Why is Social Media Addictive?

Social media addiction is real and it has similar negative impacts as substance use. Neglecting other parts of life, reduced mental health and physical wellness, compulsively checking your accounts, and an inability to cut back are all signs of social media addiction.

We know internet addiction is prevalent, and we’re learning more about other behavioral addictions. Developing an addiction to social media can be subtle, but why is it so easy to get hooked? 

The Rise of Social Media

Social media is no longer just for college students. Social media apps are now used by grandparents and grandchildren alike. These platforms are so widespread that over half of the world’s population is on social media.

The rise of social media has given its fair share of well-hearted, wholesome cat videos and tutorials on how to build houses. It can be a great place to keep up with distant friends, but many have experienced difficulties when trying to curb their use.

90% of 18-29 year olds use social media, and 15% of those people feel they’re addicted to social media. 

Addiction causes people to neglect their health and well-being. 40% of young people said their sleep had been disrupted by social media use. They attributed the fear of missing out (FOMO) as the contributing reason.

Social media usage has become such a regular thing, it’s almost strange to not be on at least one  platform.

Social Media Addiction’s Effects on Your Brain

We’re recognizing more and more that using social media affects the way our brains function. It’s not far from substance use. 

Chemically

The reward center in your brain is meant to activate when you’re enjoying yourself. It releases dopamine to reinforce that what you’re doing feels good and should be repeated. Rushes of dopamine may not manifest as major mood shifts, but they can cause subtle good feelings.

Addictive substances cause huge rushes of dopamine that make us euphoric and relaxed. However, it’s not just substances that can elicit these responses. Certain behaviors and other stimuli can elicit the same level of dopamine release as a drug. 

Our brain is wired to reinforce positive feelings whether we know it or not. When we start to associate the pleasure of dopamine release with behaviors or stimuli, we do the behavior more frequently, chasing those good feelings.

The stimuli most sought after on social media are likes and comments. It doesn’t even have to be likes on your own page. We feel pleasure when we feel validated, when people like us, and when we feel like we’re part of something.

Physically

The effects of excessive social media use are more than chemical. Physical changes in the brain can be seen, as well. For example, over time, the region of the brain responsible for behavior control gets “pruned”. This leads to poor impulse control, dangerous decisions, as well as inhibited reasoning. 

There is still more to learn about the physical effects of social media addiction, but this change in the brain could be a unique phenomenon. Typical morphology is quite different from that seen in substance or other behavioral addictions. 

Social Media as Coping Mechanism

More often than not, addictions are co-occurring with other mental health disorders. Addiction is most often seen in individuals with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Social media use is no different.

Being validated makes us happy. We want to know we’re doing a good job and other people appreciate what we’re doing. Human connectivity is important for our biology and mental health.

For these reasons, it’s important to take a personalized approach toward recovery. There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to treatment. That’s why we tailor individual treatment to each unique client. If you recognize that you may be suffering from a severe mental health disorder, or addiction, Call Sequoia Behavioral Health now. 

“Painkiller Apps”

App developers break apps into two types:

• Supplements
• Painkillers

Supplements are meant to improve the quality of life. Budgeting, fitness, and banking apps would all fall within this category. These are meant to be tools for daily living.

Social media is considered a Painkiller app. These types of apps can offer some utility to the user, but they’re designed to fill up time. The truth is, these apps are designed to keep your attention throughout the day and intentionally mimic addictive painkillers.

How Social Media Addiction Starts

Developing an addition to social media might happen without knowing. The cause of social media addiction is specific to the individual, but social media platforms are designed to be addictive because of this cycle:

Motivation

The anticipation of seeing if someone liked your post or shared something new motivates individuals to check their phones.

Action

The anticipation of dopamine will lead people to actively check or engage with social media, such as liking, commenting, posting, or doom-scrolling.

Trigger

Just like other behavioral addictions, social media provides triggers to engage. These are things like seeing a notification or feeling your phone buzz in your pocket.

Social Media Addiction Treatment

Social media addiction can occur at any age, but younger people may have a harder time stopping due to the large prevalence of these platforms. For those seeking help, there are treatment options for social media addiction.

Many counselors treat behavioral addiction with cognitive behavioral therapy, though many other types of talk therapy are effective. These options help clients find negative thoughts, and make connections between those thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.

Whatever your needs are, Sequoia Behavioral Health is here to help you disconnect. Along with behavioral addiction treatment, we offer treatment for a multitude of mental and behavioral health concerns. We are a holistic inpatient facility with the goal to identify and treat any underlying mental health issues surrounding addiction.