Social media has its place in culture and society. You can catch up with old friends, possibly connect with new ones, and it can be a very a fun activity to take part in.
However, there are also many detriments and troubles that can come along with too much social media. When you are glued to a computer screen all day, and are only working on relationships that exist in a virtual world, there may be negative consequences. Not only does your social life take a hit, but there are physical effects that can catch up with you as well when you’re not fully interacting with the world around you.
The Effects of Social Media Obsession
When you are obsessed with social media and keeping it updated, there is a possibility of losing touch with the actual world around you. All of your time can not be spent cultivating relationships that are only on a computer. We have become a culture that is obsessed with updating Facebook statuses, sending Tweets, playing social media games, etc., and this social media has in fact made us anti-social beings.
It obviously isn’t healthy when one loses all contact with friends and family except through a social platform. Real relationships can be affected when you don’t spend true, quality time with those that mean the most to you. While this might seem like a stretch, it is easy for certain individuals to get completely absorbed in a virtual world.
Aside from hurting your social life and relationships, there is a definite physical impact that can be caused by social media addictions and overuse. Whenever you are partaking in an activity that requires sitting in front of a computer for hours, there are obviously effects on your body. The longer we sit down and stay still, the unhealthier we become.
Solutions to an Obsession with Social Media
If you find yourself becoming obsessed with social media, you need to be honest with yourself. People may think that this is silly, but certain internet activities can most definitely become addictive. Try to spend more time with your friends and family. Try to make plans with people you haven’t seen in a while, or just get out of the house.
Regardless of what you do, just make sure you are limiting your time spent alone on the computer. Another small step that you can make to cut down on the amount of time you are spending online is to take the mobile applications off your phone if you have it.
Responsible Social Media Use
None of this information is designed to scare people away from social media, whether it’s YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook. There are healthy and responsible ways that you can enjoy these outlets, and not become obsessed.
To start, it may be necessary to put caps on your usage that you adhere to. There are plenty of people out there that do this because they realize how much time can be wasted by staying online for too long.
Using social outlets to keep up with friends is fine, as long as you make sure your social efforts extend beyond a computer screen. It can be perfectly healthy to have a social media presence, but not one that requires constant involvement that takes you away from real world relationships. Actual human interactions are necessary for social and emotional development, and no amount of social media involvement can replace person-to-person contact.
Social media is a powerful tool, and it is responsible for some amazing innovations in communication over the last few years. That doesn’t mean that it is perfect though, and it is important to recognize when you are spending too much time online. Make sure you always make time for friends and family in the real world, and do not keep all of your social endeavors locked up online.
Source: TechAddiction
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