What does Social Media Addiction look like?

Social Media Addiction can look like:

 

  • Teen checking TikTok every 10 minutes: Even in class or while doing homework, they feel the urge to check for likes or updates.

  • College student feeling anxious without their phone: They check Instagram or Snapchat immediately after waking up and can’t go more than an hour without refreshing their feed.

  • Influencer burnout: A content creator constantly posts to stay relevant and experiences stress when engagement drops.

  • “Doomscrolling” at night: A user stays up hours later than planned, endlessly scrolling through social media content, impacting sleep and mood.

  • Skipping meals or events to post the “perfect” content or respond to followers in real time.


 

Not-So Fun Facts about Social Media Addiction

 

  • 4.8 billion people use social media globally as of 2023.

  • Teens spend an average of 3.5 hours per day on social media.

  • Social media use is linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression, especially in youth.

  • 90% of adults aged 18–29 use at least one social media platform daily.

  • Dopamine spikes caused by likes and shares mimic the brain's response to addictive substances.

  • Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have algorithms specifically designed to keep users engaged longer.