Social Media creates Isolation: an Addictive Catalyst

Introduction

It wasn't too long ago when social media was introduced to our society. We had Six Degrees and MySpace. However, the whole world started to change once we were introduced to social media platforms that were accessible not only through computers but also through smartphones. Now, because of all easily accessible platforms, we are as socially advanced as we've ever been. Social media has helped small businesses receive a lot more attention through ads that pop up on Instagram feeds or on Snapchat. Social media has also changed us socially, literally. We use Twitter where we can share our current thoughts, and we use Instagram to show our photos and videos to friends. Not only can close friends view everything you post, but the whole wide world can view it as well. Even though it all sounds great, social media is slowly deteriorating us as a whole because it causes addictive behavior, triggers depression, and, most notably, social media creates isolation.

The Addictive Nature of Social Media

First of all, one of the major effects of social media is being addicted to screen time. Teens are known for staring at their phones for long periods of time while avoiding important social interactions. For example, whenever I go to any family social events I am used to not having conversations with my cousins. This is because they are too busy texting their significant others or they are lost in their Facebook and Instagram feeds. I also usually see my eight-year-old cousins busy taking selfies or chatting up with their friends on Snapchat instead of interacting with other cousins in the family. My main concern is that children at a very young age are depending on their screens as a source of entertainment. Later on in their lives, they will only depend on their phones and social media for everything. This will also harm them because in more professional settings they will struggle to connect with others and will have the urge to constantly rely on their phones for comfort in order to have a balanced mind. One can identify their addiction if they realize that they can not live without their phones. This means that they are unable to leave a room without their phones out of fear, they are constantly checking their phone without a reason, and their job is negatively impacted by overusing social media. I personally can relate to some of these symptoms. Sometimes at home, I have trouble being in a seperate room from my phone. Whether I’m watching television or eating dinner, I feel the need to have my phone in my hand. This is a bad habit I am trying to break and many others should to if they are sharing the same issue.

Social Media as the Cause of Isolation

A significant cause of depression is through the daily use of social media in children and teens. Social media is known to be a space to create identities for ourselves, to share our ideas and thoughts, and to build relationships. It is no doubt that participation in this activity links to mental health. Excessive use of social media websites, cyberbullying, gaming, and scrolling through photos of images of other people’s lives can create unrealistic realities. This excessive use of technology can cause feelings of jealousy, stress, and low self esteem. Kat Ascharya says, “Facebook, of course, can contribute to the growing sense of isolation: you log into the site and are confronted with the abundance of people’s lives humming along without you, complete with photos of trips, friends and gatherings you’re not going on.”( What Facebook Is Doing To Your Brain Is Shocking). I can strongly relate to Kat Ascharya because I personally have had that feeling of low self esteem when scrolling through photos of friends accounts and watching multiple vlogs of youtubers daily lives. Depression can also be triggered through social media because the lack of real life social conversations creates isolation. In Does Social Media Make You Lonely, Jeremy noble says, “It’s fine to do a quick check on what other people are doing, or to keep track of social events to attend. It is less healthy to monitor social media for what we’re missing out on. Be mindful of how — and how much — you use social media.” This is very important because constantly having that urge to check your phone for new updates from friends without even thinking can be very unhealthy for the mind. Some ways to stop checking social media would be to delete apps, use a schedule in which the phone may be used at certain times of the day, or meditate to be in the present moment. In Does Social Media Cause Depression, Caroline Miller says, “The less you are connected with human beings in a deep, empathic way, the less you’re really getting the benefits of a social interaction...the more superficial it is, the less likely it’s going to cause you to feel connected, which is something we all need.” I can relate to this situation because I usually feel extremely lonely even though I am texting my friends. This is because I feel no comfort in conversing through a screen and I would rather be face to face in the presence of a real social interaction. I also feel that my relationships with my friends have grown apart.

Third, social media can create less real social interactions. Kat Ascharya says, “In Modern Health Long before Facebook was even a gleam in Zuckerberg’s eye, in 1998, a seminal study conducted by Carnegie Mellon researchers showed that growing Internet use coinciding with an increase in loneliness. Meanwhile, in the ’90s, academics noted an apparent ‘Internet paradox,’ according to The Atlantic — a contradiction between the growing opportunity to connect with others and an equally increasing lack of social contact.” My relationships happiness with my boyfriend has been unbalanced do to our phones. During dinner time we tend to be on our phones rather than creating a stronger bond through socializing. Our eyes are glued to the screen and are food is left untouched. I see this in many relationships as well and it is creating destructive relationships where both individuals become very unhappy and isolated.

Conclusion

In conclusion, social media can harm our society in many other ways than the reasons mentioned. However the most important effects that social media causes are psychological effects such as depression created by jealousy and isolation. Whether it’s posting photos or sending a message to our close friend. Our personal information will always be viewed by those without our full knowing. Thirdly, social media is very addictive. From new information provided by Facebook or entertaining videos from World Star Hip Hop, our eyes are constantly on the lookout for something new and entertaining in order to quench our thirst for more content. solutions are participating in community activities like volunteering at a local school. Lastly, social media can destroy our close relationships with others. This is because of the lack of face to face interactions and attention that are vital to a long happy life. These psychological effects are not only impacting adults, but children as well. We should be concerned about our own children’s future now with today’s advanced technology.          

Works Cited

1. Ascharya, Kat. 'What Facebook Is Doing To Your Brain Is Shocking.' HuffPost Life, HuffPost, 27 Jan. 2017, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/facebook-brain-health_n_56c1c074e4b0de8b0c3c8dfb.

2. Noble, Jeremy. 'Does Social Media Make You Lonely?' Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 27 May 2013, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-why-behind-the-buy/201305/does-social-media-make-you-lonely.

3. Miller, Caroline. 'Does Social Media Cause Depression?' Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 21 Aug. 2013, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/creating-your-best-life/201308/does-social-media-cause-depression.

4. Primack, Brian A. 'Social Media Use and Perceived Social Isolation Among Young Adults in the U.S.' Addictive Behaviors Reports, vol. 2, 2015, pp. 46–51, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853215000051.

   Keep in mind:
   This is only a sample.

   Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

   Get custom essay

5. Twenge, Jean M., et al. 'Decreases in Psychological Well-being Among American Adolescents After 2012 and Links to Screen Time During the Rise of Smartphone Technology.' Emotion, vol. 20, no. 2, 2020, pp. 193–200, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-08314-001