Signs You Might Be Addicted to Social Media

Parents wish their kids didn’t spend so much time on their device screens, but how do you know when it’s a real problem? According to a recent study in Current Psychology, about a quarter of adolescents are addicted to social media. Here's how you can tell if your kid is one of them-

Online privacy expert Trevor Cooke says these are the common behaviors that could be a warning sign your kid is addicted to social media.

• Hobbies take a backseat - If your child is on sites like Instagram and TikTok at all hours of the day and night and would rather scroll through feeds than do hobbies or have social interaction, pay attention. Cooke advises parents to use tracking features on their child’s device to see how much time they’re actually spending on social media apps every day.
• Constant need for validation - “Does your child exhibit an unhealthy preoccupation with the number of likes, shares and comments they receive?” the expert asks. If so, that constant need for validation could affect their self-esteem and mental health, so he recommends letting them know that these metrics don’t have anything to do with their worth as a person or how much people like them.
• Mood swings - If your kid gets irritable, anxious or sad when they’re not on social media, those could be a sign of withdrawal symptoms, which Cooke says indicate addiction.
• Decline in physical activity - If kids are avoiding spending time outside and being active in order to stay inside and scroll on social media, that’s another sign. He recommends encouraging them to get moving by doing family hikes or joining a sports club.
• Neglecting responsibilities - Children who are addicted to social media may start to ignore important things they need to do, like homework, chores or taking care of a pet. Cooke notes that it’s important to have kids finish their obligations before hopping on social media apps.
• Disrupted sleep patterns - Spending time on screens, especially before bed, can negatively impact sleep in people of all ages, especially kids.
• Social withdrawal - Social media addicts may become more uncomfortable with face-to-face communication as they prefer interacting over a screen. That can affect social skills and lead to feeling isolated, so Cooke suggests encouraging more in-person interactions, like having your child’s friends over to hang out.

Source: NY Post