We Should Get Rid of Social Media, Now
According to BBC, there are currently 3 billion people using online social media, accounting for about 40% of the global population. Social media has taken too much of our energy and time. In my eyes, social media addiction is no less harmful than alcoholism. Below, I will explain several aspects of the potential harm of obsessing with social media.
Social media is a severe source of stress. Nowadays, a large number of teenagers are using social media. Social media causes significant peer pressure. Meanwhile, social media users comparing popularity brings significant psychological pain, including greater anxiety and depression. According to McLean Hospital, social media plays a role in raising our fear of missing out. It states that “missing experiences can create anxiety and depression. When people look online and see they’re excluded from an activity, it can affect thoughts and feelings, and can affect them physically.”
Social media is addictive. This easy addiction leads us to digital burnout. Once we are introduced to attractive social media platforms, we usually spend much more time on online social media than on work and hobbies. Social media controls us by taking advantage of our tendency to seek pleasure. These platforms provide two types of pleasure: obtaining new cognition (information)—this mechanism is the same as that of seeing a joke—and establishing contact with others. The closer the relationship, the more positive the emotional return is. Meanwhile, I would like to point out that this virtual interpersonal connection is not only fake, but superficial. The pleasure of sociality should not depend on virtually commenting and tagging others on Instagram. When people behave, they follow the principle of maximizing benefits. Part of the standard comes from the return of feelings or emotions, and another parts come from the rational evaluation of them. Therefore, people who are addicted to bad habits often feel guilty because they waste time on meaningless activities. Eliminating this guilt has become a reason for people to repeat the pattern because this terrible habit generates pleasure, eradicating their guilt. Therefore, they cycle back and forth, unable to extricate themselves.
Now, we need to eradicate our obsession with social media. It does not provide essential information or valuable knowledge. An individual cannot meaningfully learn on Tiktok or Reels. It does not help you discover more of this world or provide any opportunities to upgrade your life; It only turns your activity on the platform sets of data.
Time and faith are priceless.