Social Media Addiction: How Does It Affect You?

For the majority of social media users, the first thing they do when they wake up in the morning is check their Facebook and then hop over to Twitter to see what's going on in the world. Whilst this is seems like normal behaviour to some, many researchers are beginning to label such behaviour as addiction. So, whilst it's quite clear that social media is here to stay, let's take a look at what that could mean for the millions of users around the world who are glued to their smartphones.

Usage Increases in Narcissists

According to research from the University of Derby, it was found that the average smartphone user spends 3.6 hours a day on their devices. The researchers also found a link between narcissism and smartphone usage. Dr Hussain, a psychology professor at the university, commented on this link, adding that there is "a significant positive relationship… between narcissism and addiction to the phones, suggesting that the more narcissistic a person is, the more likely they are to be addicted to their smartphone."

Whilst this seems like a strange link to make, it's understandable that a constant wariness or obsession with oneself could lead to an excessive interest with how one is portrayed online and how others receive said portrayal.

Separation Creates Anxiety

Ever felt a little restless after your phone has been out of battery for a while? Well, the University of Missouri investigated what happened to users when they were separated from their phones, and found some shocking results. Not only were subjects displaying signs of anxiety, elevated heart rate and a higher blood pressure, they also had diminished cognitive skills.

The lead author of the study, Russell Clayton, said in a statement: "the results from our study suggest that smartphones are capable of becoming an extension of ourselves such that when separated, we experience a negative physiological state."

Attention Creates Accidents

Our phones demand our attention and as soon as we hear that notification sound, we'll drop everything to find out what or who it is. Worryingly, this also extends to when we're driving, with new data suggesting that 22% of fatal road traffic accidents involve mobile phones.

In fact the majority of drivers who are pulled over for using their phone have it in their hand (66%), and not to their ear (33%). This strongly suggests that the problem is no longer drivers making phone calls but instead using their phones to text or surf the internet, suggesting that the need to check their phone is so great that they will disregard the law and, ultimately, their safety.

Bad Temperament Attracts Addiction

Whilst you'd think that addiction would cause a bad temperament, it seems that it's actually the other way round. According to a study by the University of Baylor, "a person who is moody and temperamental may be more likely to be addicted to their cell phone than more stable individuals". The theory behind the study was that those who were frequently in bad moods would reach out to their phones in an attempt to "mood repair."

Getting over Addiction

Whilst smartphones do make our lives easier in many ways, they can quite easily become a burden. If you feel like you're spending too much of your time experiencing life through a screen, it may be time to put some distance between you and your phone. After all, we weren't born with a phone in our hand. Here are some quick tips to take control:

Stop Notifications

You have the choice of whether or not you want your apps to send you notifications, and you can change this in your settings. For apps that you don't need notifications on for, simply turn them off.

Go Silent

The most common way we get side-tracked by our phones is when it makes a noise and interrupts us. By putting it on silent you can decide when you want to look at it, and you take control.

Leave It

We weren't born with a phone in our hands so we don't always need it there. Take the opportunity to leave it at home sometimes and you'll be surprised how liberating the quietness can be.

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Original source: Social Media Addiction: How Does It Affect You?.
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