Social media is both a blessing and a plague sweeping the world. After taking the following survey I’m thankful to report I am have a relatively low score on the Social Media Disorder Scale. I think this shows that I might not have as large of an issue with social media usage as some people certainly do. The only item I answered “Yes” to was about using social media to escape from negative feelings and I suppose that suggests that I like to use social media as a way to distract from negative emotions. I don’t think that itself is uncommon. Think of books, and movies, and most forms of entertainment, as they are all some form of escapism.

For the questions on the survey, I think it’s makes it more apparent how many reasons people use and become addicted to social media, like the video showed as well – including making friends/social interaction, entertainment, and relaxation. But the problem with it is how addictive it can be. The questions and the video showed that excessive social media use can interfere with real relationships. take facebook for example, if you look at my friends list I have what – maybe 300 friends, half of which I never speak to, and some I don’t recall at all. Definitely wouldn’t call those quality relationships. It’s definitely a growing issue.

People use social media in different ways all over the world, and it’s not just because of personal preferences. I think what impacts it is how easy it is to get an individuals hands on tech, what’s popular in different cultures, and what your friends and family expect from you can all play a role. All that goes to say with the ongoing plague that is social media addiction it’s important to find a balance between your online life and your time offline. I know that I could personally benefit a bit from taking a little less time with my nose in my phone.