Social Media Addiction Problem With High Screen Time
“Social Media” addiction is everywhere in this world. Most of people are totally addicted to social media platforms like facebook, instagram, whatsapp, tiktok, youtube, twitter/x, snapchat, pinterest and more and more. Like an average normal person in this world use around 3 to 4 social media platforms for just fun and nothing else.
But, do you even realize that how much these platforms are actually destroying your real life and your health. On the health damage, your eye and brain damage is the most critical and most harmed organs in your body. Just look at your screen times today, yesterday, and the day before you spend. How much time you spend just looking at your smartphone screen. Ever realize that how many problems you are going to face due to your hugh screen time.
The Social Platform Psychology
For years these social media platforms are trying to set you as their own customer not as their user. I bet you all saw that how these social media platforms are trying to sell their products to you right?
It’s not their fault totally, it’s your fault too, equally. Do you remember whenever you see something on social media platform and like that, then the social media application used to show the same type of content to you, not because you like that and want to watch that type of content more, but the reason is that social media platform want’s you not to leave the app and use the app as much as you can then go. This is set by the algorithm which is basically made with mathematic and system language relating to the user behavior. That is the main reason, you saw the same type of content just after like or share that. This is totally set by the algorithm.
The Real Reasons How Social Media Platforms Increases Your Screen Time
1. Algorithm cycle
This is the big one. Algorithm is the biggest culprit to force user to stay on the platform. The algorithm knows that which type of content you want to consume today. The algorithm also set the time, which time you watch which type of content.
Here is what happens when I use the Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok for a week:
I just want to use these platforms and created the account name “tony-jems” just to understand the main problem (you can search that on these platforms if you want). On the morning time I used to watch the developer type content, mid-day I used to watch the cooking content, at night I want to watch the funny type useless content. But the horrible fact is just after 1 day these platforms start showing me the content that I want to watch at the specific time. I didn’t even talk with these platforms just use that and see others content and that’s it. These platform set me as their own customer and start targeting me to show the ads.
2. Human Mind Dopamine System
Human mind Dopamine system is the main reason to stay on that platforms and revisit the platforms just to waste time and get the dopamine hit and nothing.
The hard truth is dopamine is not bad. But the dopamine hit just after few seconds and feeling the pleasure more and more is dangerous. Human mind lost the real happiness and start just finding the dopamine.
3. Mental Stimulation Keeps Your Brain Wired
It's not just the light — it's the content. Social media is engineered for engagement. Notifications create tiny spikes of dopamine. News triggers anxiety. Even a funny video activates your brain's reward center. You're asking your nervous system to wind down while simultaneously flooding it with stimulation. It simply doesn't work.