Addictive, influential and ubiquitous, there are many hidden dangers of social media that should make us question its place in our lives.
Tech companies have brought these amazing tools to the world. We can connect, do business and be entertained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can do anything and go anywhere with the phone in our hand.
There’s no question how impactful social media has been in our lives, but there’s a dark side.
And it’s a very dark side.
Here are some of the most concerning dangers of social media that will make you think twice about having all those apps on your phone.
1. Constant distraction. Social Media is a constant distraction. It pulls us out of real life and quality work into a world of shallow and fleeting diversions. It’s designed to be easy to access and difficult to leave, so fills the void of boredom and procrastination perfectly. In the words of Cal Newport, it “offers you shiny treats in exchange for minutes of your attention.” Once you’re in the rabbit hole, you can be stuck in there for hours.
2. Social Media addiction. Social Media is addictive. The addiction may not exhibit the extreme highs and lows of alcohol or drug addiction, but it’s still an addiction. We don’t get the same withdrawal symptoms of say, coming off caffeine, but it’s subtle and insidious. We pick up our phones and scroll without thought or purpose. We start as soon as we wake up in the morning and don’t stop until we sleep at night. Pay close attention to how often you and your peers check your socials each day and you’ll see how bad it is.
3. Tracking and data gathering. Apps are constantly tracking your usage, preferences and personal info. They want to know as much about you as possible, so they can keep you hooked and leverage the data for advertisers. It’s concerning to say the least and constantly flirts with the edges of privacy and legality.
4. Behaviour modification. Social Media feeds what you’ve already shown an interest in. The algorithm matches your preferences precisely so that you keep tuning in and stay for longer. You’re not seeing reality anymore, or a balanced view, but more of the same. This makes it easy to get to what you like, but it can also reinforce any problems, attitudes and biases that you already possess.
5. Fuels narcissistic behaviour. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, a high percentage of young people who have grown up on socials demonstrate extreme narcissistic behaviour. The constant need for attention, and the do whatever it takes to get that attention, is at an all time high. It’s a generational issue so hopefully the following one will find their way back to reality.
6. Affects on the brain. Social Media affects the brain in many ways. One of the most concerning is the elevation of Dopamine, a type of neurotransmitter and hormone that plays a role in memory, mood motivation and pleasure. Having too much dopamine is linked to being more competitive, aggressive and having poor impulse control. It can lead to conditions that include ADHD, binge eating, addiction and gambling.
7. Mental health risk. Social Media poses a great risk to our mental health, especially in vulnerable and at risk groups. It conditions us to be observers of other people’s lives. It promotes comparison and insecurity. It increases stress and anxiety. It makes us do silly things to be like the cool kids and angry about whatever the world is saying we should be angry about.
There are many mental issues that stem from social media use, so we need to be aware of any changes in ourselves and those we care about.
So how do we know if social media is affecting your mental health? How do we know how much is too much?
Common signs are checking your socials constantly, modifying your behaviour for likes and attention, and not being able to enjoy anything without taking a picture of it. If you’re not present and engaged and fulfilled with real life, then something is off.
Any strong negative feelings and emotions (fear, anxiety, depression, loneliness, jealousy) triggered by social media are a signal to take a break.
We can all benefit from a social media detox. Taking a month or more off and returning with a stronger set of rules, is the perfect counter measure. Or, not returning at all.
I still use social media, but sparingly, and with regular breaks. I try not to scroll mindlessly, but with a purpose. It’s not a necessity in life so I’m certainly happier without it.
If you’ve found the hidden dangers of social media interesting, you may also like, let’s talk about men’s mental health, and how to limit social media use.