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Are you omnipresent in all popular social networking sites? Do you suffer from palpitations when you don’t get to check your Facebook account at least every 24 hours? Do you feel a constant need for Likes, Shares and Comments on everything you post?
You may be suffering from Social Media Addiction. This article was written to increase your awareness on how to lessen your addiction to Social Media.
1. Understand your addiction.
The first step in lessening your addiction is to understand it. Sure, you can consciously stop it by repressing your need to go online, but the best way to efficiently stop it is to know how it works, recognize the signs that you’re addicted, understand why you’re addicted, and figure out how to control it.
Addiction is a condition that is manifested through dependence on an object or substance. It is dangerous, as it can develop compulsive behaviors that can impair your productivity, be it in school or at work.
Ask yourself:
- Is my work getting affected by my social media time already?
- How long and how often do I check my Facebook for Comments and Likes?
- How anxious do I get when I fail to check my accounts in a day?
2. Separate real life from digital life.
So let’s say that you have identified whether you’re addicted to social media or not. Most people who are addicted will never admit that they have subconsciously mixed reality and digital life in a confusing blend. In real life, you cannot type a smiley to express whether you’re happy or -____- . In real life, there are no Like buttons or Share buttons. You have to communicate organically. If you’re caught up in the way you communicate through social media, you will feel isolated and disconnected without your gadget.
Ask yourself:
- Has Facebook changed the way I interact with my family?
- Do I still eat dinner with my family? Am I not eating my dinner on my bed while checking Facebook?
- Am I still aware of the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication in real life?
- Do I have more online friends than real ones?
3. Reset your priorities.
Addiction causes a bleak cloud that gets in the way of your priorities. Priorities are important. These are your guidelines in life whether or not you’re fulfilling your purpose. You have far greater potential than just becoming a stalker on Facebook, checking random profiles, or reading random Tweets on Twitter. Maybe it’s time to remember what you really wanted to do and gain in life.
Ask yourself these questions to get your priorities back on the line.
- What am I getting out of Facebook?
- What am I getting out of Twitter?
- Am I benefiting from these?
In this age of digital technology, communication has been reinvented beyond what was known and used half a century ago.
Messages used to take weeks and even months to be delivered to the addressee. Today, people have turned a strong inclination towards convenience and speed. Through smartphones and tablets, there is convenience of going online portably. Through speed of responses, Comments, Shares and Likes, people can get addicted, most specially with social media.
Sure, social media can be an addicting vice. The attention and appreciation from other users are gratifying. To stop this compulsive behaviour from manifesting, one has to understand it. Understand why it happens, understand why you let it happen, and understand why you make it happen.
About Kyle Kam
Twitter: vagish
says:
Luckily my work involves social media, but I don’t really check my own social accounts anymore.
Vagish recently posted..Arcade Machine with a Touch – Apex Touch
Twitter: treysmithblog
says:
Social media addiction is very prevalent today in our society. And the first step to stop this is to understand the reason behind your addiction.
Lei Broch recently posted..New Release
GO OUTSIDE! That’s the best advice I can give to anyone who truly believes they have a problem with social media. Leave the smart-phone at home, and go outside and just walk and enjoy nature. Find a hobby!
Luis recently posted..Responsive Design Español
Another check again Luis! I suffered this before and the only thing that helps me to cope is to contemplate on the disadvantages it will brought if I let this addiction drown me. After thinking about, I started planning out what to do and what not to do. Now, I only get to visit Facebook atleast twice a day for not more than 15 minutes per visit.
Twitter: rushikesh577
says:
Thanks a lot for all your views on the ‘Addiction towards Social Media’. I really agree with the point of separating between real life and digital life because the generation has changed. People spend hours together in front of the digital media. But don’t you think its really hard getting away from it? With all the youth being involved in different social networks, its really hard to stay away.
Rushikesh
Rushikesh recently posted..FIFA 14 Latest News and Wishlist
Twitter: rushikesh577
says:
Thanks a lot for all your views on the ‘Addiction towards Social Media’. I really agree with the point of separating between real life and digital life because the generation has changed. People spend hours together in front of the digital media. But don’t you think its really hard getting away from it? With all the youth being involved in different social networks, its really hard to stay away. But i once again appreciate all your points.
Rushikesh
Rushikesh recently posted..Weekly Gaming Roundup-Age Of Empires 2 HD,Thief 4, SimCity
Twitter: faruquegolam
says:
Social Media Addiction best and very innovative post, this life is very first and to network to other social life as fachbook, twitter Thanks !!!
Mohammad Golam Faruque recently posted..IPL Kolkata Knight Riders Team 2013 – KKR IPL 6 Squad List
Twitter: faruquegolam
says:
Social Media Addiction best way to promote our products or blog but it also creates distractions and very innovative post!!!
I have read about a lot of articles and blogs regarding the particular topic and this blog is now the best. You have written a great post that really inspired us and other people as well. Thanks
Raja Asim recently posted..The Wizards Return Alex vs Alex (2012)
The social media addition is a topic that is not addressed as much as it deserves to. Your points are definitely going to help people. Users are literally wasting their time on it & this disease is going viral. Good post, thanks for sharing.
I am just so in love with facebook and twitter, to me it is more than addiction but its my livelihood now. I see many people unnecessary wasting their time on it. You have provided some good tips, thanks a lot for sharing.
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That’s harder enough get yourself out from the addiction of social media. These days almost every person is using social media daily. It has become the daily routine of them.
Prakash recently posted..Review of Best Web hosting 2013
Twitter: atul.lkct
says:
that is nice information about social media. i gain lopt of helping knowledge for my blogs. thanks a lot
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Social media addiction is effecting their social life very badly. They cannot survive in the actual world, they think they are cool by impressing some chicks on chat. It is very badly effecting their communicational skills. You have provided some good tips, thanks for sharing.
hi, So far no major addictions to Social Media here. I also find myself resistant to checking in everywhere on Facebook. I also find it a little disturbing when I find myself sitting in a coffee shop or in a waiting lobby area and every living soul on their smart phones. Real interactions are being replaced by digital ones.
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Thanks a ton for sharing these useful Expanding your business can take time, and a lot of work from your part, but it does not have to be difficult. Taking your freelance business to the next level, means that you are ready to take a break from your daily writing routine.
Yes previously when facebook started lot of time is spent for marketing my posts and also spending time with friends now slowly getting rid of these social sites.
I just love this post because I have seen a lot of school going guys are wasting their precious time infront of facebook. I am not against it. but they should do in limits. :)
I’m going to share this & I want to make it viral. I see people eating & sleeping on Facebook. Every single hour they upload photos & status & the effects of that status & phot is whole day, like this they waste there time. You have provided some good tips, thanks a lot.
It’s really an incredible distraction for people with no discipline. I have a FB account that has some really good feeds coming in, with great news, economic updates and such. Of course have friends in the feed that are kinda shallow and post a bunch of nonsense, but I don’t have time for that stuff anyway. I just skip to what I want and move forward.
Social media is a great tool, but very easily used the wrong way, especially for chronic time wasters.
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Thank for sharing this useful and informative article. I enjoyed reading your views on this subject matter. It’s a pleasure to read such well-written content.
You’re right, we are all becoming obsessed with Social Media. I can’t even go out for a coffee without having the heebie jeebies if I’ve not checked Facebook within the last 15 minutes. I’m definitely going to try and get my life back – must reduce to 1 check per hour to wean me off, to begin with…
Ohh man!!
I usually spent more than 3 hours in the world of Facebook….i think i am totally addicted to this stuff…..but this is the time i have to recheck my life from the digital life as you have mentioned and concentrate on my works .
thanks a lot
Akhil rvk
Twitter: Drw3c
says:
I love the featured picture , it is just so right . Facebook gave us an unpleasant reality wich is in fact so unreal and meaningless ….
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Twitter: rcarmstrong
says:
Talk about timely (sort of– I have a little catching up to do on my feeds, so I didn’t read this until now). Just last night I was sitting down to watch some stuff I have DVR’d, and I said to myself “I have to go cehck in on GetGlue!”. Usually something like that would be automatic, but my phone was in another room, so I would have had to get up and go get it. Long story short, I ended up talking myself out of it.
But it goes to show the addictive properties (or at the very least the potential to become addictions, if we let them) of many of these outlets.
Thanks for the post!
Twitter: techinitio
says:
Social media do upside but people now a day are so caught up between creating a virtual presence that they become oblivion to the real life… this is something pretty serious and should be handled at initial stage of the addiction.
Thanks for spreading this awareness.
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Twitter: LensLandscaping
says:
I often joke with my wife that she’s addicted to facebook, but seeing that it is real addiction that does affect others is just sad. Thank you for sharing this post. I think by shedding light on the problem we are that much closer to finding a solution, or at least help, for those with the addiction.
Twitter: LensLandscaping
says:
I often joke with my wife that she is a facebook addict, but to see that it is a real addiction that does affect people is just sad. Thank you for this post. I think by bringing light to the problem, we are that much closer to finding a solution or help for those affected.
Twitter: HadleyHodgson
says:
Social media def’ does have addictive qualities, I don’t think I’m bad myself but know several people who have got into trouble at work due to Facebook.
This is indeed a very crucial topic that is engulfing our society. There is a fine line
between the digital life and the real life which most of us have crossed and
don’t even realize it. The social media addition is a topic that is not
addressed as much as it deserves to. Your points are definitely going to help
people. I am not addicted to the social media (thankfully) and i don’t have any of
the symptoms you have mentioned but most of us have so it is time we understand it and do something about it.
Lucy recently posted..A To Z of Targeting Your Audience in Multi Level Marketing
Twitter: qasimseo
says:
Ahan Good topic. :) Social media addiction is not enough good. But if you are using it for your cooperate program than it is a very useful place to generate business. But for personal use Social Media Addiction is not safe for health too
Hello thanks for this info..Most of the tym i uses the facebook..but after reading this i understand many things.
nice share. Thanks this postI am addicted to facebook and after reading this stuff, I think that it’s time to switch to something useful.
Twitter: Abhi_1907
says:
I think i really nneded it thanks for the tips,,,,i wil surely ttry these .coz from a long time i was thinking that i have became a facebook addict
Abhishek Agarwal recently posted..Theftspy A powerful and unique antitheft system
I heartily appreciate this post…. and social media like face book or others very useful sites for marketing and our products selling… but somehow its bed for our new generation who get addicted very soon in this type of social media site and west their time…
thanks….
i think what you have said in your last section, “Am i benefiting for this”, should be the first thing because this is the real question, am i benefiting from all this facebook and twitter thing?
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Twitter: okblogging
says:
Social media is a part of my passion. it helps me changing my mind so much
Truong Nguyen recently posted..How to Curate Content Like a Pro
Its an addiction that goes with age. Students are more addicted to it but once you get busy with work, it goes with time.
Annie recently posted..Cheaper iPhone 5 in India and China for $300
Twitter: undisputedkyle
says:
Couldn’t agree with what you’ve said, Annie. Thanks! :)
Twitter: brokerhollywood
says:
So far no major addictions to Social Media here. I also find myself resistant to checking in everywhere on Facebook. I also find it a little disturbing when I find myself sitting in a coffee shop or in a waiting lobby area and every living soul on their smart phones. Real interactions are being replaced by digital ones.
Twitter: GeekSyrup
says:
I feel the strongest way is to build a stronger will power. Nothing is impossible after all :) I was addicted to Orkut network few years back, and it was influencing my life to some extent. Am glad I was able to get over it, and now living healthy lifestyle! :)
Sidhant Chadha recently posted..Bulk Delete All Facebook Messages At Once In New Facebook Messages Interface
Twitter: TweakYourBlog
says:
Lol, This Article Is Not For Me:) I Use Social Media To Promote My Things:)
Mathew Stephen recently posted..Optimizing Images in Blogger Using Alt Tag for SEO
Twitter: simpblognetwork
says:
Social media is part of life, and i want to be alive so I guess I’ll keep being social. :)
Beth Hewitt recently posted..Let’s get Personal (with our blogs!)
IMHO, these easy steps will be suitable only for not heavily addicted ones. People with strong addictions really need really need help from psychologists often to get rid of social media adiction
Twitter: zeshanshani22
says:
Social Media, we think it’s changed the world, i think yes, but in both ways. In technology, and to make is vulnerable, weekness. Today yungsters instead of saying good morning to their families, their first work is to update facebook or twitter status :(. We are getting away from real world.
Anyway you have written such a great article.
Zeshan recently posted..How to Get Traffic to your New Blog – Free Traffic Tips
Twitter: atyqinc
says:
Hi Kyle,
I used to be a Facebook addict. I went there all day long, but I discovered that the shares of my friends were not very relevant. And I deleted my account.
Hope that this article will help other people to get rid of social media addiction.
Best regards, Nathan Brunner
Brunner Nathan recently posted..How to Start Forex Trading?
Hello,
I certainly believe that social networking sites have become a necessity and a strong medium
to stay connected with our friends. However, you have to identify that you are addicted to it or not.
As rightly pointed out by you, once you prioritize your tasks and follow your schedule, one can definitely get out of social media addiction.
A thoroughly enriching post.
Regards.
Ramit
Twitter: prabhatrayal
says:
hello kyle
social media is the best way to promote our products or blog but it also creates distractions which is not good. i have seen some people who are addicted to facebook and they can use facebook all day long. this is not good for health as well as it can create serious problems
prabhat recently posted..Free Download Temple Run for PC: iEatTraffic
Twitter: MarkMorphew
says:
Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and the rest! – I do get distracted by multiple social sites throughout the day before I know it I’ve lost 2 hours!
Mark Morphew recently posted..Learn Marketing with Social Media in 7 Days
Twitter: undisputedkyle
says:
Haha! I do have the same experience, Mark. Thanks for your time! :D
It is really becoming addiction.and its becoming necessary to get rid of this. post is very nice.
Facebook addiction is really increasing in young generation which can really effect economy of country as well as It is full wasting time. Govt. Should take steps on this.
Ninika recently posted..Holi Celebration in India
Hello Kyle,
I am just so in love with facebook and twitter. to me it is more than addiction, but hey i can quit at anytime but can’t because they are more valuable to me. i love this post because the tips are head on. Thanks
babanature recently posted..Optimizing Your WordPress Database For A Better Performance
Twitter: undisputedkyle
says:
We all love Social Media and we can’t deny that, but spending your time with more valuable things rather than doing nothing with Social Media is much better. Thanks! :)
Twitter: randomtwister
says:
I am addicted to facebook and after reading this stuff, I think that it’s time to switch to something useful.
Utkarsh Bhatt recently posted..10 Annoying things that Websites Do for no good reason
Twitter: undisputedkyle
says:
Thanks for taking time in reading this, Utkarsh. I guess it is time. :)
Twitter: mu.weezlabs
says:
Social media Addiction is becoming an evil in young generation these days, youngsters are wasting their time and unable to leave it. This piece of writing will help them to get rid of this addiction and utilize their time in some productive activities.
Bundle of thanks for sharing great contents with us.
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