In the book, “The Female Embodiment,” by Aliza Grace, she states:

“each day feels the same 

i do the same things

and i just can’t break the cycle 

feeling so alone in a room full of people 

staying up till the next morning then falling asleep

when it’s bright outside 

this isn’t a life

and i don’t know what i’m doing

i want to take care of myself

the weight of getting out of bed to comb my hair

just feels too heavy for me right now

i’m normally a clean and organized person

but there are dishes and dirty clothes all over my

room”

The sad part about that poem is that many relate to it. Days seem blurred,energy is at its minimum, and expectations are high. Social Media has had a much larger impact on individuals than one can point out since we are all so consumed by its effects. Days become shorter since being in front of a screen, and lives on a screen are getting portrayed as “normal”. The opening of social media has allowed us to compare ourselves to others.

Increased screen time for adolescents affects them in ways that they may not be aware of. Researchers say that heavy social media users often have poor cognitive performance which is associated with concentration.

Beyond concentration and expectations, the brain’s dopamine levels are affected. Dopamine is a chemical that makes you feel good or happy. Social media platforms drive surges of dopamine to the brain to come back over and over again. The shares,likes, and comments trigger the brain’s reward system, giving an individual a similar high as if using drugs or gambling. 

The use of Social Media increases FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation. In the end, these feelings negatively affect your mood and worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

Do you think social media should have a warning label?