#GiveMeMyfix

 

By: Aljohara Al Hugail

Edited by: Farah Takrouri, Noor Al Toukhi

 

I believe that I was once addicted to social media. I remember coming back from school and spending four hours straight on Tumblr. I couldn’t control myself and it felt totally normal. I literally didn’t feel the time passing. I then started working on myself until I gained control.

 

 

Researches at Chicago University concluded media cravings ranked ahead of cigarette and alcohol cravings. Clinicians have observed symptoms of anxiety, depression and psychological disorders in people who spend too much time on the internet but  little evidence found proved that social media caused the symptoms. Still other researchers found that social media can make people feel better about themselves and more connected to society.

 

Social media can cause anxiety. In addition even your phone can cause anxiety. An example would be phantom vibration syndrome. It's when you think you heard your phone buzz but it didn't and it's because of built up anxiety. According to the AIS-R high school survey, 64% have experienced phantom vibration syndrome.

 

Theres no official medical recognition of social networking as a disease or disorder. In most addictions people become so compelled to social media they feel like there’s this certain activity they have to do online. It becomes a harmful habit that then interferes with other important activities such as school or work.

An interviewee emphasizes this, “before my grandpa passed away I wish that I spent more time with him rather than staying on social media,” says Yasmina Khazen who's always on her phone. “It does affect my mood. If I don’t check up on social media for a whole day I’ll probably be frustrated,” says Yasmina who's always on her phone. Apparently, more likes on Instagram boosts her confidence and if she doesn’t have enough likes she’ll delete the picture because it makes her feel insecure. Social media plays a big role in her life.

 

There are 5 different types of online addiction: computer game addiction, web surfing addiction,  online gambling or shopping, cyber sexual addiction, and cyber relationship addiction. Based on the result of research, the active participation of SNS (social networking service) has increased 30% from 2009 to 2013.

 

Students are aware that they may be addicted, such as Mohammed Abouzaid, an eighth grader who checks his phone a 100 times an hour. When asked if he knew anyone suffering from this so called, “addiction” he responds, “Most people from our grade are suffering and they don’t even know it.”  

 

Another example is Claire Guy, a Canadian eighth grader, checks her phone every 5 mins. She thinks she’s missing out on her life because of the internet,  “Sometimes going on social media for 3 hours straight I realize hey I could actually be doing these things instead of just looking at these pictures of them but I still go back to social media [sic]” says Guy.

 

In contrast others don’t find it the most important part of their lives, like Mr.Blazek, an eighth grade humanities teacher.  He explains that he sometimes spends too much time fishing on the internet and that he doesn’t feel the time passing. Although he doesn’t feel like he’s missing out on his life because of the internet or that he’s too attached to it. “ It’s a mindless activity,” Mr. Blazek says.  

 

Some people prefer online relationships over “real life” relationships. They find it easier to type their true thoughts than to admit them face-to-face. Some believe that an online relationship involves all the emotions of an offline one. Online dating websites are worth hundreds of millions of British pounds today, this shows how important online dating is nowadays.

 

With so much of our population on smartphones and social media, are people aware that they could be addicted? That this could lead to anxiety or depression? That they might be missing out on their lives? Do you want to know if you’re addicted? Try this quiz and find out.  http://netaddiction.com/internet-addiction-test/