By How Much You are Being Harmed by Social Media.
Let's do a calculation: how many hours does a random person use social media throughout the day? Or how often do you use it?
As of recent studies, the average global social media usage is around 2.5 to 3 hours per day. For example, a report from DataReportal in 2023 found that the average social media user spends about 2 hours and 31 minutes per day on social media platforms.
However, the actual number is likely higher because, mentally, we are constantly engaging with social media even while working. Considering this, the number could rise to 5-6 hours per day.
Factors that influence this time include:
- Age: Younger people, especially teenagers and those in their 20s, tend to spend more time on social media compared to older age groups.
- Geography: Social media usage can vary by country. For instance, users in the Philippines and Brazil tend to have higher average daily usage, while users in Japan and Germany may have lower averages.
- Employment and lifestyle: People with jobs that require online engagement or those with more leisure time might spend more time on social media.
Think about it now: how many hours can you give yourself? We can rarely set aside time for ourselves in the busyness of daily work. But even when I do take time out, am I really giving it to myself? Or am I giving my time to various social media platforms or social media companies? Neither you nor I are free from these aggressive platforms.
Even while writing this article, I have checked the notifications on my phone several times.
So, the time you leave for yourself is actually not your own! Even at this time, you are keeping your brain busy by consuming data, videos, and news on social platforms.
You might wake up to work and decide you need two days of refreshment, take two days off from the office or workplace, and then spend the next two days heavily engaged with social media, consuming a lot of data. After returning to the office on the third day, you still feel like you need refreshment and don’t feel light.
This is because you spent your time off on social media. From my own experience, you don’t get enough sleep during this time because your subconscious mind knows you don’t have to go to work the next day, so you stay up late.
Taking time for yourself means staying away from all social media platforms. Use your cellphone as little as possible. Can you remember the last time you were like this? Can you remember the last time you thought alone, lost in nature, or chatted with friends without a cellphone?
You can’t because you are stuck inside a circular web, from which you can’t get out even if you want to. If you stay away from these things for a while, you suffer from a lack of dopamine, and depression overwhelms you. It seems like nothing feels good anymore.
Human connectivity with social media has been at its highest for over 30 years. Before that, how did people spend their time? If you look back a little, you’ll know that there was less depression, and people were happier compared to now. The suicide rate was very low. So where did that happiness go? Who took it?
Social media has a complex relationship with mental health:
Anxiety and Depression:
- Comparison and Envy: Constant exposure to curated images of others’ lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy and envy, fostering anxiety and depression.
- Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Seeing others participate in activities can create a sense of exclusion and loneliness.
Addiction and Overuse:
- Dopamine Cycle: The rewarding nature of likes, comments, and shares can lead to addictive behaviors, where users continually check for updates and notifications, impacting productivity and sleep.
- Sleep Disturbances: Excessive use, especially before bedtime, can interfere with sleep patterns, leading to insomnia and poor sleep quality.
