Social media can be a bane. These platforms make billions of people dependent on being liked regardless of age, gender, and social status. FaceBook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and all other social media networking sites are by far the most effective platforms for connectivity and communications. Unfortunately, there are also some downsides.

Cause of Addiction

Social media gets you hooked. Last year, there were around 2.34 billion users of social media worldwide. This figure is expected to reach almost 3 billion by 2020. These users interact on social networks day-in and day-out and are not really aware of the actual time they chat in FB. The addiction can get worse and content creators are thinking of ways to make them more obsessive.
The truth is social media users are so fixated by the number of likes and comments they accumulate for any post. We are all culpable for this passion. In fact, people monitor additional likes almost every 15 to 30 seconds and they feel fulfilled if the likes reach the maximum. On the contrary, social media buffs feel dejected if their posts don’t get the minimum number for friends’ likes.

Social Media Degeneration

Cornell University in the United States has an information Science Program that conducted research on social media networks and users as well as social media deterioration. This study focused on why people find it hard to refrain from using FB due to craving or compulsion.
 
FaceBook seems to benefit most from the social networking phenomenon since it is the top platform with more than 1.94 billion active users as of March (2017). In fact, everybody seems to be on FaceBook even if they’re not regular users.
 

Stronger than Alcohol and Smoking

Academic researchers from one of the most reputable universities in the United States surmised that addiction to social media is stronger than dependence on liquor and cigarette-smoking. Craving for social platforms was in front of desire for smoking and drinking. They discovered that communication arouses the brain’s pleasure hub similar to sexual activity and food.
 
Many medical professionals perceived several indications of stress, despair and psychological syndrome in people who are online most of the time. Nonetheless, there is insufficient evidence that the Internet or social media produced these symptoms. Meanwhile, some psychologists are studying the effects of social networking on actual physical relationships. According to reports, too much use of social media can destroy marriages and lead to divorce although there’s no scientific evidence to support this claim.
 

What’s the Verdict?

Social media is a source not only of networking but empowerment as well. It’s meant for kids, teenagers, adults, and elderly folks. This is a means of building and sustaining connections which is not possible offline. Despite the negative hype, people believe social media networking contributes to the growth of people and actually makes them feel happier and contented. Just look at the numbers and you will surely agree.  Likes and comments are in and social media is the cause of all this frenzy.
 
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