The
introduction of Web 2.0 internet services is enabling people to collaborate and
interact with each other by creating and transferring user-generated content
online. This has paved the way for exponential growth in the use of social
media. Many advocates of social networking will say that it enriches peoples’
lives by giving them the opportunity to sustain or improve current relationships
as well as help create new relationships. Social networking is known to help
shy people make friends and also help the elderly stay connected. Social media
has profoundly benefited business and customer relationships as well as the
healthcare and patient relationship.
There are, as a result,
studies which have noted addictions to social media sites. One such study
conducted in Mexico, for example, linked low self-esteem and depression with
social networking addiction, noting that individuals with an inability to
interact socially in the real world are enabled virtually to socialize through
social media. The socially inept are therefore thought to have an increased vulnerability
to addictions involving social networking.
Social media addictions
are also known to inhibit employee activity. Facebook Taiwan is king of social
networking in Taiwan, largely due to the introduction of “Happy Farm”, a social
network game. Firms now deny access to Facebook Taiwan at work, yet there are
still instances of workers losing their jobs regarding banned Facebook usage.
This indicates a social networking addiction so intense, employees are willing
to disregard work ethics and compromise their jobs.
It
would be easy to assume that people would inevitably fall victim to an
addiction to these social media networks. Research on the matter has, however,
been deemed insufficient for inclusion into the DSM V (fifth edition of the
American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders).
With the rapid
expansion of social media usage, researchers will certainly have plenty of data
to record regarding social networking addiction. It is a matter of time until
this addiction is accepted as a behavioral addiction in the DSM. American usage
of social media networks nearly doubled to 50% between 2008 and 2011, ensuring the
U.S. will have no shortage of new social networking addicts in the future.
Cheng, JMS, et al.
“Social Media Usage and Work Values: The Example of Facebook in Taiwan.” Social Behavior and Personality 40.2 (2012): 195-200. Social
Sciences Citation Index. Web. 28 Feb 2013. http://ehis.ebscohost.com.librarylink.uncc.edu/eds/pdfviewer?sid=a2c55eda-ef64-4e48-9c72-66dba0c9cfd2%40sessionmgr10&vid=4&hid=17
Pamoukaghlian,
Veronica. “Social Network Addiction-A Scientific No Man’s Land?” Brain Blogger. (7 Jan 2011): Web. 25
Feb. 2013. http://brainblogger.com/2011/01/07/social-network-addiction-a-scientific-no-mans-land/
ProCon.org.”Are Social
Networking Sites Good For Our Society?” ProCon.org.
(12 Dec. 2012): Web. 2 Mar. 2013. http://www.procon.org/headline.php?headlineID=005134
Really good post. I think that social media sites are very addicting. I know some people that could write a book with the things they post on facebook.
ReplyDeleteNot saying that you can't say how you feel or say what ever you want, when you want but it shouldn't be your personal diary. Too many people get on facebook or twitter just to brag, boast, creep, etc. I would say 90% of my friends have a facebook and I would say they check it every 10 minutes just to see if something has happened. I even catch myself doing it from time to time. I personally thought the twitter and facebook frenzy would die off much like myspace did but it's still going strong and not showing any signs of slowing down.
I think the addiction could actually be fatal. you hear about people texting while driving but I know people that facebook while they drive and how they haven't already gotten into a wreck, I'll never know because it is definitely a safety hazard.
I believe Social Media Networks are very addictive. If someone spending too much time using Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media for long hours and if that interferes with other aspects of daily life, is a problem.
ReplyDeleteI find myself on facebook every free time I get. I don’t stay on it for several hours but I tend to log in several times a day. In a mean time there are people, who spend Excessive Time on social media, update status three or four times a day and have more that 700 friends yes never actually met half of those friends. I think this is a sickness but yet there's no official medical acknowledgment of social networking addiction as a disease.
I think that social media has become a very addictive part of young and older teens lives. Facebook, Twitter, and to a lesser extent Myspace is very current in a young persons everyday activities. Some people check their social networks as soon as they wake up in the morning and before they go to sleep. It seems that some cannot go a day without checking a tweet or status update, which makes one believe it is a case of addiction.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the connections found through the study done in Mexico. Social media has almost hurt people because it has become a crutch for them to still be able to interact with people and not do it in person. The study in Mexico showed how people that are addicted to social media also have low self-esteem which brings up the new phenomenon called Catfish. This is where people create fake profiles because they do not like who they are. They think people will like them more if they pretend to be someone else by using others pictures. Also the numbers are pretty shocking that the usage of social media has doubled since 2008.
ReplyDeleteOlivia Keene
I think the Internet and social media have done a lot to bring people together all over the planet. However, a good dose of balance between online activities and real-life interaction are key. Teaching this mindset begins in childhood. Let's face it, the Internet is here to stay, therefore, we must find ways to use it to our advantage, not to our detriment. There is enough information out there about the pitfalls of online 'obsession' that it is time we search for ways to reach a healthy mixture of 'face-time' and 'screen-time'. Otherwise, we run the risk of becoming a generation of imbalanced social misfits.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! Social media has become everything to so many people. It is kind of concerning for younger generations. Do they know how to express themselves in a face-to-face setting? Social media may be a good outlet to vent or stay in touch with those you don't see, but you can't truly expect to have a successful career if you can't hold a conversation with someone.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I recently deactivated my Facebook account to see how truly addicted I was. I was completely shocked to see how many times a day I would click on the FB app without any thought process as to why I am clicking on the app. It took roughly a week before I would consciously think before clicking on an app. I went without FB for one month, before reactivating this past Friday. I must say I personally liked not having the drama connection and the extra time doing things more productive.