Lee, H. H., et al. (2017). Differences by sex in association of mental health with video gaming or other nonacademic computer use among US adolescents. Dixon, S. (2022). Share of online users in the United States who report being addicted to social medias as of April 2019, by age group. As social media takes up a significant portion of a young person’s time and energy, it can lead to neglecting school or work-related responsibilities, resulting in a decline in academic or professional performance. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Researchers know that social media use is inherently tied to dopamine production . Dopamine is a chemical produced in the brain that impacts motivation.

This is because they have grown up in a digital age and are more comfortable with technology and online communication. Social media platforms offer them a means to connect with peers, stay updated on trends, and express themselves. Moreover, individuals who crave social validation and approval may also be more prone to social media use, as these platforms provide a platform for garnering likes, comments, and shares, which can boost self-esteem and a sense of belonging. Gmail can sometimes clip long messages, so if gaining social followers is one of your newsletter goals, put the icons in the header or above the fold and consider using a call-to-action. Alternately, if the goal of your newsletter is to promote content, you may want to consider including share icons, and placing follow icons in the footer. Image via Sephora e-newsletter Print Furthermore, the influencer culture and the accessibility for individuals to participate in content creation have made social media especially appealing to younger generations. Another recent study looked into the role of social media in young people hospitalized for suicide attempts or suicidal ideation. They found that negative aspects of social media included:Next time you go to access social media, pause for a moment and clarify your motivation for doing so. Helping an individual, whether it’s a teen or a self-aware young adult, in breaking a social media addiction is a three-part process. As a whole, the goal is to help the individual re-develop a connection to life. Real life doesn’t happen through the glass screen of a smartphone.

A digital detox is one way to develop healthy boundaries around social media use. Set limits on the amount of time social media should be used. It can be helpful to have a designated place to put a smartphone outside of scheduled social media time. Be mindful that a digital detox may induce social media withdrawal symptoms, similar to those of a drug or alcohol detox. 2. Restore Balance Not to be confused with share buttons or wordmarks, social media icons are shorthand symbols that link to your company profile on different networks (or, in the case of print materials, simply let people know that your business is on those networks). In working to counter social media addiction signs, the most powerful tool is building community and fostering real-world human relationships. 3. See a Specialist Are you seeing an unusually high volume of the same status being shared? This should ring alarm bells that it may be a scam, especially if the message is the same for more than a few people. Interact with strangers. Look up from your screen and connect with people you cross paths with on public transport, at the coffee shop, or in the grocery store. Simply smiling or saying hello will improve how you feel—and you never know where it may lead. Step 4: Express gratitudeTurn off your personal phone during work, as well as during school, meals, and recreational activities. Younger generations, including Millennials and Generation Z, are among those most prone to social media. Their experiences with social media are diverse and influenced by factors such as their age, interests, and online interactions All social media logos and icons are trademarked. That means rotating, outlining, recolouring, animating, or edits of any kind are not permitted. Size uniformly Find new friends and communities; network with other people who share similar interests or ambitions. On the Message tab, in the Include group, choose Signature, and then choose your newly modified signature. Gmail signature

It may be difficult to see how something so seemingly harmless can turn into an addiction. The truth is that like other types of behavioral addictions ( gambling, porn, sex) constant or excessive use of social media can have a harmful influence on the way your brain process pleasure and reward. Similar to addictive drugs, social media content, and likes can trigger the release of the pleasure chemical dopamine, which may explain why some people report feeling addicted to these platforms. [4] While there may be no medical diagnosis for social media addiction, a doctor or psychiatrist will be able to determine whether you display the hallmark symptoms of addiction or if your social media use is at a safe level. Practice mindfulness. Experiencing FOMO and comparing yourself unfavorably to others keeps you dwelling on life’s disappointments and frustrations. Instead of being fully engaged in the present, you’re focused on the “what ifs” and the “if onlys” that prevent you from having a life that matches those you see on social media. By practicing mindfulness, you can learn to live more in the present moment, lessen the impact of FOMO, and improve your overall mental wellbeing.The LinkedIn icon should never be a circle, a square, a triangle, trapezoid, or any shape other than a rounded square. Many of us access social media purely out of habit or to mindlessly kill moments of downtime. But by focusing on your motivation for logging on, you can not only reduce the time you spend on social media, you can also improve your experience and avoid many of the negative aspects. Most social media companies explicitly state that you should never use the wordmark in place of the icon. Wordmarks are typically for corporate use only, and represent the company, as opposed to your company’s presence on the network. Make your brand the focus

Behavioral addictions have much the same effect on the brain as drugs and alcohol, and the same is no different for social media. For those who engage with social media apps on a regular basis, the process of scrolling and intaking images, posting and receiving positive affirmations from others, and other stimuli create the chemical dopamine in the brain. Dopamine reacts with neurotransmitters and creates feelings of pleasure and reward and causing the formation of “addiction pathways” in the brain that makes it hard to resist urges or stop the behavior. [4] Featuring icons too prominently could wrongly imply sponsorship, partnership, or endorsement, and potentially land your company in legal trouble. Plus, your brand should be the focus of your marketing materials anyway. Link to your company profile

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One of the hallmark signs of addiction is continuing to use something even after it has clearly had negative impacts on your physical or mental health, relationships, work, or other vital areas of life. More and more people are reporting that heavy social media use negatively impacts their relationships and self-esteem and makes them less productive at work or school, which is a red flag that may indicate addiction.