For this assignment, we had to take a test that would determine if we had a social media addiction based on our usage of it, as well as looking at different statistics on social media use and explaining how social media impacts our society.
After taking the "AM I ADDICTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA?" quiz, I was told that I have a pretty healthy relationship with social media, with the results stating;
"Congratulations! Psychologists estimate that as many as 5 to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media addiction today. But luckily, that's not you! Not checking social media every few minutes doesn't make you feel anxious, as you prefer to live 'in the moment' rather than through your apps. You use social media to your advantage, at work and to connect with friends and family, but you know when to put it away. Keep it up!"
While I'm glad to hear I have a good relationship with social media, I do feel like I could do better by spending less time on it.
What really intrigued me about this statistic is the popularity of these online platforms when it comes to young adults aged 18-29. I actually use 7 out of the 11 social media platforms that are listed here.
Honestly, when it comes to social media, it has both positive and negative impacts. If it weren't for social media, I wouldn't have been able to make the friends I have today, or find communities where interests are shared, sharing things like art and stories. The downsides to it are that there could be things posted online that can heavily affect one's mental health, or alter their perception of themselves and other things, things like hateful comments, people encouraging and giving unhealthy advice, and so much more. It all depends on the person who uses social media, and it's up to them to figure out how to have a healthy balance when it comes to it.
Today I learned that my social media use is pretty healthy. I always wondered if it was excessive or not, but I do know that while it says I have a healthy relationship with social media, I still have to take necessary steps to make sure my use of it doesn't get too much.
Gottfried, J. (2024, January 31). Americans’ social media use. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/