Social media is a new-ish way to stay connected to the community and the people around us. These social connections have become a necessity in our technology centric world. However, people sometimes take it too far and cause social media to become a new addiction.
Social media addiction is a real phenomenon which can have negative impacts on mental health and social life. In fact, it may take only 3 hours a day on social media apps to be at an increased risk of anxiety, low self-esteem and body image issues.
TikTok is by far one of the most talked about and used social media apps. TikTok was banned Sunday after months of speculation with hundreds of users dreading the app’s demise. Creators posted sorrowful goodbye videos, and users downloaded their favorite videos in anticipation of the app's closure in the U.S.
TikTok’s ban lasted less than 14 hours. Users returned to a “welcome back” message on the screen, thanking President Donald Trump for allowing the app to return. Although U.S. citizens are no longer able to download the app on their phones, those who did not delete the app after its ban can access content once again.
However, the reaction to TikTok’s ban raised concerns about users' dependence on the app.
Forbes described TikTok as “digital crack cocaine” in 2020. The app itself is known for its streamlined access to short-form entertainment. TikTok videos can be anywhere from fifteen seconds to ten minutes in length, but the average length of a TikTok video was around 35 seconds in 2024.
TikTok’s short form content, perfectly curated to each user, is built to satisfy users' itch for curiosity. Although entertaining, the infinite scrolling and short form content capture users’ attention spans for hours. Many people can relate to devoting hours to scrolling without realizing how much time has passed.
TikTok is not the only social media app that has a tight hold on its users. The like button is a common feature across social media apps. It is this feature that keeps users coming back.
“It feels good to receive likes from other people, and it also feels good to give ‘likes’ to other people in the same way that it feels good to give people gifts,” according to Sophia Petrillo at Brown University.
Scientists even compare the sensation of receiving likes to what one feels while gambling. When someone receives likes on content, it can trigger the reward and pleasure center in our brains and release dopamine.
Dopamine is a “‘feel-good chemical’ linked to pleasurable activities such as sex, food, and social interaction,” according to McLean Hospital. However, seeking out this immediate gratification can quickly turn into addictive behavior and can make the constant use of social media apt to turn into addictive behavior.
Users return to social media again and again in search of dopamine. Though science has not yet confirmed social media directly causes mental health difficulties, the association is certainly there.
Social media apps are not all bad, as each app provides entertainment, community and even livelihoods for some lucky content creators. Entire generations rely on these apps to share content and connect. In some cases, social media may be the last source for reliable and quick access to information.
However, the addictive quality of these apps cannot be denied. Combatting the addiction may be as simple as setting time limits on certain apps, or searching for a new, less addicting source of entertainment. It may be as simple as recognizing the addictive qualities of social media.
