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This is such an eye opening video Rebecca, thank you for sharing. Do you think people with anxiety and depression would even believe that social media is likely worsening their illness? For so many it is a place of comfort and mindlessness. For children and teens especially it can create some serious and long-lasting mental health problems. Young people are so much more at risk and have such easy access to all things social media. It will be interesting to see where these children and teens will be in 2030 with the bombardment of social media they have grown up with. Here is a video on the ways social media affects your brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HffWFd_6bJ0 

Psycological/Emotional effects of social media

Social media addiction, as mentioned before, has physical effects on those who are addicted to it. One of these physical effects goes deeper than just physical pain or discomfort. Physical changes to the brain causes psycological and emotional effects on those addicted to social media.

When one is addicted to social media they usually feel a sense of euphoria when using the computer, phone, or social media (Gregory, 2018, p.10). They become addicted to to this feeling and when they are not using social media it leads to other problems.

For those suffering with social media addiction, mental health issues can become predominant. Depression and subsequently, loneliness and mood swings can occur can become serious issues (Gregory, 2018, p.10). These issues may begin when the person is trying to find satisfaction and fulfillment in social media.

A good informative video to expand on this is

Anxiety, fear, feelings of guilt and agitation can become problems as those addicted begin to worry about thier status online (Gregory, 2018, p.10). Worrying about how other see you online can take over your world.

Gregory, Christina. (2018). Internet Addiction Disorder. PSYCOM. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/iadcriteria.html

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I think we can all think of a friend who spends more time on their phone than interacting in the real world when out with a group. Their first thought is always to get the perfect video or picture and when they do they become totally absorbed in their own world just trying to think of the perfect caption. Or when you are at a concert and EVERYBODY is recording and snapping the performance instead of just listening and being in the moment. This one drives me crazy. Do you think they ever watch the videos again? Or, from their followers perspective nobody really wants to hear your off tune screaming and drown out vocals of a concert they are not attending.

It is so sad that social media takes away from our real lives. We are so busy on our phones we forget to be present. Here are some helpful tips and thoughts on how to be present and just put your phone down https://www.theodysseyonline.com/20-possible-fun-facts-when-introducing-yourself

Social effects of social media addiction

Even for those not experiencing a “social media addiction”, I think its safe to say that we can see how it can easily become one. I think we have all experienced times in our lives when social media has become such a distraction that “one quick check on Facebook” magically becomes an hour of watching DIY videos on YouTube and you have no idea how you got there or where the time went. A social media addiction can cause you to have an extreme lack of sense of time (Gregory, 2018, p.10).

Maybe you were studying and then a friend starts texting you. All of a sudden the importance of studying goes away and you all you want to do is talk to your friend. Those with social media addiction have extreme problems with prioritizing, avoiding work, and finding boredom with routine tasks (Gregory, 2018, p.10).

Have you been out with friends but all you can think about is what could have been posted on Instagram while you have been out, or how many likes you got on your recent post. When this thought enters your mind, you check your phone to get updated. You may check on your post when the conversation dies down, but for those with social media addiction, this post becomes all they can think about. They are with their friends but they are dying to check their phone. Social media addiction can cause people to isolate themselves so that they can spend more time checking social media. Become defensive when confronted with their addiction is also a common occurrence (Gregory, 2018, p.10). Whether they realize that this is the reason or not is dependent on the person.

“Social” media is meant to make us more “social”. Unfortunately, the vector for this “sociality”, is the internet; disconnecting with personal interaction and interacting online.

A great video explaining how “social” media has made us LESS social is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZyiZgG3F6Q

Gregory, Christina. (2018). Internet Addiction Disorder. PSYCOM. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/iadcriteria.html

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when social media addiction goes too far

The social media addiction epidemic has recently been compared to the opioid epidemic that is wreaking havoc in the lives of so many Canadians today. This may seem extreme but when you look at the signs and symptoms associated with heroin addiction and compare them to those of a social media addiction, it is not hard to believe. Things like agitation due to withdrawal, isolating behaviours, anxiety, depression, irritability, sleep disturbances, and the crave of the release of dopamine, are all associated not only with an opioid addiction but also with a social media addiction. People often joke that we are unable to live without our phones, but unfortunately this is becoming no laughing matter. For many people their cell phones have become an extension of themselves. Their Instagram or Twitter feed is usually the first thing they think about in the morning. It is the last thing they do before they go to sleep. The average person spends 2 hours a day on social media. This means upwards of 5 years of their life spent scrolling through photos of unrealistic expectations and people. This is becoming an epidemic already. It is real. Social media is addictive. It is isolating and can cause extreme anxiety and depression. It is not something that should ever be taken lightly.

In Korea, Internet addiction is an issue that is taken very seriously. They have trained 1000 counsellors to treat those with an Internet addiction. In the last 10 years Korea has had many people die after marathon online gaming sessions, after they fail to take care of their basic needs. A Jaffe. 2011. In 2007 China put a law in place that restricts citizens to less than 3 hours a day of online game use. While this is not directly social media, it is interesting to note. With social media use on the rise every year it is not impossible to imagine a world where there are social media restrictive laws in place. It seems extreme that the government should be able to dictate how often we tweet, but when social media begins to be disruptive to our normal functioning lives we may need that intervention. 

And that is the key to this epidemic. Intervention and early treatment. Know the warning signs of a social media addiction. Educate yourself on things to do instead of social media. Take a break all together, you may need it more than you think. Here is an article on the social media epidemic https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/all-about-addiction/201111/internet-addiction-epidemic-or-fad

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children are the most at risk for the social media addiction epidemic

When you were young and somebody asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up it was likely answered with a firefighter, a doctor, a teacher, or anything we saw adults doing. Children are like sponges, they soak up all the information around them and it often goes unnoticed by the adults around them. It will shock you to learn that in a recent study done by The Sun, 75% of children aged 6-17 do not wish to become a doctor or lawyer, but a YouTube Influencer instead. 

YouTube has more than 1.5 billion active monthly users. Many of these users are considered “Influencers” as they do just that, they influence society by the content they create and upload. But who is watching these Influencers? With nearly every child granted access to a smart phone or tablet, either at home or at school, children and teens make up a huge part of these Influencers daily views. In 2017 the top 10 YouTube Influencers gained more than 70 million dollars in revenue from their views on the platform. This is possible because of advertisements and brand deals with big companies all over the world. With a pay cheque like that possible just from uploading a video, what teen wouldn’t choose to follow in the same path?

Social media marketers are well aware of their audience as well. They design they platforms to be easy to use, interactive, and stimulating. They play on human emotions and for children and teenagers this is a serious issue. FOMO - the fear or missing out - is an area in which social media marketers are masters. Things like SnapChat, Instagram stories, and Facebook Live make it effortlessly easy for users to feel constantly present, included, and connected. For children and teens who are struggling with loneliness, depression, and lack of attention, this ability to feel included allows them to feel accepted and validated by their peers online. This creates a problem as children and teenagers begin to feel safe and connected online only and in turn pull away and distance themselves from the people in their real lives that should be there to comfort and accept them.

These children and teenagers are our future. In 2030 they will be the generation leading the world with new ideas. But their bright young minds are put in jeopardy everyday when they log onto Instagram or YouTube. That is why it is so important for parents, teachers, and caretakers to be mindful of what these young people are doing online. Teentor is a great tool to help adults with children and teens monitor and restrict their social media use. If you think you or somebody you know could use a hand in helping these at risk youths check out Teentor here: https://www.teentor.com

Why 75% Of Children Are Dead Set On Becoming A YouTuber . (2018, March 30). Retrieved from http://mediakix.com/2018/03/percent-children-becoming-a-youtuber/#gs.Cddk0AQ

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growth trends in social media and the growing problems

A global study done by We Are Social claims that in 2018 there were 3.196 billion social media users. This number is up 13% from 2017. This is a huge rise in global users in just one year. If this was the climb in one year, can you imagine how many world wide users there will be in 2030? With the technological advances we are making and the digital world children and teens are growing up in, it is easy to believe the social media addiction is already an issue plaguing the population. By 2030 the social media addiction epidemic may be well on it’s way.

Of these 3.196 billion users 2.9 billon are mobile users, meaning they access social media from anywhere at anytime. Social media has become so widely accessible people do not give a second thought to where or when they log on. 50% of these mobile users admit to using social media while driving. This has become such an issue that governments have created PSA videos relating to social media use and driving. One’s similar to those for drinking and driving, but instead with slogans like “Don’t snap and drive”, in reference to the increasingly popular social media platform SnapChat. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention claims that 9 people are killed each day, and 1000 injured, in direct correlation with cell phone and social media use while behind the wheel. This in itself is an epidemic, and something that is out of control regardless of the distracted driving laws in place. The pull of social media is too strong for some people to resist, and the ease of access makes it all too simple for a devastating accident to happen. SnapChat even launched a filter that puts the words “I won’t snap and drive” over the users photo. 

Here is a link to a social media PSA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVEBJxS2J_Y It’s very upsetting, but these videos are made this way to shock and get through to cell phone users. While this PSA is aimed at texting and driving, the same principal applies to social media use and driving. Just put your phone down, it can wait. It may seem dramatic or unnecessary but this is a legitimate issue that must be addressed and put to a stop now. As the worldwide social media user number climbs, the addiction rises, and so do the problems that come along with it. These are the issues that are at the core of the epidemic.

Campbell Simpson. (2017, October 19). These Distracted Driving PSAs Target The Snapchat Generation. Retrieved from https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/10/these-distracted-driving-psas-target-the-snapchat-generation/

The 8 Social Media Addiction Statistics Everyone Needs To See. (2018, April 09). Retrieved from http://mediakix.com/2018/04/social-media-addiction-statistics/#gs.4RP0tNg

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why is social media so addicting?

We have established that social media is a valid addiction in the world today, but why? Why do more and more people find it so difficult to put their phones away and just be present in the real world? The answer is Dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in our bodies and is a huge part of the happy, or pleasure response we feel. It is the thing that brings drug and alcohol addicts back time and time again, they crave that release of dopamine and the way it makes them feel. The problem with this is that soon our bodies are unable to produce this dopamine release and happy feeling so easily, so it ends up needing more and more stimulation. Everyday tasks become mundane and we need the “hit” to feel anything at all. 

The same becomes true with social media use and addiction. Did you know we can experience the same dopamine release when we get a “like” or a “follow” on social media? When a photo we post gets a ton of likes, we receive a reward in our brain and we feel happy. Just the same as a drug addiction, we can begin to crave this rush of dopamine from Instagram likes and comments and in turn we spend more and more time online. 

So when does this addiction become an epidemic? Well, we are in the start of it. This infographic is filled with a ton of interesting and scary facts. https://socialmediaweek.org/blog/2018/07/why-are-we-addicted-to-social-media-infographic/ For example, studies have shown that people find it more difficult to stop tweeting, than they do resisting tobacco or alcohol. This is very eyeopening. We know that an addiction to drugs or alcohol can have detrimental effects on peoples lives in many ways. With what we now know about dopamine and the effects of social media, it is not hard to believe that a serious social media addiction could have similar effects in the future. Social media addiction becomes an epidemic in the same way a drug or alcohol addiction would. When it starts effecting things like one’s care for themselves, whether or not they are going to work, or the inability to say no to picking up the source of that addiction, then we need to be concerned and take initiative to end the addiction. 

Psychology of Social Networks: What makes us addicted? (2018, March 27). Retrieved from http://www.keepitusable.com/blog/psychology-of-social-networks-what-makes-us-addicted/

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The mental effects of social media addiction are scary, but they are things that would be expected. Things like anxiety and depression can be easily connected to overusing social media. But when it comes to the physical effects, I think they are often over looked.

I know from personal experience that social media use can greatly affect how well I sleep. When I spend time on my phone or computer on social media in the hours before I go to bed, I find myself thinking and thinking about what I've seen online and I find myself comparing my life and my body to their’s. This makes it so hard for me to fall asleep and ultimately results in anxiousness and stress that my life or body is not the “perfect” image I see on Instagram. We all know how important it is to get enough sleep every night, and social media has become a leading cause for missed sleep. Have you ever logged into Facebook and seen posts like “Can’t sleep!” or “Can’t fall asleep and I work in the morning.” This seems so backwards to me, do people not realize that the stimulating lights and sounds that come from our screens are a huge part of why they can't sleep? I know it can feel impossible just laying in bed waiting to fall asleep but by logging onto social media we are discouraging our brains to even become tired.

A study published in the Daily Mail about the effects of social media states “those who spent at least 60 minutes on it suffered more sleep issues than those who did not” De Graaf. 2018. The future of social media and sleep does not look bright. Too many people spend their evening hours “winding down” on their phones, scrolling through their favourite social media. Have a look at this article that gives 12 tips on how to wind down before bed.https://psychcentral.com/lib/12-ways-to-shut-off-your-brain-before-bedtime/ . My favourite is keeping your bed a place for sleep and intimacy. This means not bringing your laptop or phone to bed, either working or looking at social media, because by doing this our brain will learn to associate our bed with mental stimulation, not sleep! 

Thanks for the great post Becca! All we can do is try to educate ourselves and the people we know about the dangers of social media and the physical and metal effects of it.

De Graaf, M. (2018, January 24). Just one hour of social media ruins your sleep. Retrieved from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5304209/Just-ONE-HOUR-social-media-ruins-sleep.html

physical symptoms of social media addiction

Physical symptoms of social media addiction

With any type of addiction there is a potential that it will affect you physically, whether the addiction is “physical” in nature or not. When it comes to social media addiction, the physical effects are those that develop because of the amount of time spent on social media, but also because of the tools used to access the social media on a regular basis.

Backache and neck pain are very common result of bad posture while viewing social media. Similarly, to backache and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by the awkward positioning of the hand and wrists for a long period of time (Gregory, 2018, p.10). Looking down at your phone, holding your phone, typing on the computer, and slouching are all causes of these pains and aches which stem from and addiction to social media.

Constantly looking at a lit screen can cause many other types of pain. Eye problems such as eye strain and dry eyes are a result of looking at a lit screen for extended periods of time (Gregory, 2018, p.10). It is hard on the eyes to be focused on staring at something so bring for a long time. Just imagine staring at a light bulb for a couple minutes and how that would hurt your eyes; the same principle is applied here. Eye problems and muscle stress in the neck are can also result in headaches.

Insomnia caused by an addiction to social media can come in two ways (Gregory, 2018, p.10). The constant light source messes with our bodies natural clock. When we look at lights later into the night, our body believes that the sun is out and that it is time for us to be awake. Another way social media impedes on our sleep is the constant thinking about social media which can plague the minds of addicts. Trying to fall asleep is hard enough for most people, but imagine constantly having the urge to reach over and turn on your phone to check Facebook, Instagram, or a game you are playing one last time… again… and again.

Some more “severe” effects of a serious social media addiction can be poor nutrition and hygiene (Gregory, 2018, p.10). In both of these cases, social media becomes more important to the person than eating to stay alive or even being clean. For some people, being puled away from social media is not worth getting food for. This can result in weight loss. On the opposite spectrum it can also lead to weight gain. This is because people are unwilling to get up and move around other then to fuel their basic need for food, causing them to gain weight.

To learn more about the painful physical effects of the social media and the tools we use to access them, feel free to watch this cool wipe-board video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6CBb3yX9Zs. It helps further explain the correlation between social media and the effects it has on your brain and body.

Gregory, Christina. (2018). Internet Addiction Disorder. PSYCOM. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/iadcriteria.html

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One more time for the people in the back, prevention is the BEST treatment. I could not agree more, Megan. You gave some super simple yet helpful tips in this post. I have personally turned the social media app notifications turned off on my phone as I find them extremely distracting and intruding. It is so easy to get sucked into scrolling on social media after a notification pops up on your screen. I find the option to turn off notifications very helpful. There is also the option on iPhones to turn on “Do Not Disturb” mode, which gives users a set amount of undisturbed time. This would also be useful to users who may suspect a social media addiction, just to learn to take breaks! Another helpful tool on iPhones is the ability to monitor their Screen Time which is broken down into “Social Networking, Entertainment, and Other.” Social media use can then be further monitored by viewing which specific app they are spending the bulk of their time on. Taking it another step further users are able to schedule “Downtime” and set app limits. This is a tool that can be used to restrict cell phone use of children, but also as a useful aspect social media addiction treatment. If you have an iPhone you can check out this tool by following these steps provided by Apple. https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT208982

how to prevent the epidemic of social media addiction before we reach it in 2030

Prevention is the best treatment. I will say is again. Prevention is the BEST treatment. If we can catch the behaviors before they get out of hand, then there is no addiction epidemic, and there is no need for treatment.

This is much easier than it sounds, of course. But in following some simple tips, and remaining well informed this is more than possible.

Here are some tips:

-Turn off notifications – by stopping notifications from disturbing a normal routine, it becomes much easier to concentrate on daily tasks. Notifications are a constant reminder that things are happening in social media accounts and this may make you feel as though you’re missing out

-Set a limit  – figure out an allowable amount of time a day to spend on social media, and once that time is up, refrain from using it for the rest of the day. A good way to prevent the temptation is to log out of all accounts, so when clicking on the app, you aren’t immediately able to be on that media.

-Find a hobby you love – find something that you can spend your free time doing that has more of a positive impact on your life. This could be a sport, volunteering, baking, etc. Anything that you are passionate about that allows you to set goals and succeed, making it rewarding to do.

-Spend more time with family and friends –  engage in more face to face communication and activity. This allows you to feel social and gives you an opportunity to share thoughts, feelings and stories in a healthy way. This will also allow you to maintain healthy relationships with these loved one.

-Make using social media a reward –  if you love social media very much, using it as a rewards once finishing an exam or homework assignment or a workout, for example, can help to use it only as a treat once accomplishments are made.

-If bad enough, disable all accounts until a plan is in place for appropriate use – if none of the above tips have worked for you, then dropping social media as a whole may be the only option left. This will give you the opportunity to see the other parts of life, and hopefully build up yourself to the point where the reliance on social media is no longer apparent, and appropriate usage of it is manageable.

Waller, P. (2018, November 13). Simple Ways To Combat Your Social Media Addiction. Retrieved November 27, 2018, from https://www.bustle.com/articles/144893-7-ways-to-stop-your-social-media-addiction

Below is a link to a blog that has six TED talks that will make you rethink how much time you spend on social media. I found the talk by Paul Miller (the second video on the site) especially enlightening:

https://blog.rapidweblaunch.com/2017/01/13/6-ted-talks-smartphone-addiction/

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a look into the future of social media addiction

Black Mirror, created by Charlie Brooker, is a series of absorbing stand alone television episodes that delve into the future of technology and in what ways it could effect our society. The episode “Nosedive” follows the story of a woman who lives in a society where your social rating, based on a scale of 0-5.0, greatly effects your life. A high rating of 4.5, for example, would secure you the opportunity to live in the most luxurious community, at a much lower cost than if you were a 4.2. This concept is bulit on the ability of anybody you come in contact with to give you a rating of 1-5 stars from their phones, based on their interaction, or what they think or see of you. In the episode, people with lower ratings have limited or entirely restricted access to opportunities, amenities, and are just generally looked down on in society as “lesser than”. The main character, Lacie, ends up severely damaging her social rating and her life takes a dramatic turn.

As the world we live in becomes more and more obsessed with social media this seemingly farfetched rating based society may not be so distant. There are already social media users who are going to extreme measures to obtain followers and likes on social media. There are actually companies which allow users the opportunity to pay a weekly subscription in exchange for Instagram followers. This clearly indicates the importance society has bestowed upon being followed, and being liked. 

In an analysis of the Black Mirror’s, “Nosedive”, Felix Zappe dissects the episode and shares his philosophical reflections. In the episode the “social network has the power to change social structures and replace any value system by narcissism and obsession” Zappe, 2017. This is a future that is not difficult to imagine as a true possibility for your society. Social media use and global obsession grows every year, who knows where it will lead by 2030. 

I highly recommend checking out Black Mirror, especially the episode discussed here. It’s on Netflix! Or, you can read about it here as analyzed by Felix Zappe. https://www.slideshare.net/FelixZappe/blackmirror-s03e01-nosedive-analysis-and-philosophical-thoughts

Zappe, F. (2017, August 04). Blackmirror S03E01 - Nosedive - Analysis and philosophical thoughts. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/FelixZappe/blackmirror-s03e01-nosedive-analysis-and-philosophical-thoughts

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Hey Becca,

You made some great points in this post. The internet can be such an amazing resource but also a very addicting place. It makes sense that those who struggle with mental health are more at risk. Online they do not need to face their illness, it is a place full of distractions and the potential for hours of mindless scrolling on platforms like Instagram. It is interesting to note which age group this addiction begins with as well. With so many cell phones and tablets in the hands of Canada’s children and youth it is not a far stretch to say that social media addiction begins there. Social media has become a tool for parents who are in need of a distraction for their children. It has become too easy to open YouTube and play children's shows that are designed with bright colours and songs that grab and hold children’s attention. This ease of access to social media at such a young age is definitely a contributing factor in social media addiction. In the article from usatoday.com , “A solution for kids' social media addiction? Teach them to use tech more responsibly”, Pete Ingram-Cauchi discuss’s the youth social media addiction and gives some insight on a solution to the growing epidemic. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/06/30/gaming-disorder-kids-addiction-social-media-technology-video-games-column/737537002/

break down of social media addiction

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the word addicted means: “having a compulsive physiological need for a habit-forming substance” or “strongly inclined or compelled to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly” (Merriam-Webster, 2018, p.1). When we refer to Internet or Social media addiction, we recognize that someone with an addiction such as this as formed a compulsive need, habit, or strong inclination to use social media repeatedly. Addictions also have a negative effect on your life, impeding on your health either physically and/or mentally. Unfortunately for those suffering with this addiction, social media use and promotion is everywhere.

But what causes an addiction to social media? Christina Gregory suggests that social media addiction can be associated to physical changes in the prefrontal part of the brain which deals with “remembering details, attention, planning, and prioritizing tasks” (Gregory, 2018, p.4). These changes in the brain make you less able to put important tasks and situations before generally “useless” tasks, such as checking social media ect. In addition to this, the pleasure part of the brain is also stimulated, releasing dopamine when social media is used or notification on your phone appears making you want to interact with social media to feel happy (Gregory, 2018, p.5).

A helpful video to help explain the effects of social media on the brain is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzUb_GeLDg8. It helps like the similar effects of social media on the brain and  other addictions.

Those who are prone to anxiety and depression or are generally shy and awkward in social situations tend to be more susceptible to addictions such as social media addiction and it is easy to see how this would be the case. For those already suffering with anxiety and depression is it an escape from the world around them that can be the cause of so much worry and stress. It can be a distraction from work, school, or other situations that may be causing them to feel anxious or depressed. For those who are shy or awkward in social situations social media is the perfect outlet to interact with people and “socialize” without having to actually be with people making it easy (Gregory, 2018, p.8).

Gregory, Christina. (2018). Internet Addiction Disorder. PSYCOM. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/iadcriteria.html

Merriam-Webster Corporation. (2018). Definition of addicted. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/addicted

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Social media addiction begins when you start to see a “significant detrimental effect on many aspects of thier life”. Anxiety, ADHD, loneliness, addiction and depression, have all been linked in groups of individuals stemming from the use of social media. There are 6 simple questions you can ask to find out if you may be addicted to social media:

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about social media or planning how you will use it next? Do you feel urges to use social media more? Do you use social media as an escape from personal problems? Do you often attempt to limit your social media use without success? Do you become restless if you are unable to use social media? Does your use of social media negatively effect your job or studies?

Saying yes to most of these questions is a good indicator that you are addicted to social media. If only some of these stood out for you you are likely a “habitual social media user”. (Mark D. Griffiths, Addicted to social media)

It is important to note that, just because like to look at your social media a lot or like to watch videos online, you do not necessarily have an addiction.

Some mental and socialogical symptoms are: dishonesty, anxiety, depression, feelings of euphoria when on the computer, isolation, no sense of time, boredom with routine tasks, avoidance of work, and procrastination.

Some physical signs include: headaches, insomnia, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, poor nutrition or hygiene and backache.

There are 5 basic criteria across the board which are seen to be diagnostic for a social media or internet addiction disorder:

1)Constantly thinks about past or future use of the internet 2)Need increased amounts of time on the internet to gain satisfaction 3)Has been unsuccessful in controlling internet usage 4)Restless, moody, depressive or irritable when attempting to cut back on usage 5)Stays online longer than intended

In addition to these, one of the following must also apply: *Has been at risk of losing a relationship, job, career, or educational experience because of the internet. *Has lied about internet consumption. *Uses the internet to escape real life problems