Social Media Addiction

[Marbles]

I can relate to it in the context of a couple of discussion boards (which I've outgrown) but I can't relate to it when it comes to popular social media platforms like those mentioned in tags. I don't have twitter or instagram or viber or whatever. I have a very old FB account which remains idle most of the year except lately when I've needed to use frequently to administer a travel group and do only and only that.

But it seems social media is fast becoming a health hazard and a social crisis. 

I'm sure there are people among the readers who suffer from the addiction. How do you tackle it and what do you think about "social media addiction?"

Quote

Some people have described social media as being the new Big Tobacco; I am completely of this view. In the next decade, we are going to see a social media public health crisis unfold as the effects on our brains, relationships and democracies unfold. We are getting previews of what that might look like already: there is a growing mountain of evidence that suggests Facebook negatively affects people’s mental and physical health. We are also beginning to understand, thanks to Facebook’s own experiments, that the network has the ability to manipulate and control our emotions. Then there are its effects on society: it has become clear that Facebook can encourage self-segregation and exacerbate social divides. Indeed, the former vice-president for user growth at Facebook sparked headlines in December for saying that he felt “tremendous guilt” for his work on a platform that he believes is “eroding the core foundations of how people behave by and between each other”. It is also apparent how easily the power of Facebook can be used by malevolent actors. We now know, for example, that during the 2016 US presidential election false news from a single Russian troll farm reached about 126 million people.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/01/antisocial-media-why-decided-cut-back-facebook-instagram

 

Edited January 1, 2018 by Marbles

[realizm]

I found myself much more attracted to SC than to FB. As for Instagram and Snapchat, I never signed up.

[notme]

The past few years when we've made our annual visit to family, it seems everyone sits around in a room together staring at their individual mobile devices instead of talking and visiting.  On a positive note though, I've talked a lot more with my stepfather, who has a basic mobile phone and no interest in social media.  I've also gotten more opportunity to play with the youngest nieces and nephews, since their parents are absorbed in whatever their phones have to offer.

[Laayla]

Bismehe Ta3ala,

Assalam Alikum Brother @Marbles

I'm very happy you brought this topic up.  I have young children and I want them to have the most out of their childhood.  I take them out to relatives and I take the advantage of me being the guest.   I point it out to the young children at their homes, please turn your screen off, my children came to play with you.  

I get very uncomfortable if I see the host on the phone, I find it extremely rude and a sign that basically their phone is more important than me. I have better things to do with my time.  

I despise Fassadbook and Instaharam.  People put picture perfect photos of themselves and pretend to the world they have it all figured out.  What utter nonsense!  

The like system is an obsession of wanting to get attention of what they posted, how sad.  Having and building relationships and making connections is humanity has been doing since the beginning of time.  Now with social media people are no longer spending physical presence like before.  More people falling into depression, anxiety, and social illnesses.

For your sanity, turn it all off and go see the sun.  This is also relevant to the gaming community as well.  The worst gift you can give to your children is screens and PS4, x-box or what have you.

@notme I'm like you, I leave the so called adults and hang out with children.  So sad how parents think their only responsibility is to take them to school, feed them and shelter them and that's it.  They make conversations with children by texting!  What the jahnam!  I cherish these years with my babies.  They grow up so fast, the hugs and kisses become less, and they start leaving the house.  

M3 Salamah, FE AMIN Allah 

[ireallywannaknow]

I like Instagram more than Facebook. I don't use Facebook anymore. No snapchat either. I wrote a long post about why I like IG better but who really cares. 

Anyway to answer the question, I don't feel I'm addicted to social media. I think a way to curb addiction is to not post very much, and specifically don't post about yourself much. Because the addiction comes from the dopamine you get when you see a like or comment. If you don't post... you don't get likes and comments and you don't have to feed that hunger for more. My policy when I was on Facebook was to only post if it's something that can benefit someone, ie Islamic or news stuff. Because I know I'll be questioned about everything I post some day and I don't want to be held accountable for wasting anyone's time. And if you're not posting about yourself, you're a lot less likely to become narcissistic and image-obsessed. 

[Gaius I. Caesar]

2 hours ago, Laayla said:

They make conversations with children by texting!  What the jahnam!

You know what is really creepy? Listening to my aunt and cousin have a conversation by text, you can hear them giggling and snickering, yet you have no idea what is so funny. Makes me feel kind of paranoid.

[Gaius I. Caesar]

On 1/2/2018 at 2:47 PM, Laayla said:

For your sanity, turn it all off and go see the sun

No, too much sun causes skin cancer, it is just as bad and overrated as a PS4. Occasional sun is good but we shouldn't have it beaming directly on us. Besides, I want to go outside but is is too difficult to bring my wheelchair outside.

On 1/2/2018 at 2:47 PM, Laayla said:

I get very uncomfortable if I see the host on the phone, I find it extremely rude and a sign that basically their phone is more important than me. I have better things to do with my time.  

I feel the same way, I said hello to my cousin once six times row once, she didn't even see or hear me. Finally I got really mad for looking like an idiot,  snatched the Nintendo DS out of her hands and said "Acknowledge me" and she had the audacity to lecture me about grabbing things out of people's hands. I am sorry but I don't think the electronics are more important than communicating with people.

I have given up on having a meaningful relationship with this side of my family. 

[Haji 2003]

On 01/01/2018 at 8:39 PM, Marbles said:

I'm sure there are people among the readers who suffer from the addiction. How do you tackle it and what do you think about "social media addiction?"

I compare this to the great art/literature of letter writing, which did not have similar problems associated with it.

What's the difference?

One obvious difference is the issue of time. You write a letter and compose ideas at length and with substance. What you write allows for reflection and analysis. You send the letter, forget about it and some weeks later get a reply, which also took time to write and subsequently read. It's almost therapeutic.

In contrast, social media communications are short, written quickly as is the expected response - which can be instantaneous.

What is being communicated is not necessarily ideas, but rather validation, gratification and support. This is very similar to the issues around radicalisation that were discussed in another recent thread.

FWIW I don't use social media for personal use.

Good to see you back btw.

Edited January 3, 2018 by Haji 2003

[Don'tMakeAس]

It's anecdotal, but I know I read books far more often and in greater quantities when I had parents limiting my use of technology.

It'll be interesting to see the long-term impacts (if any) of social media consumption in what sources people use to get reputable information, in a few decades.

[Reza]

In theory, isn’t social media supposed to be a reflection, not replacement for reality?

If everyone is sitting inside on the phones, then who is in the outside photos that they’re seeing? Who is attending the real life events that are promoted and discussed? Because of the need for real world content as substance, social media cannot be completely virtualized, right? Or is the ratio of producer to consumer shrinking? And if so, how sustainable is that? Or has the notion of “content” itself changed, to render most of the real world obsolete?

[notme]

3 hours ago, Reza said:

In theory, isn’t social media supposed to be a reflection, not replacement for reality?

Yes, that's what it's designed for, but most of what I see is links to videos, articles, jokes. Only occasionally some of my family and friends share real world content. I don't know about the experience of others. 

On the other hand, I have a couple friends who over share. Sorry folks, the world really doesn't need to know about your stomach virus or the really ugly argument you had with your spouse! 

[Laayla]

Bismehe Ta3ala

Assalam Alikum 

This is how far people go to get attention, views, and likes. Youtube Star Logan Paul goes to a suicide forest in Japan and showed a man who hanged himself.

What people do for fame.  No ethics, no morals, no red lines.  He has children subscribed to his channel as young as 7-12 years old.

The world we live in.  And why God knows what he created.  Human beings can be higher than angels or lower than animals.

M3 Salamah, FE AMIN Allah 

[Intellectual Resistance]

6 hours ago, Reza said:

In theory, isn’t social media supposed to be a reflection, not replacement for reality?

If everyone is sitting inside on the phones, then who is in the outside photos that they’re seeing? Who is attending the real life events that are promoted and discussed? Because of the need for real world content as substance, social media cannot be completely virtualized, right? Or is the ratio of producer to consumer shrinking? And if so, how sustainable is that? Or has the notion of “content” itself changed, to render most of the real world obsolete?

This is a fantastic point.

[realizm]

8 hours ago, Reza said:

Because of the need for real world content as substance, social media cannot be completely virtualized, right? Or is the ratio of producer to consumer shrinking? And if so, how sustainable is that? Or has the notion of “content” itself changed, to render most of the real world obsolete?

Very good point, social media were first supposed to favorize interactions between people, but they have become an outlet for brands and media who found in it a new way of promoting their products.

10 years ago you were uploading pics of you and your friends, having jokes etc... Now you are just following The Lad Bible videos, and waiting for the next piece of news by the Huffington post to throw  your angry or sarcastic comment, sometimes mentioning your best friend in a generosity spree so he can read or have fun like you.

It is going to be 10 years on Facebook for me in a few days, I may close it before I reach the jubilee.

[Don'tMakeAس]

These kinds of YouTubers have always been highly insensitive, and I wouldn't expect Paul do anything else in that kind of a situation.

What's surprising is the reaction his video has elicited. It's good to know that there are still ethical lines the Internet won't allow him to cross, especially in an instance where he didn't necessarily commit a crime.

Edited January 3, 2018 by Shaykh Patience101

[Hameedeh]

For those people who like to post the photos of their every meal or snack on social media, does this force them to choose healthy foods?  

[MourningKarbala]

Personally I really hate social media and youtube. I rarely use any and have cut it down significantly since young high school days.

[wolverine]

6 hours ago, Hameedeh said:

For those people who like to post the photos of their every meal or snack on social media, does this force them to choose healthy foods?  

Or they choose expensive restaurants to show off.