The social media is designed to keep your engaged. You get notifications about your friends joining a network instantly and most networks now come with infinite scrolling as well. You won’t realize how much time you have spent just scrolling through your feed and consuming all the content in the world- from pictures to sensational news and from opinions to advertisements.
As soon as you are tired and refresh the feed, there is more content that demands your attention. Social media has become an endless loop and the majority of it is designed for the millennials- the young, tech savvy generation.
Is social media a distraction?
It doesn’t take a rocket science degree to define social media as a distraction. Anyone who has used these apps, knows that they consistently keep bringing you back. Another big problem is that the social network is not restricted to old boring laptops and PCs. They can be accessed on mobile devices anytime and anywhere. This helps the networks make people coming back for more repeatedly.
Have you ever wondered what people do when they are bored or waiting for someone? They simply take out their phones and use these social media apps. They are incredibly simple to use and don’t allow any type of discomfort to the audience. You don’t even have to log in repeatedly. Simply log in once and consistent notifications keep you updated about what is happening in the world, even in someone else’s life.
Social networks like Facebook are not restricted to adults alone. The minimum sign up age on the website is 13 years which means that students who haven’t even stepped into a high school yet are hooked onto this glittery world where everyone is happy. As the consumption increases, it turns into addiction and there comes a time when updating posts on the network becomes more essential than studying.
Who is to blame?
It is definitely not the user who could be blamed for getting addicted. After all, developers in big conglomerates are spending hours every week making their apps more convenient for the users. However, this doesn’t mean a student should be spending all of his time in liking and commenting on people’s posts. Instead, it would be better for him to designate a time for social media usage.
Several productivity gurus ask workers to check their mail only once or twice to ensure that they are not distracted through the day. You can also do the same. Designate a specific time- like 10 am in the morning or 5 pm in the evening to check your social media accounts. Reply to messages, post updates etc. in a 15-minute or 30-minute window and make sure that you avoid the temptation of staying any longer.
Some students even do ‘social media detoxes’ where they deactivate all their social accounts for a week or month. When they come back, they feel less addicted to the apps. If you are also facing an addiction issue, try this detox. It could be difficult in the beginning but the time you save can be dedicated to studying, doing an internship, or doing a part time job.
Save your future. Use social media responsibly.
