If there was one item you would never leave the house without, what would it be? For many individuals, their answer would be a smartphone. These small devices have become all-encompassing in society. These small boxes house various resources and information. They make our lives easier while keeping us entertained. As these devices have developed we’ve become attached to them, unlike other technologies. Their portable nature means we are always keeping them close. Plus their applications and resources have become a source of addiction for individuals.
Social media addiction has become a concern in the past few years. Every day users sign into these platforms and can spend upwards of hours staying engaged. Whether it is Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Youtube, Tik Tok, or another application, their ability to distract us is worrisome. Users constantly check these platforms to the point of disrupting their mental health and habits. These applications manipulate the general audience to benefit advertisers. Overall, the power of these applications is a problem that must be addressed.
Individuals can distance themselves from the platforms to eliminate their addiction. Users have to recognize they have a problem and then they can work to limit their social media use. They can also try different activities and find new ways of spending their time. Although it may be difficult, these actions are worthwhile because they allow for a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
I spent the last couple of weeks researching this topic to be able to write a white paper that fully describes the problem while also giving potential solutions. I hope reader will re-evaluate their social media usage following this reading, or at least be more educated about the impact of social media on their lives.