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?
After completing the Social Media Disorder scale, I scored a 4.0. The items in the scale are very indicative of a social media disorder. I’ve found that these patterns continue due to social media being an exploitation of human psychology. The constant flow of information, videos, and media feeds into social media addiction by continuously providing entertainment, which can contribute to the phenomena of “infinite scrolling”.
An example is likely experienced by many students and workers alike; social media provides a temporary escape from the tremendous pressure we all exhibit everyday. The sensation is almost like “turning your brain off”, as the scrolling and surplus of new information grabs a user’s attention constantly, pulling them away from the stresses of the world, only temporarily. I believe that reasons such as this contribute to the items on the scale, such as frequent arguments, and being unable to think about anything but the next time one gets to use social media.
I believe patterns are different across the world due to a few reasons, one of them being culture. Different cultures across the world can reinforce the importance of in-person connection, which can reduce risk of social media disorder. Activities can rely less on a digital presence and more on real social interaction between communities. Another reason would be socioeconomic status; some citizens in different counties may not have the economic means to possess a cell phone capable of using social media, or their access to technology as a whole may be limited. Lack of internet access across different countries can contribute to different patterns across the world; internet access is not a global standard.