COVID-19 also fostering Social Media Addiction
Ever since the start of COVID-19 and the quarantine back in April, there has been a decreased amount of social contact with one another. Working from home for adults and children has now become the norm, to which all of us have I think to some extent adapted really well. However, with this, our reliance on our devices has also drastically increased. Undoubtedly, the reliance on social media and new technologies to keep us updated and amused has also grown, pushing us more often to review updates and scroll than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Digital devices are cleverly designed to crave our attention and give us psychological or other rewards for being attentive. They tap into human nature by making us feel good in seeking likes, connections, comments, followers, and views,” says Eric Alcera, M.D., network medical director for Behavioral Health services for Hackensack Meridian Health and a psychiatrist specialized in child, adolescent, and adult care. Those needs for recognition and positive feedback, and our reaction to them, can get in the way of being in the moment and experiencing or engaging with what’s around us.
So what can we do about it? There are several ways to Reduce Digital Dependency, We can start with setting timers for social media apps on our smartphone and tablet, setting aside time for non-screen time, taking a digital detox, and limiting scrolling are just a few ways to control this issue. These approaches can help develop a healthier relationship with digital media and become less dependent upon it. In times like these, it is vital to practice distancing from our devices as well.
