The Social Media Disorder Scale/Internet Gaming Disorder Scale: https://www.brieftherapyconference.com/download/handouts/Tobi-Goldfus-Social-Media-Disorder-Scale.pdf

After completing the social media disorder scale, I tested pretty well. While we do live in a more digital age, where everyone is “addicted” to their phones, I feel that it not difficult for me to disconnect. While I do have social media apps on my phone, I am never itching to get to them. I typically only use my phone for social media during long car rides or a few minutes before bed.

However, I can also see where this disorder comes into play. Many people, especially within the newer generations, are reliant and focused on their devices. This can be seen as both a good thing and a bad thing. People are using social media for many different things: lifestyle, information spreading, businesses and money making, and much more.

The comparison between social media and alcohol addiction is something I find very interesting. I truly believe that a person can be addicted to anything. While alcohol and other things are more chemically induced, the mind is a very powerful thing that can be influenced by anything around us. The rise of social media and gaming has become a very controversial topic. Social media offers some areas of growth and can provide useful and valuable information, gaming can be an escape and form of entertainment. Although, this does not dismiss the opinions regarding its downfall of our society and youth.

The categories are as follows:

• preoccupation
• tolerance
• withdrawal
• persistence
• displacement
• problems
• deception
• escape