Ms. Karin

Ms. Karin is the counselor of Binus School Simprug. We interviewed her because she has a lot of knowledge about social media addiction and how it works. She also helps many students throughout our school.

This is the video of the interview. We took the interview in Ms. Karin's office.

The interview transcript:

What causes social media addiction to happen?

When it comes to addiction, it's related to self-control. The amount of time you used to have while you're using social media, has no limitation. Then, you're starting to get attached to it because you spend a lot of time there. You have no limitations set at home or by yourself, then that's the reason why you start to get into social media.

What are the impacts of social media addiction?

It has negative impacts. Firstly, it's going to ruin your whole schedule, daily schedule. For example, as a student, you need to do your work. You have school assignments. You need to do your role as a child at home. If you are too addicted to social media, you're going to spend all of your time there and you will not be able to do or complete the task. Secondly, it affects your social life. For example, if you're spending too much time on social media, you're going to ignore your friends around you. They wanted to play with you, but because you are happier when you're with your phone and you're starting to ignore them. It affects your social skills and then you're going to miss out on a lot of things that you could have had if you are not attached to social media.

How can social media damage the mental and physical state of people?

When you are too occupied with something, you are addicted to that. Like in this case it's social media. It can affect your normal health. Your thoughts are occupied with social media. Well, I want to use the gadgets. I want to see what's going on on social media. You will not be able to focus. You know in reality, you have other responsibilities. It affects you a lot physically. You don't care even though you need to sleep. Some people would just stay online even if they are still tired but they keep on playing. 

What are some ways we can prevent social media addiction?

I would say if it's for your age, we need help from the adults as well because in terms of self-control. It’s better if there is a schedule set to you what time you can see social media and when you need to go to school. There should be a time limit for that and it should be according to your age like. You should use one hour a day or maybe you can use it but only on the weekend so you can go check social media on the weekend. You can make an agreement you’re your parents and also in school, we need to have a policy where we need to limit your activity with gadgets so that you will not be able to access social media unless it is related to school work.

How much social media usage per day is considered addictive?

I need to research on that part and then I will get back to you. 

Have you recently addressed any student who is addicted to social media? If yes, then how did you help them?

Unfortunately, there is none. It's good to have a balance. In my family, we set the time when we can go out together. We play board games or guessing games or games that do not require social media. I would say distract the person from using the gadgets.

For example you got an addicted student, the student wants to speak to you. If you got one, how would you try to help them?

First of all, I would conduct a session as usual. I would try to understand what is causing them to become addicted to your social media. How many times do you use social media in a day? I would understand the pattern of the student using social media in school or at home. In school, we have the limitation that you cannot use the phone all day, but I need to understand if it's at home after that. If they are using social media in school, it's good to have communication with the teacher. I think very importantly also to communicate with the parents because I cannot control the students at home, I cannot apply the rules, the school’s rules at home. Instead of two hours of you know on the phone whether you like to have another activity like maybe swimming or maybe you can go out to the park and then play together. Or any activities that the child likes. So in this case, if it's addicted to social media, I think communication with the parents is very essential. 

Can you explain to us more about dopamine?

I've read a bit and I have never discussed this with my friend. When you are happy, the brain will release the dopamine. So, you are releasing dopamine when you are. When you are playing on your phone, you are happy, right? You like it, you enjoy it. But when you are playing it too much, you get rewarded. So many times, you're happy and then you release the dopamine until I would say it's uncontrollable, that's where you become addicted to it. So, it's very hard for you to stop yourself from doing it. So, I think that's just a bit I can share with you about dopamine. I mean I'm not the expert but I could, I could get back to you all after this as well. I can send you a message after I do more research that can be a better explanation. But that's what I know. If you play games too much it is broken in all the times that when you become very addicted, so hard for you to stop doing. You know any activity that you already become addicted to.

What do you think is the most used social media app/platform?

I would say TikTok. I think TikTok and Instagram found out the server because yeah, I mean, recently I heard, do you know that there is a case going on with TikTok, the leaders and governments from the United States done. We didn't hear. But what I know is TikTok they have a lot of users.

Which age group is the most addicted to social media?

I really don't have the details about it. I'm so sorry.

Is social media addiction as threatening as other types of addictions?

I would say when it is an addiction it's something concerning even dangerous and I think the impact is different like if it's social media, it might be affecting your daily life. But if it's related to drugs, it affects your brain, it can be very secure. So, I think the impacts are different. However, maybe it's not as bad as you are addicted to drugs, OK and I mean like the drowsy it damages your brain badly but I think it's all it will affect you negatively. So, all addiction when you are addicted to something it definitely will give you negative impacts.

Some pictures from the interview: