Written by Modenie
Social media” social media isolates you from others” is the stance I take because I noticed how children in my own family have become distant and less social as they have emerged into using social media. My children were accustomed to having a set schedule of using technology, but while going through life’s changes, I did not focus too much on them. As a result with no routine, they became anti-social and rely solely on social media to entertain them until the process ended. Satici et al. (2023) stated that individuals who constantly have urges to use social media usually lose their self-control and spend a lot of time thinking or staying on social media which can later impact their families’ and friends’ relationships in a negative manner.
A study conducted in China during COVID found that US and China used social media in excess to connect with the public as a form to communicate which was understandable (Huang et al., 2023). However, the addiction of being online all the time can lower relationship interactions and also create physical and emotional infidelity, decline of romantic relationships which can cause dissatisfaction and separation (Satici et al., 2023). Moreover, social media addiction can cause psychological distress and can also trigger fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. Having a satisfying and meaningful life involves managing our relationships well and balancing our use of social media.
Satici, B., Kayis, A. R., & Grifths, M. D. (2023). Exploring the association between social media addiction and relationship satisfaction: Psychological distress as a mediator. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 21, 2037-2051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-0210=-00658-013
Huang, O., Lynn, B. J., Dong4, C., Nie, S., & Men, L. R. (2023). Relationship cultivation via social media during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from China and the U. S. Journal of Business Communication, 60(2), 512-542