Is social media addiction real?

Social media addiction, while not included in the DSM-5, is still something that many people struggle with. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have a constant stream of updates from our favorite brands, celebrities, and people. When this stream is never-ending and constantly refreshing, it's hard to know when to stop.

Social media is designed to hook users, though, by rewarding the pathways in the brain. New updates, notifications, and interactions provide a shot of the chemical dopamine. 

Like other behavioral addictions, people become hooked on the dopamine that social media provides, to the point where users become preoccupied with logging on, and neglect other duties. While most people's social media use is not problematic, for some people, they may neglect work, school, relationships, and other aspects of their personal lives in order to spend time on social media.

If you notice that you think about social media constantly, or have been unable to cut back on your usage, these can be signs of addiction.


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