Living For The 'Likes': When Social Media Hacks Your Mind At Every Scroll

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Mira was hanging out with her three friends at a cool new restaurant around the street. Once the girls ordered, they stopped to take some fun group selfies together. As soon as they were done, Mira didn't waste a moment to post them on social media both on Instagram and on her WhatsApp status.

Soon, their food arrived, but right before having their food, Mira and the others stopped to take pics of their delectable dishes from all angles. "Can we eat now?" said one of her friends who was pretty hungry now. "Just a minute" said Mira who continued to take pics much to her irritation. "Ok done" she said. "Thank you, now we can eat it all cold," said her friend sarcastically.

Since that moment, Mira was glued to her cellphone to check if all her acquaintances liked or commented on her posts and pics in social media. She was completely disturbed to find out there were not as many likes as she expected and no one had bothered to comment on her pics. It left her in a bad mood and soon she posted a "I am feeling down today" on her WhatsApp status. No sooner had she said that, she received a string of WhatsApp messages asking her what the matter was. That brought a victory smile on her face.

Tapping for Approval - So what was the problem with Mira's mindset? She was deeply disappointed with the simple fact that her post had very few likes. This feeling stems from an attitude of seeking constant approval from others. As soon as Mira realized that people saw her post about feeling down today, it made her feel happy. Why? Because Mira was an attention seeking person. She constantly wanted people to acknowledge and support her through her social media posts.

Being glued to the phone to check every now and then if her posts were being liked made her a social media addict. Social media influencers are an exception, because it's part of their profession to gain likes and followers but we as an individual prioritize more on reel relationships rather than real ones. All of us have a Mira in us and we need to find a solution to this problem.

The Underlying Threat - According to addictionhelp.com data from Statista let's take a deep dive into the negative effects of social media on US teenagers. Out of 1,141 respondents from the age 13 to 17 years old, 70% teenagers reported that they felt left out while using social media. 43% of them deleted social media posts just because they didn't receive likes as much as they expected. Finally 43% felt disappointed with themselves if they received no likes or comments just like Mira.

These statistics lead to the underlying threat that youngsters and teenagers fall into sudden depression which in turn leads to thoughts of suicide and self-harm. Not just that, research from San Diego State University states that there is a higher risk of suicide for about 7 in 10 teens who use social media for more than 5 hours. Take note that though I have stated the statistics based on U.S teenagers these problems are applicable for the people around the world , even India.

The 'Reel' Solution - Every problem has a solution. These are some of the ways which can help you reduce social media addiction -

• Shift the focus - Find something that takes your attention away from your mobile phone and social media. Find a hobby or indulge in a healthy activity, like reading a book or something simple like playing indoor or outdoor games with your friends and acquaintances.
• Schedule a time - Fix a specific time duration to use your phone and limit checking it constantly every now and then. Like checking your phone once every 15 minutes, then once every 30 minutes and then once an hour. If you find difficulty in doing so, there are many apps on the Play Store that will help you limit your access to your phone.
• Say no to your phone - Make a point to stay away from your phone while you drive, when you are at a meeting, having a conversation with your loved ones, working out at the gym, having dinner by yourself or your family. Especially stop the habit of taking your phone to the washroom.
• Accept the reality - Understand the fact that what people post on social media might not be the actual picture. A person who is facing a lot of problems in life might probably try to excessively show in his/her reels how he/she is very happy when probably that is not the case in reality. Feeling left out compared to them and expecting a likewise life would eventually lead you to depression.

It's pretty ok and normal to share your happiness and thoughts in reels and posts but it's always best to keep a balance. Don't fret over the fact that you haven't received likes and comments for your posts. Specially, understand that if they don't do so doesn't necessarily mean they don't care about you or that you have no friends.

There are so many adverse effects of social media addiction other than depression; it reduces the quality time you can spend with your friends and family, causes short-term memory and lack of focus, affects problem solving, results in obesity, inconsistent sleep patterns and leads to negativity and distress.

So people look around, take a deep breath and enjoy every moment of your life, don't just live in virtual reality for the likes!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.