I have a social media problem. I answered yes to all of the questions on the Social Media Disorder Scale. I’ve been through all of the scenarios described on the scale at one point or another in my life, but I do not think my problem is as extreme as it appears. I do think about social media often, and often find myself unable to sleep and wanting to keep browsing, but I do not have trouble stopping when it’s necessary. I don’t confuse my wants with my responsibilities. I think different patterns exist across the world because priorities are different in other countries. In a poor country like Indonesia, they must work harder to live, so they cannot afford to spend too much time on social media. The US is a wealthy democracy where almost everyone owns or has access to technology, so social media has become a big part of Americans’ lives.
