April 2024

-Noah Hood

History of Social Media

Social media as a concept actually appeared slightly before the popular apps and websites we know of today such as Facebook and TikTok. The original concept of social media came in the form of social networking sites (SNSs). SixDegrees was the first SNS and was created in 1997. The goal of this SNS was to make a more connected society through online networks. Facebook would be created 7 years after the development of SNSs, in 2004, and was originally an exclusive platform for Harvard University students. In 2016, Facebook reportedly had 2.34 billion users, equating to 22.9% of the population at that time. Social media use has steadily increased since it's initial concept back in 1997.

Prevalence and Statistics

There is no official diagnosis yet for social media addiction. However, experts estimate that up to 10% of people in the United States, show signs of what could be considered social media addiction. One global study found that 25% of people meet classifications for moderate social media addiction. Another study conducted by the University of Michigan estimates that 210 million people across the globe have some form of social media and internet addiction. Not everyone who uses social media becomes addicted but there has been an increasing concern in recent years.

Causes and Risk Factors

These are a variety of suggested causes and risk factors that may increase your chances of becoming addicted to social media. Take these risk factors with a grain of salt. No risk factors are a guarantee that a person will become addicted but they are useful so we can be more aware. Current research suggests that women and younger individuals are both more susceptible to the use of and addiction to social media. People who are more impulsive, have low self-esteem, or existing mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression are also at greater risk of developing an addiction to social media. Social and environmental factors can influence the likelihood of developing an addiction. Individuals with a lack of social support are more likely to seek validation through the form of social media. This is not a fully exhaustive list of risks. We have highlighted some of the major factors to pay attention to. However, there may be more risks and protective factors to be identified as research on this topic grows.

Symptoms and Negative Effects

• Interpersonal problems              

• Social withdrawal 

• Relapse Relationship issues 

• Reduced academic achievement

• Poor mental health 

• Low self-esteem 

• Sleep disturbances 

• Decreased productivity 

• Anxiety and depression

Suggestions for Addressing Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction is still being studied and understood. We may not have an official diagnosis but we can already see some of the negative side effects from being too dependent on social media. If you or someone you know is concerned that you may have a social media addiction there are ways to help mitigate this issue: 

Awareness 

• The first step in addressing any problem is always making yourself more aware of the issue, how it may be impacting you, and then deciding if you want to make a change. 

Boundaries 

• Consider limiting your social media time. For many people it may not be feasible or desired to cut off from social media completely and you may not have to. There are apps you can use on your devices to give insight into how much time you are spending on social media. Also consider setting specific times for social media and cutting back from specific social media platforms. 

Seek Professional Help 

• Individual Counseling Therapists utilize evidence-based practice to treat symptoms of addiction and may help you overcome an addiction to social media. 

Group Therapy 

• Group therapy can also be greatly beneficial for gaining the skills to combat addiction while also showing that you are not alone in trying to overcome this.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). 6 Tips to Help Take Control of Your Social Media Use 

Cheng C, Lau YC, Chan L, Luk JW. Prevalence of social media addiction across 32 nations: Meta-analysis with subgroup analysis of classification schemes and cultural values. Addict Behav. 2021 Jun;117:106845. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106845. Epub 2021 Jan 26. PMID: 33550200. 

Khan, M. A., & Khan, M. A. (2021). Social media addiction and its impact on mental health: A systematic review. Journal of Health Informatics in Developing Countries, 15(1) 

Kuss DJ, Griffiths MD. Social Networking Sites and Addiction: Ten Lessons Learned. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2017 Mar 17;14(3):311. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14030311. PMID: 28304359; PMCID: PMC5369147. 

Pellegrino, A., Stasi, A., & Bhatiasevi, V. (2022). Research trends in social media addiction and problematic social media use: A bibliometric analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 1017506 

Shannon H, Bush K, Villeneuve PJ, Hellemans KG, Guimond S. Problematic Social Media Use in Adolescents and Young Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JMIR Ment Health. 2022 Apr 14;9(4):e33450. doi: 10.2196/33450. PMID: 35436240; PMCID: PMC9052033. 

Vasan, N., & Johansen, S. (2021). A Psychiatrist’s Perspective on Social Media Algorithms and Mental Health. Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI 

Zhao J, Jia T, Wang X, Xiao Y, Wu X. Risk Factors Associated With Social Media Addiction: An Exploratory Study. Front Psychol. 2022 Apr 14;13:837766. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.837766. PMID: 35496214; PMCID: PMC9046602.