Addiction: a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a chemical, drug, activity, or substance, even though it is causing psychological and physical harm.
Yes, social media can cause you serious psychological harm – whether you can see it or not!
Whenever you have even a second of free time, do you immediately have an urge to check social media?
Which social media site do you check the most? Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.
After you are done scrolling through your social media, how do you feel?
Below are 5 clear signs you need a social media break.
1.) You Have Become Discontented With Your Own Life
If you are prone to jealousy and comparison, social media is a hornets nest that keeps stinging you!
Every time you scroll through your social media feed, you are primarily seeing the “highlight reel” of everyone else’s life.
Happy relationships, expensive gifts, new vehicles, new homes, dream vacations, stylish outfits, flawless complexions, happy children, dream spouse, etc.
Today’s culture is obsessed with popping a filter on top of every life event to create the look of happy perfection.
As you scroll through your feed, you see the perfectly curated lives of your friends and family.
And then you find yourself having thoughts of discontentment and comparison.
“I wish I could do that!
“I would do anything to have that!”
“Why can’t I be as beautiful as her?”
You have fallen victim to the “highlight reel” and filtered pictures!
Like 12:15 “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Related Article: 7 Tips to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
2.) You Constantly Check Your Posts to See How Many Likes You Get
…and when you don’t get as many likes as you thought you would, you feel upset!
Without knowing it, you have attached your mood-levels and self-worth to the amount of “attention/likes” your social media post got!
This level of addiction is devastating not only to the way you see yourself, but also to the people around you.
There are physical people around you. Your friends, family, co-workers, and dozens of POTENTIAL friends.
The connectivity you feel to these “likes” is depriving you from creating real-life friendships with the people who are really in your life.
Whether you posted your content at a “low-engagement time” or it simply didn’t resonate with your “social media friends” doesn’t matter!
What really matters is YOUR opinion of what you posted.
If other’s opinions and approval has become a happiness-blocker, you may need a break from social media.
3.) You unconsciously click into Social Media every chance you get
You open your phone, swipe to the social media app, click on it, and start scrolling, scrolling, scrolling…
It’s like a involuntary movement that you have no control over.
Do you check social media when you wake up, on the way to work, when you use the restroom, on your lunch break, as you cook dinner, etc.
Do you feel anxious or bored if you have a break where you cannot check your Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter?
When your need for social media becomes this strong, it’s time to reconsider how you’re spending your time.
Related Article: 9 Ways to Stop Wasting Time on Social Media
4.) You Sit In a Room with Friends/Family – on your phone!
Get-togethers, family gatherings, group projects, co-workers lunch, a date, etc.
Instead of being present with the people around you, you choose to scroll through your social media.
This is a serious sign that you have a unhealthy social media addiction!
Not only does this make you look bored and detached, it also gives other’s the impression that you are immature and selfish.
This issue will alienate you from those who truly care about you.
If you can’t look up from your phone long enough to have a meaningful conversation, how do you ever expect to maintain healthy relationships?
5.) You Feel Really Lonely
You have hundreds (or thousands) of social media “friends”, but you feel deeply lonely.
The funny thing is, social media was created to make us feel more connected to each other!
So why does it actually have the opposite effect on us?
As humans, we were created to thrive with real connectivity with others.
Unfortunately, the majority of your social media interactions are not real connectivity. Most people like a post or a picture without even reading it and appreciating it.
Sitting in your room, scrolling through social media will actually make you feel much lonelier!
You see the “highlight reel” of everyone else’s life and either wish you were with them or wish your life was more like them.
The perfect recipe for a sad and lonely social media experience!
Related Articles:
- 9 Ways to Stop Wasting Time on Social Media
- 7 Tips to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
- 5 Tips to Overcome Jealousy as a Christian Woman
If you have identified yourself in the 5 signs of social media addiction, you need to take a social media break!
Don’t allow a social media site (or app) ruin your life. Yes, ruin your life!
If you cannot actively manage your usage in a healthy and restricted way, you may need to take a break.
It will be the best thing you’ve done for yourself in a long time!
Proverbs 4:23 “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”
