Addiction And Social Media Addiction

Social Media ties to addiction It is believed that using social media can be addicting and can cause substance abuse and addiction. This is completely incorrect, social media does glorify drugs and alcohol and can be an addiction in itself but it may not cause drug and alcohol addiction. It can contribute to an addiction, because addiction is developed over a period of time and cannot be caused by one thing, such as social media. The addictive qualities of social media, including the glorification of drugs and alcohol, can contribute to addiction but cannot be its sole cause. Addictive qualities often become prevalent at a young age and can affect many aspects of someone’s life. When someone is addicted to drugs they do whatever necessary …show more content…
Unfortunately addiction touches the lives of so many more than those few that are envisioned. Social media use can also be an addiction; often times it will not bring someone such a low that they are forced to be homeless, but serious mental and emotional damage can be caused by the dependency to Instagram or Twitter. In her article featured in the Boston Globe Elizabeth Cooney mentions “We see kids who are just gaming, and they appear to their parents to have all of the signs and symptoms of drug use” (par. 2). Gaming and Social Media surfing in moderation are perfectly fine, but there is a point that is crossed where they both can turn into an addiction. Just like an addiction to drugs or alcohol there is a noticeable change in that person’s life. They become tired, irritable, and discontent with life and use social media or gaming as a crutch to help them get through the day and deal with the pain that has become life. They can no longer live life on life’s terms and must substitute normal life with cravings and a lust to return to their electronic screen. Isolation settles over the addicted like a thick blanket, and there seems to be no escape other than to do what you have taught yourself to relieve the pain, thus causing an endless cycle which seems impossible to escape. As obvious as it is that social media is an addiction to some, it is as clear that social media promotes drugs and alcohol through pictures attempting to promote a grandiose life that can only be accessed through drinking or