Health Issues Caused by Overusing of Social Media Application
Health Issues Caused by Overusing of Social Media Application
Introduction
Social media addiction is a term that is
often used to refer to someone who spends too much time on social media like Facebook and
Twitter or other forms of social media. As a result, it affects the person’s
daily life.
Although there is no official medical
recognition on social media addiction as a disease, the negative habit of
excessive use of social media has become a subject of much discussion and
research.
10 Common Signs You Are Addicted to
Social Media
o Social
media
is the first thing you do in the morning.
o You
waste
your time looking at nonsense and procrastinate.
o You
checked
in everywhere you go.
o You
check
notifications all the time.
o You
only
want to contact and talk to your friends via social media.
o You
constantly
monitor the “likes” and “shares” you receive.
o Craving
for
internet connection.
o You
take
photos of almost everything.
o Social
media
becomes part of your life.
o Checking
social
media is the first thing you do whenever you are free.
Objectives
To inform readers that overusing of
Social Media
applications can affect our health not only physically but
also
mentally, and to give them some tips on how to treat
those health issues.
Impact
on Physical Health
Social
media can directly impact physical health. This is usually associated with the
way you use it. For example:
1. Eye
problems
Is
an eye condition that manifests through
nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, pain in or around the eyes, blurred vision, headache, and
occasional double vision. You can get eyestrain from staring at screens for too long.
TIPS: Your cellphone screen: Place it 10-12 inches away from your eyes and a little below eye level. Regularly clean off dust and fingerprints from the surface. You can reduce contrast and create problems like glare and reflections.
2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If
you do too much keying, you may experience problems that affect your hands or
wrists. There are also specific problems associated with keying on mobile
phones, which can strain the tendons of your fingers. These problems aren’t all
caused by social media. It can just as easily be caused by having to type term
papers for school or reports at work.
TIPS:Take more frequent breaks to rest your hands. Avoiding activities that worsen symptoms and applying cold packs to reduce swelling also may help.
3. Fatigue
This is another symptom of overusing Social Media. If you are staying up too late posting on Twitter or Facebook, you may be losing valuable sleep.
Ø Drink plenty of water. Dehydration zaps
energy and impairs physical performance.
Ø Get to bed early. Lack of sleep increases
the risk of accidents and is one of the leading causes of daytime fatigue.
Ø Go fish. Good for your heart, omega-3
oils may also boost alertness.
Ø Keep time with your body clock.
4. Distraction
One
of the most dangerous potential consequences of social media addiction is
driving while being distracted. As recent stories have confirmed, you can even
get hurt texting
and walking.
Tips:
In
order to stay on task and get things done, it’s essential to create an
environment for yourself in which you can work without having your attention
pulled in different directions. This includes measures like turning off your
phones and other electronics, scheduling specific times to work and meeting a
quota of work and other tasks that you set for yourself.
FOUR WAYS SOCIAL MEDIA NEGATIVELY AFFECTS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
1. Self-esteem
It
reflects to an individual's overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or
her own worth. It is the decision made by an individual as an attitude towards
the self. However, comparing yourself to others
on social media by stalking their aesthetically perfect Instagram
photos or staying up to date with their relationship status on Facebook
could do little to assuage your feelings of self-doubt.
Tips:
Ø Think about what is affecting
your self-esteem.
Ø Avoid negative self-talk.
Ø Connect with people who love you.
Ø Learn to be assertive.
Ø Set yourself a challenge.
Ø Focus on your positives.
Ø Take care of yourself.
2. Memory
Social media can be great for looking
back fondly on memories and recounting how past
events occurred. However,
it can also distort the way in which you remember certain tidbits
from
your life.
“If we direct all of our attention toward capturing the best shots for our social media followers to admire, less will be available to enjoy other aspects of the experience in real time.” said Dr Bono.
Ø Create memories together with your family
and friend and avoid using your mobile phones too much just to post on you
social media accounts
Ø Learn to communicate verbally
Ø You can use gadgets in case of emergency
3. Sleep
Having enough sleep is of paramount importance. However, many of us use our phones
too soon before choosing
the hit the hay, making it harder to doze off.
“Getting worked up with anxiety or envy from what we see on social media keeps the brain on high alert, preventing us from falling asleep,” explained Dr Bono.
ØGo to sleep earlier.
ØExpend energy during the day without
using your gadgets.
ØDeep Breathing.
ØGet on a Schedule.
ØAvoid Naps During the Day.
ØTurn Off All Electronics.
Preventive Measures on Social Media Addiction
1. Get Rid of Notifications
2. Limit Your Time Spent On Social Media
3. Delete the Apps
4. Make Yourself Busy
5. Restrict Your Time Spent on Social
Media Through Apps
6. Create Your Own Reward System
7. Disconnect and Unplug Yourself
8. Never Bring Your Smartphone Into
Your Bedroom
9. Get An Accountability Partner
10. Do a Self-reflection Every Week
¨Finally, please understand that technology is there to help us move forward, it is not created to waste our time and make us less productive.
¨Social media can be a great way to connect with people, but you must not neglect the importance of physical communication with others too. Never let these online social platforms take away your precious time or control your life, you should be the one that controls them as a tool.
¨If you found yourself spending too much time on social media and are addicted to it, follow the advice above, get rid of the disorder and gain back the control over your life.
Reference:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/social-media-mental-health-negative-effects-depression-anxiety-addiction-memory-a8307196.html
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