Complete the Social Media Disorder scale. How did you score? What
do you think about the items in the scale? Why do you think that
different patterns are found across the world?
For each of the 9 statements below, simply answer yes or no.
During the past year, have you …
- … regularly found that you can’t think of anything else but the moment that you will be able to use social media again? yes
- … regularly felt dissatisfied because you wanted to spend more time on social media? yes
- … often felt bad when you could not use social media? no
- … tried to spend less time on social media, but failed? yes
- … regularly neglected other activities (e.g. hobbies, sport) because you wanted to use social media?
- yes
- … regularly had arguments with others because of your social media use? yes
- … regularly lied to your parents or friends about the amount of time you spend on social media? no
- … often used social media to escape from negative feelings? yes
- … had serious conflict with your parents, brother(s) or sister(s) because of your social media use? yes
How many yes’s? 7
5 or more yes’s means that I have Social Media Disorder
I think that the nine questions actually sum up what would entail a disorder involving social media pretty accurately. It does disappoint me that I am considered to have the disorder, but I believe that it is accurate with how much I use it and how I feel about it. I think that in America, social media is pushed very, very heavily. It is one of the main ways of communication in America, with it now predominating over texting and phone calls at colleges. Social media such as TikTok promotes doomscrolling, which is scrolling endlessly searching for more and more clips to give a short dopamine rush. Other countries, especially third world countries, do not put that same emphasis on social media, this is why the number of people with the disorder is not as high in those countries.