Social Media Is a Strong Addiction

Just by answering these simple questions you could decide whether you are a social media addict or not. What is the first thing you do in the morning? Do you tweet quiet often? Do you find ‘logout’ button is the hardest button to click? If your answer is yes, then you could be an addict.

A new study conducted by the University of Chicago has found that social is more addictive than cigarettes and alcohols. The study also found that although the urges for sleep and sex are stronger, people are willing to sacrifice their cravings in order to check their social profiles.

‘The whole social media concept took interaction to a whole new level and it is definitely addictive. I think part of the addiction comes from the fact that social media is like a giant party ‘out there’ where something is happening all the time. So it is much easier to plug in and feel you are part of something worthwhile going on,’ says Ankush Thakur of Green Smyles, a multi-service agency. Moreover, according to some surveys, it has been revealed that the addiction to social media is so intense that even if they logout at night, some of them will find themselves logging in from inside the quilts via mobile phone.

Experts say that most individuals who are leading busy lives or are introverts by nature and don't prefer socialising in the real sense are twice as likely to be addicted to the social networking site to escape to their virtual world. Making friends, chatting and commenting then become a part of daily schedule. It was easier for such people to open up to strangers and trust them.

"If people don't log on to check their notifications every couple of hours, they feel incomplete, almost like a vital organ missing from their system. This holds true for any addiction where in the habit gets so embedded into one's schedule that it becomes difficult to kick off," explains personality development trainer Faraaz Kazi. Faraaz further adds that as human beings we love to gossip and are always interested in what is happening in others' lives, and social media gives us a perfect platform to keep a tab on other people's relationships, network and popularity.

What do you think about this 'epidemic'? Is this a major problem or eventually will become a culture in the future?