Horizon Clinics's blog : How to Fix Social Media Addiction: 6 Steps You Can Take Today

Addiction is a behavior that becomes obsessive despite negative outcomes.

In 2017, 43% of Americans reported surveying social media constantly, and 20% said social media is an origin of stress.

Moreover, interacting with social media platforms can activate a dopamine reaction in the brain, similar to that activated by drug or alcohol use.

That reaction can leave you craving more and feeling addicted. As a result, you’ll have to find a way out and get informed about how to break social media addiction.

So, in today’s blog, we'll discuss the Biological Effects of Addiction on the Brain and how you can address them.

How to Break Social Media Addiction

Abstinence is often approved for dealing with drug or alcohol addiction, but what to do for social media dependence?

The ideal psychological solution is the regulated use of the internet.

It's not important to give up social media totally, but it is important to have procedures for setting limits. Let's see how to kick social media addiction out of your life.

#1. Erase Social Media Accounts You Don’t Use

To kick a social media addiction, first delete all the platforms you don’t use.

If this task in itself seems irresistible, break it down into bite-sized clumps.

Begin by taking 10 minutes a day to declutter your devices.

Challenge yourself to go a distinct time without browsing social media, whether it's for a few hours or a whole week.

#2. Set Boundaries and Stick to Them

Most phones and tablets allow you to see the time you've wasted on certain apps.

Set a limit for the time spent on social media and stick to it, or use an app that restricts social media after you've hit your barrier.

For teens, it’s recommended that social media use not infringe on actions like family meals, exercise, etc.

#3. Commit Time to Hobbies or Other Activities

A hobby or new activity can help curb your desire to check social media accounts.

The idea here is to fill up your free time with things that you celebrate that are good for you.

Generally, you will find less time to be on social media and more time to be present in life.

#4. Be Realistic When Setting Goals

Instead of leaving social media cold turkey, make these objectives realistic and attainable.

These might include declaring a 30-minute social media time-out while at work or setting aside a whole day as a social media blackout.

It might even be as simple as restricting yourself from searching your phone during your morning coffee break.

#5. Be Conscious of the Time Spent on Social Media

Social media is powerful enough to make users lose all sense of time.

To counter this, set a time barrier before scrolling through your numerous social media feeds.
Use an actual timer to suggest when your browsing period is up.
Otherwise, it’s very easy to continue down the rabbit hole of data.

Try setting calendar evidence on your smartphone or desktop.

#6. Don’t Feed the Trolls

Before firing off an angry reply to that Tweet that’s left you discerning red, we advise you to follow and engage with care.

According to a study, stress catalysts who lurk on social media feeds can take a toll on your mental health.

Think about your biological environment and how you surround yourself with the people and stuff that you love and care for.

This should also pertain to your social media space.

Physical & Psychological Effects of Social Media Addiction

Biological Effects of Addiction on Your Brain can be very dangerous.

Social media incentives can involve the brain’s decision-making and emotional processing functions.

In yet another study that identified the brain activity in adolescents, experimenters found that parts of the brain that deal with emotional and sensory processing reacted noticeably when participants felt eliminated.

This study highlighted the consequences of online social exclusion on the developing brains of adolescents.

What this means is that when social media users are excluded from online groups, chats, or events, the brain reacts in a specific way.

The study on social media and how the brain reacts to it is still in its early phases, but it’s still worth considering.

While this research reflects an effort toward better comprehending the consequences of social media on different parts of the brain, there’s still a lot of growth to be made.

So, what should you do?

Conclusion

Your first course of action should be limiting social media use in order to counter the negative effects of addiction on the brain. Additionally, take steps to get out and be in nature.

Encouraging kids to go old school and get out and meet their friends is also a fruitful way to protect their young minds from social media hate.

With proactive measures, you can not only foster a better environment at your home but can also prevent early-stage addiction symptoms.

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