By Jaxson Young
Social media, with its light-hearted ways to easily connect with others– whether with people across the globe or with old friends – has been turned into an addictive and persuasive tool that has universally induced anxiety amongst all generations. Recent studies suggest it being linked to the reduction of some human senses such as taste, touch, and smell.
The addictive design of short-form content is easy to understand after spending a few minutes – which can turn to a few hours – on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and now even Facebook. The power of perfected algorithms that curate select videos, the misuse of the power of instant gratification, and the fear of missing out all create powerful environments to keep as many individuals on their platforms for as long as possible. The effect of social media on students is profound, with an increasing number of students in the last few years reporting higher levels of anxiety after a session on social media. The addictive features of social media also can inhibit students’ ability to complete work on time or produce good quality work. Honors student Stefanie Squeri claims that Tik Tok and its addictive design have taken away motivation from doing schoolwork, and even states that sometimes her time consumed by social media can make her feel like the work she turns in is not to the right standard. Other accredited students strictly enforce the rule that homework and responsibilities have priority over going on the phone and social media or it is likely the student will.
Neurologists and other professionals have begun to warn about the effect that social media has on the anatomy and physiology of our brains, especially adolescents. The effects – still under study – show signs of a difference in gray matter in parts of the brain, and overall a change in connection and neuron pathways. Dr. Martin Korte, of the Taylor & Francis Group, expressed his and his team's concern on the effect that social media may have on the effectiveness of our senses. His team conveys that the constant use of social media can limit the brain's usage of the other senses to recall information. For example, they use the idea of the certain smell of a book and the importance that it may have on the memory of its contents. In digital media, such as TikTok and Instagram, individual's brains may be using other senses, such as sight and auditory. With less use of the neural pathways for smell and taste, these senses can create a sensation of being less “real”. This feeling can even prove to make life feel almost less meaningful in some circumstances, such as understanding the beauty of nature or other situations where all senses are being used. High honors student Oliwia Mlykarsik even states that when confronted with reality after extended periods of time on social media, she can feel disconnected and out of touch with her reality.
Unfortunately the study of social media and its effect on the growing mind is a generally new field, and decades more of research may be required to understand what is truly happening to the developing brains of today's youth, who are so reliant on social media apps. Until then, most recommend to use social media in “safe” ways and to always limit screen time to only when necessary and to of course, take in the beauty of the outside world, using the five senses.