Used regularly by a substantial portion of adults and the majority of teens, social media is becoming virtually ever-present in today’s society. In fact, some people socialize almost exclusively on the popular sites. Lisa Selin Davis expressed dismay when that seemed to be the case with her long-time friend Jenny. In her article on TIME magazine’s website she wrote: “After 24 years, our friendship is now relegated to the online world, filtered through Facebook. Call it Facebook Recluse Syndrome — and Jenny is far from the site 's only social hermit (Davis).” The idea begs the question; are concerns related to ‘digital retreating,’ among the other problems introduced by social media, based on any proven threats to society? Although social media
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Susan Greenfield, a professor, scientist, and member of the House of Lords, having researched the effects of technology on the brain, warns that social media sites could cause "a much more marked preference for the here-and-now, where the immediacy of an experience trumps any regard for the consequences” because social media sites are built around instantaneous, care-free communication. "If the young brain is exposed from the outset to a world of fast action and reaction” she further warns, “of instant new screen images flashing up with the press of a key, such rapid interchange might accustom the brain to operate over such timescales. Perhaps when in the real world such responses are not immediately forthcoming, we will see [the resulting] behaviors and call them attention-deficit disorder” (Wintour). And, when someone begins to depend on social media to that degree, and it suddenly becomes unavailable, or circumstances require them to take an extended break from it, depression (like the experiences of the students in the Maryland study) can become a problem (O’Keeffe). From the effects of social media on the mind, it can begin to look increasingly detrimental to our
Susan Greenfield, a professor, scientist, and member of the House of Lords, having researched the effects of technology on the brain, warns that social media sites could cause "a much more marked preference for the here-and-now, where the immediacy of an experience trumps any regard for the consequences” because social media sites are built around instantaneous, care-free communication. "If the young brain is exposed from the outset to a world of fast action and reaction” she further warns, “of instant new screen images flashing up with the press of a key, such rapid interchange might accustom the brain to operate over such timescales. Perhaps when in the real world such responses are not immediately forthcoming, we will see [the resulting] behaviors and call them attention-deficit disorder” (Wintour). And, when someone begins to depend on social media to that degree, and it suddenly becomes unavailable, or circumstances require them to take an extended break from it, depression (like the experiences of the students in the Maryland study) can become a problem (O’Keeffe). From the effects of social media on the mind, it can begin to look increasingly detrimental to our