Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    BAUCE
    JOIN THE SQUAD
    • Hustle
    • Believe
    • Earn
    • Live
    • Profiles
    • Community
      • JOIN THE BAUCE SQUAD
      • LOGIN TO THE BAUCE SQUAD
    • Events
    • About
      • Our Team
      • Advertise
      • Jobs
      • Contact
    BAUCE
    Live

    Can Social Media Be a Drug?

    By Kerri ByamJuly 30, 20163 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    You wake up in the morning, or get home from school or work. What is the first thing you do? Some people would change into a more comfortable attire after a long day, others would roll over and hit the snooze button for the third or fourth time.

    Question: How close is your cell phone or laptop when you are doing these things?

    If you are a teen, young adult, or just really like the internet, chances are your phone or laptop is not more than a few steps away from you. Better yet, you may be checking your Facebook news feed or updating your Twitter status within a few minutes of waking up or arriving home. You may be tweeting or sharing a link on Facebook right now. No judgment here. I admit it, I do it too.

    What if someone told you to take a break from the internet or your cell phone for one day? What would happen? What would you do?

    In a 2011 article from The Telegraph, 125 students from 12 universities around the world went an entire day without computers, mobile phones, iPods, television, radio, and newspapers, in an experiment researchers called, “Unplugged.”

    According to the author Richard Gray, “They [researchers] found that the participants began to develop symptoms typically seen in smokers attempting to give up. Some of those taking part said they felt like they were undergoing ‘cold turkey’ to break a hard drug habit, while others said it felt like going on a diet.”

    In a February 2012 article by Zach Epstein, a writer for Boy Genius Report, Twitter and Facebook may be harder habits to beat than cigarettes and alcohol.

    The social media generation is currently facing a condition called Information Deprivation Disorder. Members of this generation who are glued to their phones and to the internet and may be in denial when they read this.

    Yet, think of the amount of pictures we take per day to post on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, or the countless times we feel the need to tell the ones we know on Facebook, or ones we do not know on Twitter about every thought that runs through our heads (without a filter sometimes) or every minute of our day.

    Last Thursday, I experienced an internet shortage in my neighborhood, and went almost 12 hours without checking my email, Facebook, or Twitter. The following day, I checked everything and I realized I missed a lot. I missed invitations to events, important emails went unanswered for a whole day; I felt like I was out of the loop.

    Then it hit me: how, why, and when did we become so dependent on social media and why is it so addictive?

    I remember coming across a car commercial last year where a young woman compares the lives of her parents to her own. Her parents had 19 friends on Facebook and went hiking while she spent most of her day in front of a laptop. Towards the end of the commercial, the young woman looks into the camera and says, “This is living.”

    There are few moments where I am stuck between laughing or remaining speechless. This was one of those moments.

    All good comes with the bad, and this is the case with social media. Whether or not we are full-fledged Facebook and Twitter addicts, or well on our way to being one, the key thing here is moderation.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Reddit WhatsApp
    Previous Article6 Bad Workout Habits to Avoid
    Next Article Restoring the Faith
    Kerri Byam

    Related Posts

    How To Deal With Microaggressions On Social Media

    June 29, 2022

    4 Unique Ways To Improve Your Fitness From The Comfort Of Your Own Home

    June 20, 2022

    Skincare at Home: What Changes You Need to Make For Better Skin

    June 13, 2022
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Your Go To Resources

    How To Truly Break The Cycle of Debt

    It’s Time To Stop Sleeping On Your Credit Score, Sis – Here’s Why

    These Are 15 of the Highest Paying Careers To Pursue

    15 Good Jobs That Women Can Do From Anywhere Without Experience

    Here’s How To Trick Yourself Into Saving More Money

    Stay Connected
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest
    • Our Team
    • Contact
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Jobs
    © 2022 BAUCE MEDIA LLC

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.