In recent years, social media has become increasingly popular among people of all age groups. In fact, as of January 2019, 45 percent of the population worldwide used social media as a form of entertainment. Unfortunately, social media abuse is increasing with the number of people jumping on board to check out these platforms. Here are some dangers of social media, how to recognize whether you are abusing social media use, and how to get help if usage becomes a problem. If you have any questions about social media addiction treatment, please contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery today at 866.300.5275.
Knowing The Dangers Of Social Media
With anything, overuse easily becomes an addiction. Social media has plenty of valid points and when used in moderation, offers benefits to those who take a look at platforms. When looking at how social media overtakes your life, however, abusing this action is a true possibility. In addition to overuse, social media has some other drawbacks. These include:
- The possibility of identity theft or even real-life theft
- Oversharing personal information with others
- Embarrassment over shared information
- Loss of time with other activities due to social media use
It’s critical to monitor and control your use of social media to avoid the long-term consequences of abuse or addiction.
Recognizing Whether Dangers Of Social Media Have Led To Addiction
It is difficult for someone with social media addiction to realize when too much is too much. They become obsessed with checking social media sites, but often do not recognize this action as an abusive behavior as it is with drugs or alcohol. Social media use certainly leads to abuse if there is engagement beyond normal time usage. Ask yourself the following questions to determine whether the dangers of social media led to problematic behavior:
- Do you check social media accounts first thing upon waking and the last thing before sleeping?
- Are you posting pictures of the same items over and over on your account?
- Do you get depressed or anxious when others on social media do not offer responses to your postings?
- Are you uncomfortable when you are in a situation where you cannot check on a social media account?
- Do you keep your cell phone fully charged at all times and have a backup method to check your accounts if you are unable to charge your device promptly?
- Have you stopped participating in actions that do not involve social media whatsoever?
- Do you avoid situations with friends and/or family that are not on social media accounts?
- Have you spoken about social media relationships as if they happened in real life? For example, do you discuss friends you have on social media as if you know them personally?
- Do you manage groups and watch participation numbers constantly?
While these points alone do not constitute social media abuse, they are indicative of a possible problem if several are experienced by a social media user on a routine basis. Excessive use leads to relationship troubles and work difficulties in many social media abusers.
How To Get Help When Dangers Of Social Media Become Troubling
If the dangers of social media indicate you are using platforms excessively, getting treatment for abuse can help thwart overuse. Psychologists actually believe that an estimated 5 to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media abuse. If you believe you or a loved one is within this group, there is help available. You may want to find an adolescent treatment center that offers treatments such as:
- Continued education
- Psychological testing
- Dual diagnosis treatment
- Addiction therapy programs
Each of these treatment options is available at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery. Please reach out to our team today to learn more about our treatment programs.
Seek Treatment at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery
Foothills at Red Oak Recovery offers a variety of treatment services for those struggling with the dangers of social media overuse. This is often seen in teenagers, and we provide professional assistance using caring procedures to help thwart social media use, video game addiction, and other behavioral conditions. Our services include:
Give a call to 866.300.5275 if you or your teen is struggling with the dangers of social media. We are here to help.
