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Surviving Social Media: Beat Your Social Media Addiction

Updated on: Sep 3, 2018

Social media addiction is a behavioral addiction that is defined by being overly concerned about social media, driven by an uncontrollable urge to log on to or use social media, and devoting so much time and effort to social media that it impairs other important life areas. – “Addiction Center”

Whether you’re connecting with friends and relatives on social media, watching videos and or just scrolling. Over the past decade, the popularity of social media has dramatically risen.

Although the majority of individuals use social media without problems, there is a tiny proportion of those who are dependent upon social networking sites as their only source of enjoyment. 

Let’s look at some of the signs of social media addiction to better understand how to deal with the issue.

Signs Of A Social Media Addiction

  • If being without your phone or internet, and the idea of not being able to use social media for an extended period makes you feel uncomfortable, you may have a social media addiction.

  • In the morning, the first thing you do is check social media. Not only in the morning but when you get home from work/school or at any other moment during the day when you have spare time. If reaching for your phone is your first reaction, you probably have an unhealthy relationship with social media.

  • You monitor the performance of your postings on a regular basis. It’s a different story whether you’re a company owner experimenting with social media techniques or an influencer for whom social media is only a means to an end.

  • You begin to ignore your obligations or skip your hobbies because you no longer enjoy them. When significant physical activities become less important, it’s a definite indicator that our social media addictions have taken over our lives.

Interesting Read: A Social Media Essay on its Pros and Cons

Before we go into how to overcome social media addiction, let’s take a look at some important social media addiction statistics that highlight how severe this problem is.

Social Media Addiction Statistics 

According to “mediakix,” 210 million individuals worldwide suffer from some sort of internet and social media addiction. According to these studies, the issue is only going to grow worse.

While children all around the globe are known for their excessive use of social media, “famemass” studies show that American teenagers hold the record, spending an average of 9 hours per day on various social media platforms.

Teens who spend more than 5 hours a day on their cellphones are twice as likely to develop depressive symptoms. A study was undertaken by “mediakix”.

In terms of the negative effects and risks of social media, studies show that when cellphones initially became popular, there was an immediate increase in depressive symptoms, suicide risk factors, and rates among teenagers. 

A new social media addiction research by “NPR” found that 71 % of teenagers who spend more than 5 hours a day on social media are more likely to commit suicide than their peers who ‘socialize’ for an hour or less.

Because social media addiction is not something to be taken lightly, we’ve put together a list of tips that you must follow yourself if you’re facing this issue or share it with someone who is a victim of social media addiction. 

Food for thought: Snapchat streaks are just a multi-million dollar corporation’s way of making a user go back to its app every day to maintain a number against their friends’ name. Ask yourself, does a number define the intensity of your friendship with someone? Or is it just a blank screen snap with no context was sent just to keep the streak going? Is this just helping pile on to my social media addiction?

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How To Beat Social Media Addiction?

With so many individuals suffering from social media addiction, we thought we’d take the initiative to compile a list of a few things people may do to assist themselves overcome their addiction.

First of all, the most important thing is limiting our time spent on social media. Inculcating some sort of self-discipline in terms of how much time you’re spending on Facebook and Twitter can really help.

And, because we know how tough it is to get rid of social media addiction once it has taken hold of you, let’s have a look at some of the methods you may take to assist limit your level of addiction.

Top 8 Effective Ways To Beat Social Media Addiction

1. At least once or twice a week, have a “Social Media Free” day. It might be a Saturday/Sunday when you have the most leisure time or a Monday when you have the most work. 

2. If blocking out a whole day seems too tough, set aside at least three hours each day when you don’t access any social media platforms. It may be difficult at first, but trust me when I say you’ll love it.

3. However, if you find it difficult to look away from your phone screen, there are a few apps and websites that may be of assistance.

4. Apps like Offtime, Space, and AppDetox (available exclusively on Android) keep track of your device usage and allow you to establish limitations on certain apps, such as social media and gaming. Some of their tactics are so aggressive that even turning off your phone will not stop them.

social media addiction - space app

5. Disable all alerts on your social media platforms. You might be wondering how that would help. It’s actually rather easy. The fundamental objective of all social media sites is to keep you interested for as long as possible.

If you don’t check your social media accounts for a few hours, you’ll receive notifications about your friend’s newest posts or story updates. This is the app’s technique of luring you in.

6. There are also more traditional techniques for kicking your social media addiction to the curb. For example, when it’s time to sleep, put your phone away from you or turn it off when you’re chatting with friends and family.

7. Follow educational accounts and by that, we don’t mean accounts that will teach you math equations (unless you’re into that, good for you). Accounts like NowThis or Times Of India won’t spam your feed, but what they post will definitely teach you something new.

8. You can try to make your time on social media more effective by following the steps outlined above. You may share inspirational quotes, statistics, or anything you’ve recently learned with your friends.

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Here are some additional Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind while using social media:

  • DON’T Follow Useless Trends
  • DO Follow Accounts That Inspire You
  • DON’T Measure How Much People Notice You Based On Likes And Comments
  • DO Check In With Friends Once In A While
  • DON’T follow people who don’t promote productivity

While there’s no denying that social media has had a beneficial influence on our lives, nothing is without its drawbacks. We must learn to use the technology at our disposal in a responsible manner.

We realize this isn’t our typical blog, but we wanted to bring attention to this issue because we’re all aware of how social media addiction has impacted many people’s lives.

We hope our methods above will help you beat social media addiction and enjoy the activities and hobbies you once did. 

We appreciate you taking the time to read, and we wish you a pleasant day.

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Huzaifa Dhapai

Founder at WebVerge and Team Lead in Business Technology at IIDE

Huzaifa Dhapai is an experienced founder with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry. A tech enthusiast. He always writes about Tech and Android and is an expert in Google AdSense and Google Data Studio......[Read full bio]

15 Comments

  1. Rajnandan Shah

    Excellent Content and Advices

    Reply
  2. Ranjeet Singh

    This blog post offers practical advice for overcoming social media addiction. Understanding the strategies outlined here can help individuals regain control over their online habits and prioritize real-life interactions. Breaking free from social media addiction is essential for mental well-being and productivity. Implementing these tips can lead to a healthier relationship with technology and a more balanced lifestyle. What steps do you plan to take to beat your social media addiction?

    Reply
  3. Prem Wagh

    This blog post addresses the prevalent issue of Social Media Addiction, offering practical strategies to overcome it. The article breaks down the complexities of excessive social media use into simple, actionable steps. It provides valuable insights for individuals seeking a healthier balance in their online habits. The tips are easy to understand and implement, making it a useful resource for anyone looking to regain control and find a more mindful approach to their social media usage.

    Reply
    • SHAIKH SANIYA UZAIR AHMED

      This blog are very interesting and very better to understand about the social media and implement. The articles breakdown the complexities of excessive social media use into actionable steps. This blog offer practical advice for social media addictions.

      Reply
  4. Priyanshi dhoka

    Recovering from social media addiction is essential to living a healthy life. The blog offers useful advice on regaining control. The main tactics are to establish tech-free zones, set daily time limitations, and encourage offline relationships. It promotes users to evaluate their online behaviors and make deliberate decisions by putting an emphasis on self-awareness. By putting these little actions into practice, you may enhance your offline experience and improve your general well-being.

    Reply
  5. Priyanshu Tripathi

    Absolutely, social media addiction is a growing concern. Setting boundaries and taking breaks can really help manage it. It’s all about finding that balance between online and offline life. Let’s keep the conversation going and support each other in making healthier choices!

    Reply
  6. Rakib Shaikh

    “Such a relatable and insightful post! Social media addiction is a real struggle, and your practical tips make it feel manageable. It’s refreshing to see someone addressing this issue with a human touch. I appreciate the realistic approach and will definitely try implementing some of these strategies to strike a healthier balance. Thanks for sharing your personal experiences and offering practical solutions!”

    Reply
  7. Radhika Jadhav

    Interesting read on social media addiction. It’s a topic that affects many of us in today’s digital age. It’s crucial to raise awareness and find a healthy balance between online and offline activities. Thanks for bringing attention to this issue.

    Reply
  8. pratham kantak

    Social media addiction is undoubtedly a growing problem. It can be effectively managed by establishing boundaries and taking breaks. Finding the right balance between your online and offline lives is crucial. Let us continue the discussion and encourage one another to make better decisions!

    Reply
    • Mamta Shroff

      Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you found this blog on social media addiction in Chennai useful.

      Reply
  9. SHAIKH SANIYA

    This blog post offers practical advice for overcoming social media addiction. Social media addiction is undoubtedly a growing problem. It can be effectively managed by establishing boundaries and taking breaks. Absolutely, social media addiction is a growing concern.

    Reply
  10. Vidhi Naik

    It is an very informative topic chosen. This blog had created an awareness for people . It ia n very important step . Potrayed very well.

    Reply
  11. Vidhi Naik

    It is an very important topic chosen. The contents is well discussed. This blog has created an awarness for people

    Reply
  12. pratiksha

    “Social media addiction is a real concern today. It’s easy to get hooked, but remember, balance is key. Limit screen time, prioritize real-life connections, and take breaks for your mental well-being.”

    Reply

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