In the July 16th edition of Newseek magazine, Tony Dokoupil discussed the rising problem of social media/internet addiction and the variety of disorders and issues that can arise from being too connected. He cited studies from around the world, told some horrific stories of psychoses, and discussed how all this connectivity is affecting people’s interpersonal relationships.
In a word: we are always online and this could exacerbate problems or create new ones.
He did a fantastic job of continually stating that it has not been agreed upon which came first – the addiction or the mental issues. Do people with a propensity for compulsive disorders/addictions react more strongly to the tool of online connections? Perhaps. The only way to know is to get help from addiction treatment center austin, who can diagnose any kind of addictions.
But I wan to discuss how this affects my blogging. Because I have noticed an increase in my anxiety and stress since I dove deeper into social media and blogging. I felt compulsions to always check Facebook, twitter and e-mail, even when not during my office hours. The biggest anxiety that I feel, is the fear of missing out.
If I am not actively engaging in all the social media platforms and increasing my pageviews, I will miss a paying job. I will be passed over for someone that is better than me.
Online influence is very competitive. Everyone wants to go viral. We all want to be on the popular board on Pinterest, get a huge surge of traffic from StumbleUpon. We want to be on lists, invited to private parties and brand trips. If we step back, our influence will shrink. Our Klout score will go down, our Alexa will go up. Someone else will get the gig.
Those are my fears, laid right out on the table. I wonder how many other bloggers feel the same way? Is our nation addicted to smartphones and social media?
I would love to hear your thoughts! I made a little vlog to get the discussion going, please share your reaction with me!
It is very frustrating. I have to set work hours I keep telling myself, but then I find myself back on twitter/facebook and email to see what came through. Like you…my phone is always on. I hear my email tone go off, and check immediately because I want to reply immediately. Yep I’d say it’s an addiction that I need to take control of. I gave up on my UMV a long time ago, and do this for me. I know I can write great posts, but if the numbers aren’t there I won’t get picked…or so I thought. I’ve stepped back over summer and it feels great. But yep we are addicted, it is our job. *sigh*
Thank you Nichol! I am setting new rules, new boundaries. I am turning off my Facebook notifications and only allowing myself to check my email during kid-free times (like nap time, or if I get child care). I can tell I am addicted because this thought alone is worrying me. What will I miss? how will my blog be affected?
I’ll be honest, I was a social media junkie before I even knew what a blog was…so, yeah. My 24/7 online activities aren’t blog related, I would be that way anyway!
Good point! Makes me wonder how many social media junkies today were compulsively online back when it was chat rooms and AOL IMs 🙂
I totally agree with you and the article. It’s probably worse now, then it used to be. For me, it’s my job and it’s really my only social interaction with adults, being a SAHM. Although, every so often I make an effort to stay away for the weekend, and try to get more done around the house or with family.
The part that has always bothered me (which is why I started blogging too) is when this is the “only social interaction with adults.” I don’t like how we are so Wall-E these days – where the only way we can interract with others is through a screen.
That’s true, but most of the “friends” I do have IRL, are usually just as busy as we are. It’s getting harder I find to make time.
Yes! I feel as though I am totally addicted to social media. It is not healthy and would love to find a way to shut off. My kids tease me that “Mommy is addicted to the iphone.” Great post.
I keep wondering – am I going to help my kids by keeping them offline, or hinder them? Like, in 5 years, will everyone be interacting more via screens than in real life? Cause if that is the case, then limiting their time online would make them not able to socially interact with their peers. But how can all this be good?So very much to think about!
Social Media and the internet have been a part of my life since long before I was a blogger. I am totally sold on the technology and try to use its powers for good. But like anything else, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. It’s all about the balance. That said, I think the article is trying to cause panic in a WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE EARTH IS ROUND kinda way. Pass.
Balance. Yes, you bring up a good point. But with all addictions, if you are able to have it in moderation, you do not have an addiction issue.
most definitely
Yes and no. If I don’t have anything “better” to do, I feel like I need to check facebook/twitter.
But, I don’t worry about numbers. Sure, I’d like them to be better, but my blog is small (or at least that’s my excuse! LOL!) and not very well-known. I don’t have my email set up on my phone. I only check it if I am at the computer.
When we do unplug, it’s awesome! I want my kids to know that there is life without a phone/computer.
You are very smart to not connect email to your phone! It is when the compulsion to stay connected to social media and check / reply to emails interrupts normal, every day life, that you know you have a problem. My issue is not very bad yet. But I am watching it and starting to cut way way back before it gets out of hand.
i’ve been having issues catching my breath. i was reading an article that claims that because internet addiction is new, we don’t know all the side effects. some common ones however: anxiety, ADD, a condition which name escapes me but it’s an OCD thing almost…a person can’t catch their breath…
it’s insane. this whole internet thing. absolutely insane. or, at least, it’s making ME that way!
Yes! They mentioned all of this in the article. People actually have phsyiological reactions to social media addictions. They mentioned how people have compulsions to check their phones, just like OCD people must wash their hands over and over. Insomnia is another common side effect. I don’t want to be alarmist, but these are real issues.
I’m totally addicted. I check e-mail, twitter, facebook far too much each day.
That said, when I don’t want to, I can walk away. I can put my phone down during dinner or a movie. I don’t text other people while hanging out with someone else.
And yes, being able to unplug for a few days is so wonderful and amazing =)
Scary how addicted we are getting……what does that mean for our kids??
Social media can be very addicting. With as involved as we all are in it now I wonder what it will be like for our children when they get to be our age.
I completely agree with you about feeling the “need” to check in. Recently I disconnected partway and my husband and kids were puzzled. They thought something was wrong with me. It made me realize I need to pay more attention to them and keep my office hours stricter.
Great topic, Annie! Yes, I am one of those stuck in the social media addiction. I think the connections are the most addicting.. I work outside the home, and yes, I DO jump on the net throughout the day to see what interesting email opps I’m getting, finish up a post to get published, chat with my gals in my FB groups, check on a design client, and so on. Then when I get home.. I am literally on my laptop until I go to bed. Taking on too many things at once? Probably. lol But, I love it.. and my family knows that it’s “mom’s other job” and that’s how they get to do some of the things they do. I really wish I could be like some bloggers and say “I don’t work weekends” or my business hours are from such and such to such and such… but I can’t. Like you said, I worry that I’m going to miss out on being invited somewhere awesome, or a great review opp, and that my numbers will plummet. It is refreshing though to actually “walk away” and spend the day at the beach, the movies, or somewhere else with the family.. away from the computer world.
I agree completely. I have been feeling this so much lately I have seriously contemplated walking away from it all. Blogging and social media has a lot of positivies but as my kids get older I am wondering if they outweigh the negatives. IK don’t want my kid’s only memories of growing up being me saying “hang on a second” while I check my phone.
Annie @ Mama Dweeb–Loved your take on internet addiction! HuffPost Live is doing a segment tomorrow on being iCrazy, and I would love for you to be a guest on the show! It’s streamed via webcam so you can be a part of the conversation from anywhere. Email me if interested. We would love for your voice to be apart of the conversation!
Yes it feels like you always have to be connected….I try to take a step back and disconnect on the weekends. It can really be overwhelming and I want to live in the moment more….especially when my kids are small! 🙂 Great post!
Yes, we’re crazy! Me… for different reasons, but about this… I think I’m lucky in that this isn’t my main source of income, so anything from this is extra and fun, so I have the luxury of not freaking out as much. Though a big break would be nice… I’m not really looking for it. #lazyblogger
LOL oh you crack me up! I love how you are like “yeah, I am addicted, but it is cause I love it so much.” But if I really dig deep, I have to admit that I am addicted in the same way. I mean, I could find a way to schedule my work so I didn’t need to have this danged phone on all the time 🙂