Social Media Addiction

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Social Media Addiction: Symptoms And Way Forward
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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY INNOVATIONS AND RESEARCH
[Volume-I Issue-IV][Pages = XIX-XLII] [2019]
Website: www.usajournalshub.com ISSN (e): 2642-7478
Social Media Addiction: Symptoms And Way Forward

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni)
ICT/Voters Registry Department, Independent National Electoral Commission, Nigeria
Abstract: Social media is no doubt an innovation that has so much influenced the world. Its impact on
businesses, information dissemination, products marketing, entertainment, leisure, inclusive democracy
and e-governance is commendable. The development of social media apps for mobile phones and tablets
which allows photos and videos to be uploaded easily to social media accounts as well as instant
notifications alerts have left so many people with no option than to check their social media account
intermittently. In addition, the social media design which allows for continuous scrolling of pages have
lure many users into social media addiction. Uncontrolled use of social media has impacted negatively
on people’s lives and families. It is believed that setting one’s priority right, spending more time with
friends and families and responding to people are some of the panacea for social media addictions. This
papers reviews articles, personal opinions and collates relevant data on the usage of social media; the
impact of social media in the world; criteria for measuring social media addiction; recommendations on
the proper usage of social media ; the effects of excessive use and how to recover from social media
addiction.
Keywords: social media, addiction, e-governance, product marketing, leisure, information dissemination
INTRODUCTION
Social media, by the way of being social, is composed of society or persons interacting with each other.
Social media is a social instrument of communication, as it is described in the best way. In regular media,
you only have one-way communication in which the material only provides the information. Example of
this is television. This media could provide visual information however, we, as viewers and receiver of the
information can’t give feedback to the one who sent the message. The communication process contains
different elements. These elements are the message, the sender, the channel, and the receiver. The channel
used in the social media is the internet. Just like being in a conversation, the receiver is able to give
feedback to the sender. This is advantageous because the sender will be able to know if the message was
delivered appropriately and also, the sender will also know the view of the receiver to the idea he/she has
received. [1] In the past decade, social media has crept from our computer screens onto the screens of
our handheld devices. With the flick of a finger we can upload photos directly from our phones onto our
Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Jun 2019 [www.usajournalshub.com] Page XIX
social media accounts, reply instantly to messages, or see what our families and friends have been up to.
With our mobiles always within arm's reach, it can be super easy to become a little too enamoured with
social media and it can negatively affect our relationships with others. So here are some tips on how to
gain control of your social media addiction. [2]
Social media has become a prominent and a powerful forum for voter enlightenment, political activism and
fastest means of information dissemination. An individual without a social media account is seen in the
society as obsolete. Social media has indeed become our lives personally and professionally. An average
smart phone owner cannot do without visiting a social media platform daily. Social media therefore can be
used effectively to target particular voters, encourage people to exercise their franchise and to make an
information go viral. Social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube help to
activate citizens’ engagement in political life. [3] There is a growing scientific evidence base to suggest
excessive SNS use may lead to symptoms traditionally associated with substance-related addictions [4] A
2014 study shows that excessive use of technology by teenagers has caused disruptions in their physical
and mental health, sleeping patterns, their weight and levels of exercise and notably in their school work8.
40% of young adults and 21% of adults, admit to using social media even while in the bathroom. Why is it
that we can’t seem to stay away from social media, even for a few minutes? Well, research shows us that
social media is addictive. Studies show that all the retweets and Facebook likes have affected our brain’s
reward area. Social media interaction is like syringing dopamine straight into the system. [5] Social media
use stimulates the reward pathway in the brain, which is believed to be the basis of addiction. [6]
For a small minority of individuals, their use of social networking sites may become the single most
important activity that they engage in, leading to a preoccupation with social networking service (SNS) use
(salience). The activities on these sites are then being used in order to induce mood alterations, pleasurable
feelings or a numbing effect (mood modification). Increased amounts of time and energy are required to be
put into engaging with SNS activities in order to achieve the same feelings and state of mind7 that occurred
in the initial phases of usage (tolerance). When SNS use is discontinued, addicted individuals will
experience negative psychological and sometimes physiological symptoms (withdrawal), often leading to a
reinstatement of their SNS use (relapse). Problems arise as a consequence of the engagement in the
problematic SNS use, leading to intrapsychic conflicts (within the individual often including a subjective
loss of control) and interpersonal conflicts (i.e., problems with the immediate social environment, including
relationship problems and work and/or education being compromised). [7]

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Over the last decade, research assessing problematic and possibly addictive mobile phone use (including
smartphones) has proliferated (Lopez-Fernandez, Kuss, Griffiths, and Billieux, 2015), suggesting some
individuals may develop addiction-related problems as a consequence of their mobile phone use. Recent
research has suggested problematic mobile phone use is a multi-faceted condition, with dependent use
being one possible consequence (Billieux, Maurage, Lopez-Fernandez, Kuss, and Griffiths, 2015). An
addictive pattern of mobile phone use is characterized by the use of specific applications, including calls,
instant messaging, and the use of social networks. This suggests that rather than being an addictive medium
per se, mobile technologies including smartphones and tablets are simply media that enable the
engagement in potentially addictive activities, including SNS use. Put another way, it could be argued that
mobile phone addicts are no more addicted to their phones than alcoholics are addicted to bottles. [7]
METHODOLOGY
Relevant literatures were identified for the topic which included books, journals, write-ups, personal
opinions, conference papers, ePrints and government. Few people were also interviewed about the topic.
Secondary data were gathered and analysed which form the basis for discussion and recommendations.
MODEL FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

To explain the formation of Social Networking Site addiction, Griffiths MD [8] quoted from Turel and
Serenko, recently summarized three overarching theoretical perspectives that may not be mutually
exclusive:
· Cognitive-behavioral model: This model emphasizes that ‘abnormal’ social networking arises from
maladaptive cognitions and is amplified by various environmental factors, and eventually leads to
compulsive and/or addictive social networking.
· Social skill model: This model emphasizes that ‘abnormal’ social networking arises because people lack
self-presentational skills and prefer virtual communication to face-to-face interactions, and it eventually
leads to compulsive and/or addictive use of social networking.
· Socio-cognitive model: This model emphasises that ‘abnormal’ social networking arises due to the
expectation of positive outcomes, combined with internet self-efficacy and deficient internet self-regulation
eventually leads to compulsive and/or addictive social networking behavior. [8]
Based on these three models, Xu and Tan suggest that the transition from normal to problematic social
networking use occurs when social networking is viewed by the individual as an important (or even
exclusive) mechanism to relieve stress, loneliness, or depression. They contend that those who frequently
engage in social networking are poor at socializing in real life. For these people, social media use provides

Jun 2019 [www.usajournalshub.com] Page XXI
such people continuous rewards (e.g. self-efficacy, satisfaction) and they end up engaging in the activity
more and more, eventually leading to many problems (e.g., ignoring real life relationships, work/
educational conflicts, etc.). The resulting problems may then exacerbate individuals’ undesirable moods.
This then leads such individuals to engage in the social networking behavior even more as a way of
relieving dysphoric mood states. Consequently, when social network users repeat this cyclical pattern of
relieving undesirable moods with social media use, the level of psychological dependency on social
networking increases. [8]
INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE

Digital 2019 reports reveals that internet users are growing by an average of more than one million new
users every day, with all of the original ‘Next Billion Users’ now online. The number of people using the
internet has surged over the past year, with more than one million people coming online for the first time
each day since January 2018. It’s not just internet users that have been growing either, as the extensive new
collection of Digital 2019 reports from Hootsuite and We Are Social reveals. [9]
Figure1: Digital around the world 2019: The essential headline data you need to understand global,
mobile and social media use
There are 5.11 billion unique mobile users in the world as at January, 2019, up 100 million (2
percent) in the past year. There are 4.39 billion internet users in 2019, an increase of 366
million (9 percent) versus January 2018. There are 3.48 billion social media users in 2019,
with the worldwide total growing by 288 million (9 percent) since this time last year. 3.26

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billion People use social media on mobile devices in January 2019, with a growth of 297
million new users representing a year-on-year increase of more than 10 percent.
On average, the world’s internet users spend 6 hours and 42 minutes online each day. That’s
down slightly on last year’s figure of 6 hours and 49 minutes, but our suspicion is that this
drop may be in part due to the large number of new users who are still learning how to use
the internet, and who use the internet less than those more seasoned users who turn to their
connected devices hundreds of times each day. The amount of time that people spend on
social media has increased again this year, albeit very slightly. GlobalWebIndex reports that
the average social media user now spends 2 hours and 16 minutes each day on social
platforms – up from 2 hours and 15 minutes last year – which equates to roughly one-third of
their total internet time, and one-seventh of their waking lives. [9]
Table 1: Top ten social media statistics worldwide
Date Facebook Pinterest Twitter YouTube Instagram reddit Tumblr Google+ VKontakte LinkedIn
2018-04 65.73 15.06 6.81 7.9 1.64 0.67 0.93 0.36 0.3 0.25
2018-05 66.92 13.97 6.78 7.89 1.8 0.47 0.85 0.33 0.43 0.24
2018-06 63.03 14.23 8.29 9.66 2.16 0.46 0.91 0.33 0.29 0.27
2018-07 63.71 14.88 8.07 8.62 2.41 0.36 0.83 0.26 0.32 0.3
2018-08 65.15 13.49 8.49 8.58 2.37 0.38 0.79 0.25 0.18 0.27
2018-09 66.25 12.84 8.8 7.97 1.94 0.36 0.95 0.4 0.21 0.25
2018-10 66.81 12.99 8.57 7.45 1.88 0.36 1.07 0.35 0.27 0.19
2018-11 69.33 13.05 7.08 6.14 1.94 0.52 1.07 0.41 0.2 0.2
2018-12 66.33 16.25 8.24 4.77 1.77 0.77 0.96 0.38 0.22 0.24
2019-01 65.88 16.36 9.1 3.97 1.69 1.42 0.72 0.31 0.28 0.23
2019-02 68.95 15.15 7.41 3.76 1.56 1.71 0.66 0.26 0.22 0.25
2019-03 67.46 16.96 7.26 3.92 2.21 0.83 0.61 0.24 0.3 0.16
2019-04 68.36 16.26 6.72 4.59 2.21 0.62 0.62 0.02 0.34 0.18
2019-05 69.52 13.61 6.11 4.38 2.02 3.23 0.58 0 0.32 0.18
Source: http://gs.statcounter.com/social-media-stats
The table above shows the usage of social media worldwide. As at May, 2019, 69.52% of
social media users have their profile created on Facebook, 13.61% are on Pinterest while
Twitter accounts for 6.11%. other social media on the list include: YouTube, Instagram,
Reddit, Tumblr, Google+, VKontakte and LinkedIn

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Figure 2: top most popular social network in the world

Source: GlobalWebindex-flagship Report 2018. Digitalinformationworld.com
In today’s social networking era, Facebook dominates the industry by boasting an account of
85% of the internet user’s worldwide (excluding China). YouTube follows second, with
Facebook Messenger on the third tier. WhatsApp, Instagram, and Twitter are also decent
contenders and fall just behind the top three. When it comes to messaging services, there is a
close tie between Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. While Facebook leads in the number
of members WhatsApp sees more monthly users. Snapchat comes third, however, fails to see
much success in North America. Majority of users on YouTube are either visitors who have
not logged into their accounts or are not even members in the first place. Most YouTube

Jun 2019 [www.usajournalshub.com] Page XXIV
users are between the age of 16 and 24. The age group between 16 and 24 is also more likely
to be active on Instagram than the 55 – 64. [10]
IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The following are the notable impact or usefulness of social media in our society today:
1.Voters Sensitization and Campaigns: The use of social media in politics has continued to
grow in recent times. Since Barack Obama broke the world record in the history of social
media use for political purpose during the 2008 US presidential elections, many nations and
politicians across the globe have continued to embrace the platform to mobilise their citizens
and candidates towards active participation in the political process. [3]
2.Inclusive Democracy: In a modern democracy, social media can be used by governments
to involve citizens in decision making, and by civil society to engage people in specific
issues. However social media can also be used to broaden political participation by helping
citizens to communicate with their representatives and with each other [3]
3.Locating Missing People or Animals: It helps identifying criminals who harass other
people or animal easily. Many missing kids/people are found with the help of social media
site. [11]
4.Information Dissemination: it is easy to share information to targeted people on social
media. Each group contains people with the same interest. It is easy to quickly share vital
information with them on social media. It also helps to get a real time response. Some social
media platform like Telegram and WhatsApp let you know when the recipient has read your
chat. As people start liking, commenting on, and sharing your social posts, your content is
exposed to new audiences—their friends and followers. Going viral takes this concept one
step further. As people share your content with their networks, and their networks follow suit,
your content spreads across the internet, getting thousands or even millions of shares. [12]
5.Source of Livelihood and career path: Social media is a way of earning. People earn
through social media marketing, post promotion and information dissemination. Many
organization now have social media officer whose job is to ensure the smooth running of the
organization’s social media platform.
6.Increase website traffic: Social media posts and ads are key ways to drive traffic to your
website. Sharing great content from your blog or website to your social channels is a great
way to get readers as soon as you publish a new post. Participating in social chats—like the

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weekly #HootChat on Twitter—can also be a great way to increase your visibility, get
attention from new people, showcase your expertise, and drive traffic to your website. [12]
7.Business Promotion: business can be promoted through the social media through
targeting. It can help to get new customers and promote goods and services
Source of entertainment
8. Increase of brand awareness and helps to humanise brands: With nearly half of the
world’s population using social media platforms, they’re a natural place to reach new and
highly targeted potential customers. Think people only connect with brands they already
know on social media? Consider that 60 percent of Instagram users say they discover new
products on the platform. A UK study from Trinity Mirror Solutions found that more than
half of adults do not trust a brand until they see “real-world proof” that the brand is keeping
its promises. [12]
Other usefulness of social media include:

 Comic relief from stress or disappointment;
 Speedy dissemination of information with necessary feedback
 Making friends from places where one ordinarily wouldn’t have been able to get to in
his lifetime
 Career building and relevant connections that can enhance one’s life
 Many people got their employee, business partners and spouses through social media.
EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA USE

According to a study conducted by the Global Web Index in 2017, the average
person spends roughly two hours a day on social media. That means two hours of staring
at these kinds of images every day. In the digital age, social media is a part of our reality
but there’s no way that being submerged in these kinds of images doesn’t influence us.
Deeba, a young lawyer living in London, agrees. She says, “I think social media can have
a negative impact that we’re not really admitting. We are constantly seeking external
validation, but it’s never enough likes, shares or retweets. I sometimes catch myself
thinking 'I wish I had as many followers as them.' Although there’s a bigger effort online
now to spread positive messages, ultimately there’s a huge amount of contrived curation of

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our lives online. No one wants to be a bit more honest and talk about how sh*t their lives
are sometimes too.” [13]
Similarly Asyia, a 19-year-old university student, says social media makes her feel
inadequate about how much effort she is putting into her studies. She explains that during
exam time her social media is full "friends showing how much they're revising." "I try not
to check their stories any more as it used to make me keep comparing myself to other
people," she tells me. "There’s a fine line between being inspired by others and social
media becoming detrimental to your self-esteem.” [13]
Worryingly, these social media posts can give you a false barometer of where you should
be in all areas of life. They can make you crave instant success, and create the belief that
you should be having it all, all of the time. It doesn’t help that we live in a “anything is
possible if you work hard enough” sort of culture.
As much as we should be empowering each other and encouraging ourselves to dream big,
we also need to give ourselves a break and realise the reality of the situation. True, hard-
won success is difficult to achieve and isn’t always guaranteed. As Catherine, 25, from
Suffolk interestingly points out: “People are chasing that next instant hit of gratification;
for people today social media ‘likes’ equals success. The feedback loop for us now is so
instant. The idea of long term goals has been somewhat distorted and lost. We see quick
wins and don’t think in the long term of what we can achieve.”
To combat this, I’ve recently taken the drastic step of deleting my social media
temporarily to feel less anxious about what I’m not achieving. Deeba has taken similar
steps to "clean up" her feed. She says, "[I'm] following less misleading or superficial
accounts. I've even used an app that locks you out of your social media accounts after a
certain period of time everyday. [13]
SIGN OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

Social Media became part of our lives in the new millennium. As of August 2017,
approximately 2 billion people are using Facebook around the world. Other popular platforms
are Youtube, WhatsApp, Instagram, Linkedin, Google+ and Twitter with millions of active
users. Social media creates a network of people around the world. Therefore, they are able to
share information, career interests and other forms of interaction via virtual communities.

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XXVII
A psychological review published in 2016 stated that "studies have also suggested a link
between innate basic psychological needs and social network site addiction." "Social network
site users seek feedback, and they get it from hundreds of people—instantly. It could be
argued that the platforms are designed to get users “hooked”."[14] Social media addiction
may present symptoms such as significant weight change, change in sleep patterns , fatigue ,
depressed or irritable mood , Little interest in activities they once found enjoyable ,
Difficulties paying attention, withdrawal from social interaction or activities [15] Frequent
social media use was shown in a cohort study in 15- and 16-year-olds to have a modest
association with self-reported symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder followed
up over 2 years. [16]
Research shows that social-media addiction reasons listed as, first lack of friends, second
social media use being perceived as an activity, third fulfilling a mission, fourth following the
current events and finally to be intermingled with real life. These results were consistent with
the results of the studies of Bridgestock (2016) and Werste (2016). The rankings that
emerged in the study did not differ between the males and the females. However, the need for
socialization occurs in the form of communication with real life friends for females. In the
case of males, this situation has been observed as making more new friends. This result is in
agreement with the work of Lenhart (2007). [17]
5 Signs that Should Make you Worry About Your Social Media use
1. Cooking to share on Instagram: When you make a beautiful salad for lunch, what is
more important? Eating the salad or sharing your photo on social media? With the popularity
of Instagram, the visual aspect of food has become much more important than the practical
one. This has added oil to the flames of food waste. We’re losing the abilities to properly plan
meals and shop responsibly, which in turn results in mass food waste. Therefore, if you are
spending your time making everything just to share on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, it’s
time for you to take a step back and evaluate yourself. [18]
2. Sharing everything you do at any time: Do you have friends that you never see, but you
know what they’re doing every minute of the day? If so, it is highly probable that you are
also someone’s “social media friend”. According to the author of “The Distraction

XXVIII
Addiction”, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, “We are interested in how much we have fun or what
we do on social media rather than what we do [in the physical world]”. Of course, we want to
share incredible experiences like vacations or concerts with our friends, but with the
distraction of a phone and trying to get the perfect snap, are we missing more than we gain?
[18]
3. Knowing everything about people you don’t know very well: According to Pang, the
most important indicator of social media addiction is knowing everything about people we
know very little in real life, due to social media. Details such as where we sit, what we do,
friends, loved ones, what we ate for breakfast are widely available to us. This opens up the
door to an intimacy that often is not achieved with real friends. How much we know about
someone, without meeting them is actually a sign of how much time we spend on social
media. According to one study by Pew Research as much as 88% of teens who use social
media personally, “agree that people share too much information about themselves on social
media”. If there is such a strong consensus about that, why do we do it? [18]
4. Being unhappy, due to comparing yourself with social networks personas: One of the
signs that social media dependence has reached dangerous dimensions in your life is the
feeling of jealousy. With the constant access to media, we are now able to follow people on
their trips to exotic places, festivals, events. The ability to pick and choose what we share has
opened the floodgates to creating online personas. Subconsciously we know that we only see
a small fraction of reality online, however, we often choose to ignore that fact. Therefore, if
your friends’ celebrations, gifts, homes, cars, wives and even body measurements have begun
to cause jealousy, then your addiction has reached a serious high. [18]
5. Being unhappy when you can not reach your phone: Do you feel uncomfortable when
you can’t control Facebook while stopped at traffic lights, or you can’t scroll through Twitter
before you go to bed? One study shows that Americans check their phones every twelve
minutes, while one in ten checks them every four. When unable to do so they begin to feel
anxiety. This just shows how dependent we are, and how social media and technology
addiction is a real issue. [18]
IS SOCIAL MEDIA A BEHAVIOURAL COCAINE?

Engineers and technologists have confessed to have addicted users to products and services to
make money. They talk about the purposeful engineering of those products and services to

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keep us hooked as if they were a digital form of white powder — virtual cocaine that makes
us not fans of the product, but in extreme cases almost unable to go without it. [19]
Our reward area located in the mesencephalon (midbrain), and its pathways, affect our
decisions and sensations. When we experience something rewarding (or use an addictive
substance) neurons in the principal dopamine-producing areas in the brain (the VTA) are
activated, causing dopamine levels to rise. Therefore, the brain receives a “reward” and
associates the drug or activity with positive reinforcement. For this reason, activities which
increase dopamine levels are the basis to the mechanism of addiction [20]
"I's as if they're taking behavioural cocaine and just sprinkling it all over your interface and
that's the thing that keeps you like coming back and back and back", said former Mozilla and
Jawbone employee Aza Raskin. "Behind every screen on your phone, there are generally like
literally a thousand engineers that have worked on this thing to try to make it maximally
addicting" he added. In 2006 Mr Raskin, a leading technology engineer himself, designed
infinite scroll, one of the features of many apps that is now seen as highly habit forming. At
the time, he was working for Humanized - a computer user-interface consultancy. Infinite
scroll allows users to endlessly swipe down through content without clicking. [21]
"If you don't give your brain time to catch up with your impulses," Mr Raskin said, "you just
keep scrolling." He said the innovation kept users looking at their phones far longer than
necessary. Mr Raskin said he had not set out to addict people and now felt guilty about it.
But, he said, many designers were driven to create addictive app features by the business
models of the big companies that employed them. "In order to get the next round of funding,
in order to get your stock price up, the amount of time that people spend on your app has to
go up," he said. "So, when you put that much pressure on that one number, you're going to
start trying to invent new ways of getting people to stay hooked. [21]
There needs to be a better awareness on how we need to change as real life human
relationships are now being jeopardized at the mercy of our smart devices. figures from
itstimetologoff.com show that 80% of smartphone users say checking their phone is the first
thing they do in the morning. It has also been revealed that the average user logs 2.15 hours a
day on social media [22]

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A former Facebook employee made a related point."Social media is very similar to a slot
machine," said Sandy Parakilas, who tried to stop using the service after he left the company
in 2012. "It literally felt like I was quitting cigarettes." During his year and five months at
Facebook, he said, others had also recognised this risk. "There was definitely an awareness of
the fact that the product was habit-forming and addictive," he said."You have a business
model designed to engage you and get you to basically suck as much time out of your life as
possible and then selling that attention to advertisers." Facebook told the BBC that its
products were designed "to bring people closer to their friends, family, and the things they
care about". It said that "at no stage does wanting something to be addictive factor into that
process".[21]
One of the most alluring aspects of social media for users is "likes", which can come in the
form of the thumbs-up sign, hearts, or retweets. Leah Pearlman, co-inventor of Facebook's
Like button, said she had become hooked on Facebook because she had begun basing her
sense of self-worth on the number of "likes" she had. "When I need validation - I go to check
Facebook," she said. "I'm feeling lonely, 'Let me check my phone.' I'm feeling insecure, 'Let
me check my phone.'" Ms Pearlman said she had tried to stop using Facebook after leaving
the company. "I noticed that I would post something that I used to post and the 'like' count
would be way lower than it used to be. "Suddenly, I thought I'm actually also kind of
addicted to the feedback." [21]
One expert suggests that media-stoked fears about addictive technology only serve to divert
attention from pressing problems like online privacy and user consent. scientists from the
Oxford Internet Institute believe it’s not only irresponsible to compare the two, but doing so
actually distracts from far more serious problems plaguing the tech world. The media,
though, makes it difficult to separate founded fears from the unfounded ones.
The BBC recently reported that social media companies were actively addicting their users
through a variety of psychological techniques—an alarming claim that, if true, makes social
media addiction more controversial than it already is. Andrew Przybylski, however, doesn’t
believe that Silicon Valley’s engineers can successfully incorporate psychology into any of
their social media designs. Przybylski, the Oxford Internet Institute’s director, balked at
the BBC story and labeled Raskin’s research as “very sloppily done.”

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He added that if Raskin “actually knew anything” about the psychology behind addictive
technology, the much-reported dangers of social media would be frighteningly accurate. A
number of stories continue to portray digital screens no differently than addictive chemicals.
And while there is evidence that the brain releases dopamine when people check their
Facebook account, Przybylski insists that it’s not remotely the same thing as getting high
from a drug. [23]
Studies indicate there are links between overusing social media and depression, loneliness
and a host of other mental problems. In Britain, teenagers now spend about an average of 18
hours a week on their phones, much of it using social media. Ms Pearlman believes
youngsters who recognise that social media is problematic for them should also consider
steering clear of such apps. "The first things I would say is for those teenagers to step into a
different way of being because with a few leaders, it can help others follow," she said. Last
year Facebook's founding president, Sean Parker, said publicly that the company set out to
consume as much user time as possible. He claimed it was "exploiting a vulnerability in
human psychology". "The inventors", he said, "understood this consciously and we did it
anyway." But Ms Pearlman said she had not intended the Like button to be addictive. She
also believes that social media use has many benefits for lots of people. When confronted
with Mr Parker's allegation that the company had effectively sought to hook people from the
outset, senior Facebook official Ime Archibong told the BBC it was still looking into the
issue. "We're working with third-party folks that are looking at habit-forming behaviours -
whether it's on our platform or the internet writ large - and trying to understanding if there are
elements that we do believe are bringing harm to people," he said, "so that we can shore those
up and we can invest in making sure those folks are safe over time."
Recent reports indicate Facebook is working on features to let users see how much time they
have spent on its app over the previous seven days and to set daily time limits. The Panorama
programme also explores the use of colour, sounds and unexpected rewards to drive
compulsive behaviour.[21]
Twitter declined to comment.

XXXII
Snap said it was happy to support frequent creative use of its app, Snapchat. But it denied
using visual tricks to achieve this and added that it had no desire to increase empty
engagement of the product [21]
A researcher called Przybylski is sceptical that enough research data exists in the first place,
let alone social media companies regularly using it in their work.“The main takeaway here is
that we don't actually know these things," said Przybylski, calling for more collaboration with
research. “It is important for these large companies to share their data with researchers, and
share their data with the public. This research needs to be done transparently. It can't just be a
bunch of Cambridge Analyticas and one-on-one relationships between social media
companies and researchers.” The main takeaway here is that we don't actually know these
things," said Przybylski, calling for more collaboration with research. “It is important for
these large companies to share their data with researchers, and share their data with the
public. This research needs to be done transparently. It can't just be a bunch of Cambridge
Analyticas and one-on-one relationships between social media companies and researchers
[23]
In order for doctors or mental health professionals to consider a patient addicted, three or
more of the following must occur: [18]
Table 2: Comparison between drug addiction and social media addiction
Signs of Drug addiction Signs of Social media addiction
1. Failing to meet responsibilities in order Checking phones and responding to chats while
to use a substance, or because of delaying a customer or in an official engagement.
substance use Getting food burnt due to use of social media. Or not
being able to rescue or prevent little child from
hazard due to business with social media.
2. Continuing to use the substance with full Loneliness, Headaches, Sleep disorders,
knowledge of any problems, health- Being overweight and obese due to social media over
related or otherwise, it causes use.
3. Legal problems arising due to substance Responding to chats and browsing social media
use while driving leading to issues with traffic police.

XXXIII
4. Behaving recklessly when under the Borrowing money to buy data; stealing money or
influence of the substance, or while getting money under pretence to buy data in order not
trying to obtain the substance to miss out of critical social media updates.
5. Experience of withdrawal symptoms. Inability to understand simple instructions or lack of
These can include nausea, vomiting, total concentration while browsing or chatting. Being
dizziness, changes in mood, and many unhappy and moody when you cannot reach your
other physical symptoms that occur phone or out of network coverage.
when the substance hasn’t been used.
6. Ignoring activities or obligations once Ignoring families and loved ones while staying glued
loved, such as work, school, family time, to social media. Preferring calling or chatting to face-
social engagements, or hobbies to-face interactions
7. Spending large amounts of time trying to Spending too much of time on social media. Check
obtain the drug, taking the drug, or your phones for update or notifications every 10 or
recovering from using the drug 15 minute
8. Loss of self-control. This could mean Inability to control social media usage despite
using more of the drug than the person complaints from friends and family
intended, or an inability to stop taking
the drug, even when attempts have been
made.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Social media can enhance your life by allowing you to connect with old friends and share
important moments in your life. However, if not managed properly it can become an
addiction that can consume your time and affect your work and relationships. Through
stepping away from social media, assessing your addiction, and developing healthy social
media habits, you can work through this issue and create a more balanced life [24]
As awareness of these issues developed, many technology and medical communities
continued to work together to develop novel solutions. Apple Inc purchased a third party

XXXIV
application and then incorporated it as "screen time", promoting it as an integral part of iOS
12.[25] A German technology startup developed an Android phone specifically designed for
efficiency and minimizing screen time. [26] News Corp reported multiple strategies for
minimizing screen time.[25] Facebook and Instagram announced "new tools" that they
consider may assist with addiction to their products.[27] In an interview in January
2019, Nick Clegg, then head of global affairs at Facebook, claimed that Facebook committed
to doing "whatever it takes to make this safer online especially for (young people)".
Facebook committed to change, admitting "heavy responsibilities" to the global community,
and invited regulation by governments.[28]
1. Review your past posts: As you begin working on combating your social networking
addiction, you should first work to understand your social media usage. Take some
time to review your posts from the past week or month. Write down how many things
you posted in order to assess their frequency. Consider whether all the things you
posted were necessary. For instance, if you posted about a meal you had or about
going to get a haircut, consider whether or not posting those things brought you or
anyone else any joy or contentment. [24]
2. Acknowledge your addiction: Consider the times when others have constantly made
comments to you about always being on social media. Think also of the times that you
find yourself unable to keep up with your responsibilities. If you notice a pattern, then
it is time to admit that you have a problem. Make a pact to commit to improving your
situation. Remember that overcoming your denial and acknowledging your problem
are the first steps. Take a break from your social media for one hour and assess how
you feel. If you feel jittery or nervous, you might have an addiction.[24]
3. Set your priorities: Write a list of things you could be spending your time on. Keep
in mind that every minute that you spend on social media takes a minute from some
other more productive activity that you could put your time towards. Some of these
things could include learning a new language, playing an instrument, hanging out with
friends, exercising, learning a new recipe, or reading a book. Consider your
relationships that have gone lacking because of your social media addiction. Your
significant other or children may be feeling neglected because of it. Your social media

XXXV
addition could be hampering your life and relationships and keeping you from your
goals.[24]
4. Reflect on your need for social media: Sometimes a social media addiction might
arise out of having little to do or out of a need for attention or connection with others.
Take some time to write down your thoughts about this to explore the root of the
problem. After assessing the roots, develop a plan to address it. If your issues stem
from boredom, then find fun things to do offline. [24]
5. Spend More Time With Your Loved Ones: Instead of keeping up to date with
your friends' and family members' lives through a screen, spend time with them in
the real world and reconnect with them. Make new memories and keep them
personal to you — you don't need to document everything you do in life with
selfies. [2]
6. Call instead of checking in on social media: You might find that your social media
addiction developed because you used a site to communicate with someone as
opposed to calling them. You might have gotten caught up on the site awaiting their
response and developed an addiction from that. However, try to have conversations
with friends and family via phone rather than social media apps
7. Meet People in real life ( IRL): There are so many ways you can meet people in
real life. You could join a club, attend a talk, and organize a get-together where all
your friends bring a friend, or embark on a single's night. Whatever activity you
choose, you'll be making connections with new people in reality, which totally
beats stalking your ex on Facebook, obsessing over celeb's Instagram feeds, or
trying to take the perfect workout selfie. [2]
8. Get out of the house: The social media has made a lot of people to stay indoor where
they reach out to people over their phones. The most constructive and certainly the
most fun way to battle your social media addiction is to get out of the house and have
some fun. Call up your friends and go out to a movie or have dinner. Go bowling,
swimming, running, or shopping. These are healthy and fun ways to combat your
addiction while relaxing [24]

XXXVI
9. Make It A Treat: Look at social media as a treat. You might not buy an artisanal
coffee everyday or get your nails done every week, but you may reward yourself
with these kinds of small treats when you feel like you deserve it. So think of social
media in the same way: only allow yourself screen time when you've achieved
something or you've done something productive first. This way you might change
the way you think about social media. [2]
10. Turn Off Your Notifications: When you stop notifications from disturbing your
normal routine, you might find it easier to concentrate on your daily tasks and not
get distracted so easily. Notifications are a constant reminder that something is
happening in the online world and you might feel like you're missing out. So
to quell your fear of missing out (FOMO), turn off your notifications. The bonus is,
when you do come around to checking your social media, you may have a build-up
of more notifications which will make it more exciting and will make the
experience more rewarding. [2]
11. Track your time online: If you are unsure of the extent of your addiction, you can
determine how much time you spend by tracking your usage. Make a tick mark in a
notebook each time you check a site. A more advanced and accurate way to determine
usage, however, is to download an app designed to do so. Apps like Quality Time
keep a count of how much time you spend on each social media site. Decide how
much social media time seems reasonable; if you are exceeding that, it’s time to cut
back.[24]
12. Limit Yourself: Set a timer on your watch or phone, to limit the amount of time
you spend on social media. Choose a limit depending on the severity of your
addiction – say an hour a day, which equates to seven hours per week – and
whenever you check your accounts, start your timer going. When you reach your
limit, be strong and don't be tempted to add on extra time. This will be a strong test
of your willpower, but it will be worth it in the end. [2]
13. Avoid posting about your every move. Enjoy the moments that you’re making while
you’re making them and don’t feel the need to photograph or post about every
moment in your life. Be present in the moment and enjoy the people and
circumstances that surround you. [24]
XXXVII
14. Limiting Your Daily Usage: Stick to a time limit. Only use the social networking site
when you know that all your day's work is done or when you have a break. Avoid
taking breaks from your work to use social media, as you will likely become
unproductive. You may find that two hours have flown by and you are still online
while your work is being neglected. Only login once you are completely free of all
your responsibilities. Set a time limit on how much you use your social media after
your day is done. Set a timer on your phone. [24]
15. Limit your memberships of Groups: Limiting your memberships of groups of
WhatsApp, telegram or social media groups is a part of solution to addiction. Being a
member of too many WhatsApp, Telegram or Facebook groups will leave you with no
option than to be checking updates on your phone every minute. By limiting your
group membership, you would limit your notification which will in turn limit your
social media engagement.
16. Limit your Social Media Accounts: You might have three social media accounts or
you might have ten. In order to limit the time you spend in total checking these sites,
you could choose to delete a few of them and only keep the ones you value most. For
instance, if you don’t particularly like Instagram but do like Facebook, consider
deleting your Instagram. [24]
17. Transfer your Account Access to another Person: Change your password. If you
feel that you cannot successfully beat the habit on your own, then hand over the
account to someone you trust. Have them change the password so that you cannot
access the account even if you want to. Tell them to give you the account after the
predetermined period ends.[24]
18. Leave your Phone at home or switch it off sometimes: By taking your phone along
wherever you go; you would often fall to the temptation of checking your phone all
the time. Drop your phone sometimes at home while you stroll out or drop it inside
the car. You can also switch off your phone. This will allow you to concentrate on the
business of the day
19. Have holiday from Social Media: Depending on how bad things have gotten, it
might be time to go cold turkey. If you're spending more time on social media than
you are interacting with people in real life, give yourself a reality check by having
XXXVIII
a holiday from social media. Decide how long it's going to be, inform your friends
online how long you'll be away and how they can reach you if they need you in
person, and delete your apps. If you normally spend a minimum of two hours on
social media per day, you will have an extra fourteen hours per week which are
totally free to do whatever you want with – you could even setup your own small
business or get a part-time job with all your newly freed up time! The world is
literally your oyster, so don't get trapped in a virtual world. Get out from behind
your screen and enjoy life's pleasures! [2]
20. Deactivate your accounts. After you have sufficiently assessed the issue, take a
break from social media to clear your mind and begin breaking your bad habit.
Deactivate your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and any other social media
that you might have. This is a good way to give yourself space from your addiction
without having to necessarily delete your accounts. During this time, develop a
timeline for when and if you will get your social media back. Find healthy activities to
replace your social media addiction Remove cell phone apps. In addition to
deactivating the accounts, in order to further deter your temptation, delete the apps
from your phone. Not being able to see the apps on your home screen may help you
during this time of self-reflection and habit-breaking [24]
21. Seek outside help. For some, the desire to use social media constantly might feel
beyond their own control. If you feel that you are unable to escape from the addiction,
seek help from a therapist trained in that area. There are also support groups available
for people struggling with the same or similar issues. It can be helpful to feel that you
are not alone in your addiction and to discuss potential solutions for the problem.
Remember that there is no stigma in seeking help. [24]
REFERENCES
[1] Ping Back (2017) the Role of Social Media in the Society. Retrieved from:
http://pinoylinkexchange.net/role-social-media-society.html/
[2] Phoebe Waller (2016) 7 Ways to Stop Your Social Media Addiction
https://www.bustle.com/articles/144893-7-ways-to-stop-your-social-media-addiction

XXXIX
[3] Ayeni PT (2019) The Role of Social Media in Voter Education in Nigeria. Am J Compt
Sci Inform Technol Vol.7 No.1:33 doi: 10.21767/2349-3917.100033. Retrieved from:
http://www.imedpub.com/articles/the-role-of-social-media-in-voter-sensitization-in-
nigeria.php?aid=24019
[4] Andreassen, C. S., Billieux, J., Griffiths, M. D., Kuss, D. J., Demetrovics, Z., Mazzoni,
E., et al. (2016). The relationship between addictive use of social media and video games and
symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-sectional study. Psychology of
Addictive Behaviors, 30(2), 252-262.
[5] Wikipedia (2019) Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media_addiction
[6] Irfan Ahmad Psychology of social media infographic:
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/the-psychology-of-social-media-
infographic/528348/.
[7] Mark D Griffiths and Daria Kuss (2017) Adolescent social media addiction (revisited)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320146297_Adolescent_social_media_addiction_re
visited
[8] Griffiths MD (2013) Social Networking Addiction: Emerging Themes and Issues. J
Addict Res Ther 4:e118. doi:10.4172/2155-6105.1000e118
https://www.omicsonline.org/social-networking-addiction-emerging-themes-and-issues-
2155-6105.1000e118.php?aid=22152
[9] Simon Kemp (2019) Digital 2019: Global Internet use Accelerates. Retrieved from:
https://wearesocial.com/blog/2019/01/digital-2019-global-internet-use-accelerates
[10] Irfan Ahmad (2019) The most popular social media platforms in 2019 Retrieved from:
https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2019/01/most-popular-global-social-networks-
apps-infographic.html?m=1
[11] Shantanu Jain (2016) Social Media: Everything has pros and cons . retrieved from:
www.quora.com
[12] Christina Newberry (2018) 23 Benefits of Social Media for Business. Retrieved from:
https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-for-business/
[13] Banseka Kayembe (2019) I Deleted My Social Media To Get Away From The Instant
Success Narrative & Here's Why It's Worth A Try. https://www.bustle.com/p/i-deleted-my-

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[14] Andreassen, Cecilie Schou (2015-06-01). "Online Social Network Site Addiction: A
Comprehensive Review". Current Addiction Reports. 2 (2): 175–184. doi:10.1007/s40429-
015-0056-9. ISSN 2196-2952
[15] Psych Guide (2019) Teen cell phone addiction. Retrieved from:
https://www.psychguides.com/behavioral-disorders/cell-phone-addiction/teens/
[16] https://www.uptodate.com/contents/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-in-children-
and-adolescents-clinical-features-and-
diagnosis?sectionName=Diagnosis%20in%20adolescents#H830607539
[17] Aksoy, M.E. (2018). A Qualitative Study on the Reasons for Social Media
Addiction. European Journal of Educational Research, 7(4), 861-865. doi:10.12973/eu-
jer.7.4.861. https://www.eu-jer.com/EU-JER_7_4_861_Aksoy.pdf
[18]Addiction Resources (2019) What is Addiction: Definition of Abuse: Retrieved from:
https://addictionresource.com/addiction/
[19] Andy Meek,, 2018, Social media was designed to be ‘behavioral cocaine
https://nypost.com/2018/07/05/social-media-was-designed-to-be-behavioral-cocaine/
[20] Ceres, Pia (2018-09-25). "How to Use Apple's Screen Time Controls on iOS 12". Wired.
ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2018-12-13.
[21] Hilary Andersson,(2018) Social media apps are 'deliberately' addictive to users
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-44640959
[22] Digital Desk, (2018) Social media addiction 'new crack cocaine' of digital age, expert
warns. https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/social-media-addiction-new-crack-cocaine-of-
digital-age-expert-warns-841392.html
[23] Paul Fuhr (2018) Is Social Media As Addictive As Cocaine?
https://www.thefix.com/social-media-addictive-cocaine
[24] Klare Heston, LICSW, (2019) How to Defeat a Social Networking Addiction
https://www.wikihow.com/Defeat-a-Social-Networking-Addiction
[25] Ceres, Pia (2018-09-25). "How to Use Apple's Screen Time Controls on iOS 12". Wired.
ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2018-12-13.

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[26] "The Blloc Zero 18 is a minimalist's smartphone with some great ideas".
www.androidauthority.com. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
[27] Booth, Callum (2018-08-01). "Facebook and Instagram officially announce new tools to
fight social media addiction". The Next Web. Retrieved 2018-12-19.
[28] Amol Rajan (2019) Can Nick Clegg help Facebook grow up? Retrieved from:
https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47036000

Jun 2019 [www.usajournalshub.com] Page XLII
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Social Media Addiction: Symptoms And Way Forward

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Social Media Addiction: Symptoms And Way Forward

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

MODEL FOR SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA USAGE

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Table 1: Top ten social media statistics worldwide

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Figure 2: top most popular social network in the world

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Other usefulness of social media include:

EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA USE

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

SIGN OF SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

IS SOCIAL MEDIA A BEHAVIOURAL COCAINE?

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

Paul Toba Ayeni (PT Ayeni), TAJIIR [Volume- I Issue- IV]

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