1. Social Media Addiction
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2. Social Media
Signs and Symptoms
Research
Personality Types

3. What is Addiction? Chronic disorder Intense focus on a thing
50% risk is genetic
Takes over your life
American psychiatry association and the psychological association discuss addiction as follows.
Addiction is a chronic disorder with biological, psychological, social and environmental factors influencing its development and maintenance. About half the risk for addiction is genetic. People with addiction (severe substance use disorder) have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s), such as alcohol or drugs, to the point that it takes over their life.

4. Addiction
Genes have an effect on the degree of reward individuals experience when initially using a something. It could be drugs or engaging in behaviors like gambling and social media. The way the body processes drugs also has an effect on addiction.
There’s a strong desire to re-experience use of the substance or behavior. Potential influences are psychological (e.g., stress, history of trauma), social (e.g., family or friends' use of a substance), and environmental factors (e.g., accessibility of a substance, low cost). These factors can lead to regular use. Chronic use/exposure leading to brain changes.
Brain changes include areas of pre-frontal cortex, and limbic system regions. The limbic system controls reward, motivation, memory, impulse control and judgment.
These changes lead to substantial increases in cravings for a particular thing. This also leads to impairing the ability to control this impulse, even though an addict knows the consequences of this addictive behavior.

5. Rewards Likes Hearts Instant Gratification
Positive response from people on a particular thing you post…whether a comment, picture or video fires off the reward system in the brain. For some people this can become addictive. The boost of likes, hearts, and positive comments in some people fire off the reward system giving them a high they wish to maintain.

6. Rewards
Constant Stream
No Natural Off Cue
Instant Reward

7. Rewards Mesolimbic Dopamine Pathway Fires off Dopamine with Stimuli
Gives a High

8. Research
The highest amount of time is spent on social media sites

9. Research Internet Addiction Disorder Neurological Complications
Psychological Disturbances
Social Problems
Substantial research has been done on internet addiction disorder in picking apart this type of addiction. It has yet to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The only behaviorial addiction included in the latest version is gambling disorder. Yet Internet Gaming Disorder was included in a section of the DSM- version 5 recommending further study.

10. Research Screen time is not a good gauge
Most use SNS to maintain offline networks
Personality types use it differently
Negative effects – social issues and academic performance
Review of literature in The findings indicate that SNSs are predominantly used for social purposes, mostly related to the maintenance of established offline networks. Moreover, extraverts appear to use social networking sites for social enhancement, whereas introverts use it for social compensation, each of which appears to be related to greater usage, as does low conscientiousness and high narcissism. Negative correlates of SNS usage include the decrease in real life social community participation and academic achievement, as well as relationship problems, each of which may be indicative of potential addiction.

11. Research Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale
The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS), initially a pool of 18 items, three reflecting each of the six core elements of addiction (salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse), was constructed and administered to 423 students together with several other standardized self-report scales (Addictive Tendencies Scale, Online Sociability Scale, Facebook Attitude Scale, NEO–FFI, BIS/BAS scales, and Sleep questions).
Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale
Focused on 6 core addiction elements
Reliability was high

12. Research Extroverts use it for social enhancement
Introverts use it for social compensation

13. Research Narcissists tend to be addicts Gratification builds ego
Easy to develop fantasy world

14. Symptoms & Diagnosis Anxiety/Depression Social Issues Intense desire
Not much different than other addiction criteria

15. Symptoms and Criteria
Is preoccupied with the Internet (thinks about previous online activity or anticipate next online session); (2) Needs to use the Internet with increased amounts of time in order to achieve satisfaction; (3) Has made unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop Internet use; (4) Is restless, moody, depressed, or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop Internet use; (5) Has stayed online longer than originally intended. Additionally, at least one of the following must be present: (6) Has jeopardized or risked the loss of a significant relationship, job, educational or career opportunity because of the Internet; (7) Has lied to family members, therapist, or others to conceal the extent of involvement with the Internet; (8) Uses the Internet as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dysphoric mood (e.g., feelings of helplessness, guilt, anxiety, depression)

16. Symptoms and Criteria
Science still needs to step up on it’s research in regards to social media addiction. If you feel you need help or suffer any symptoms of addiction, therapy is always a good way to gain insight as to what you need in order to feel better.
Unplugging from social media is not so easy especially if you are a person who has used it to be your primary source of information…especially for younger generations who have always had this media form.
Studies have shown removing smart phones, internet, and social media all together is detrimental to certain individuals especially if they were brought up with this media form and have had it incorporated daily into their lives.
The key to keep in mind is that high use of internet/social media does not mean an addiction. If you feel you want to cut back and can not…this might be a sign to start self assessing.
Addiction means it rules your life. If social media does not cause you to neglect the rest of your life, you are not addicted.

17. Social Media
Signs and Symptoms
Research
Personality Types

18. Sources

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21. Social Media Addiction
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