Social Media: Scrolling Into Trouble

Story by Serenity Bussey. Photo courtesy of The United Indian.

Social media is a huge part of today’s world, and some even believe it has shaped a generation. Through social media you can stay connected with friends, access news, and even build professional relationships to help with future job opportunities. But with everything sweet there’s something sour lurking. Social media has some potential drawbacks and should be used responsibly.

TikTok is one of the biggest social media platforms globally, with over 1.6 billion monthly active users. Its success stems from engaging short-form video format, fun filters, and a variety of content from entertainment and dance to true crime and prank videos. But with this rapidly changing, stimulating content comes a problem. TikTok’s dopamine-driven algorithms can negatively impact attention spans by training the brain to expect and prefer constant, quick rewards. Over time, this can make sustained focus on longer tasks more difficult. 

Social media can produce a false sense of dopamine. The simple act of reaching for your phone and opening an app is driven by the anticipation of a reward. The “infinite scroll”  design and algorithm-based content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram continuously supply new, stimulating content. The dopamine rush from social media does not provide the lasting fulfillment of a genuine achievement. This cycle of overstimulation and dependence can lead to several negative consequences such as low self-esteem, risks of depression, and sleep disruption.

Now social media isn’t 100% bad, and it can be used in a healthy and responsible way. Setting screen time on your phone can limit how much media you interact with daily. Spending a few hours off screens is also a good way to not be heavily dependent on social media. Going to sleep with your phone a good distance away from you can reduce staying up late scrolling and feeling tired in the morning. Finding alternative activities to do instead of doom scrolling such as reading, painting, or even taking a walk around your neighborhood are also great ways to combat social media addiction. 

If you find yourself bed-rotting and constantly feeling unproductive and lazy, put your phone down and go interact with the real world. Don’t get disconnected from reality trying to impress millions of people behind a phone screen.

Serenity Bussey is a junior at Friendship Collegiate Academy.