worldwide. The diseased idea goes both ways. Lonely people turn to social media in order to feel more connected, and social media reaches out to people who are not lonely, and infects them with the contagious disease of addiction. Moreover, finally, the most obvious answer, the more time people spend on social media, the less time they have for actual social interactions. Users who complain about feeling lonely on social media are on social media at that very moment! Not going out and putting themselves in better environments.

Though preposterous sounding, the argument is sound. Recent natural disasters have left cities uneducated and separated from the news; social media is the only way to stay connected. People are posting about what is happening, while it is happening. Miles away, people do not have to wait for the five o’clock news to receive information—it is all right in front of them. In addition, social media has created a platform for people to donate money to areas in turmoil. People do not just donate money to areas in crisis on social media; they can also donate to organizations. A popular Kenyan blogger created the hash tag #1MilliForJadudi to raise money for Emmanuel Jadidi, who has a deadly brain tumor and could not afford the flight to get treatment. Over $60,000 was raised in less than fifty hours, and flew him to India to receive treatment. Without people who are constantly on social media, Jadudi would not be alive