With such high rates of social media addiction globally, researchers have started looking into symptoms and strategies to help deal with the issue.
This study defined addictive use based on the nine symptom criteria for Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) and Social Media Disorder (SMD), as outlined in the DSM-5.
These criteria include preoccupation, withdrawal, tolerance, unsuccessful attempts to control, loss of interest, continued excessive use, deception, escape, and jeopardizing career/relationships.
These symptoms might often be demonstrated in the following traits.
1. Excessive Amounts of Time Spent on Social Media
This symptom involves spending excessive amounts of time on social media platforms, often at the expense of other activities.
It can manifest as a compulsive need to check social media frequently, leading to hours of usage without realizing the passage of time and often interfering with daily life, including work, school, and personal relationships. The individual may neglect responsibilities or hobbies they once enjoyed in favor of social media use.
2. Scrolling Without Interest:
Often linked to the constant pursuit of dopamine, this symptom is characterized by mindless scrolling through social media feeds without genuine interest or engagement, stemming from an unconscious desire to replicate the fleeting joy or satisfaction previously experienced on these platforms.
Over time, as the brain becomes accustomed to these dopamine hits, the same level of activity yields less pleasure, leading to prolonged and unfulfilling scrolling in an attempt to recapture those initial feelings of enjoyment.
3. Feelings of Guilt: Guilt often arises from the recognition of the excessive time and energy spent on social media, especially when it comes at the expense of more meaningful or productive activities.
Individuals may feel guilty for neglecting personal responsibilities, relationships, or self-care, which can be exacerbated when realizing that their social media usage is not as fulfilling as other activities, yet they feel unable to reduce their engagement.
4. Feelings of Anxiety: Anxiety can be triggered by several factors, such as fear of missing out (FOMO), the need for social validation, concerns over online interactions or feedback, or worry about not being able to check social media.
This anxiety can become a self-perpetuating cycle, where individuals turn to social media to alleviate these feelings, only to find that their online experiences further exacerbate their anxiety.
5. Feeling Irritable and Frustrated
A short temper and frustration are common to most addictions and often occur when the individual does not derive the expected pleasure or reward from social media interactions.
Users may feel compelled to continue engaging with social media due to habit or an unconscious hope of achieving the desired emotional response. Frustration can also be compounded by the awareness that their time could be better spent on more productive or fulfilling activities, leading to a sense of internal conflict and irritability.