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How Social Media is Wrecking Our Mental Health & What to Do
Technology has undeniably become a significant and dominant influence in our culture. It is almost unheard of for someone to go without a cell phone or internet connectivity.
However, the growth of technology has had some troubling consequences; people of all ages and backgrounds have demonstrated an alarming surge in addiction to online activities or video and computer games.
Because it influences the brain, social media is both physically and psychologically addicting. According to a new Harvard University research, self-disclosure on social networking sites stimulates the same brain region that is active when an addictive medication is used. The brain's reward area and its chemical messenger routes impact decisions and experiences. When someone has a joyful experience or uses an addictive substance, neurons in the dopamine-producing central regions of the brain are activated, and dopamine levels rise. As a result, the brain is "rewarded." Positive reinforcement is related to the drug or activity.
Social media addiction is a type of behavioral addiction defined by an excessive concern for social media, an uncontrollable need to log on to or use social media, and spending so much time and effort on social media that it interferes with other vital aspects of one's life.
