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Are we consuming social media, or is social media consuming us?

We open social media to utilize our spare time, but somehow, time slips away. We open social media to scroll for five minutes, but it turns into hours of scrolling, and the worst part is that out of hundreds of reels we scroll through, we barely remember any. If we are the ones who consume social media, then why are we not able to control our consumption? Or is it the social media that is controlling us more and more?

Social media is a crucial part of our lives today, allowing us to connect with our families and friends over long distances. Every netizen has their own way of using social media. Some are using it to share their views, follow trends, and participate actively in it, while others use it for timepass, communication, and watching others’ lives. Social media, as we all know it really well, has both positive and negative aspects of it. However, the problem does not lie in using social media for fun or entertainment. In my opinion, it is also a beneficial way of using social media. But the problem arises when we are unable to control the amount of social media we consume. How many reels should we scroll? Or how many hours of screen time do we have?

If we cannot control it, then almost all internet and social media users share the problem, not just us. Even I, as the author of this article, must admit that the issue is not solely my fault. It is because of the way these social media apps are designed. The major objective of the social media platforms is to keep their users engaged for a long time. Features like notifications, auto-scrolling, or “streaks” are a major contributing factor in social media addiction. If we open social media with a specific purpose, we will discover five additional reasons to continue using it. This phenomenon makes social media addictive. Due to this addiction, social media controls us.

Another reason I believe social media controls us is that our happiness depends on the validation we receive from it. While mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, we become aware of knowing about “trends” that teach us the way we should behave, click pictures, or make memories. The online validation is controlling us in such a way that the photos that we share online seem to be a performance for getting “likes and comments” rather than memories. And when we don't receive it? We become more insecure, we become more jealous, we lose our self-confidence and self-worth, and we have to think at least 10 times before posting our photos on social media because of the fear of not getting the validation. This makes social media validation more addictive, and social media controls us.

In our lives as well, we can see a lot of the impact that social media has had. Reduced concentration, shorter attention spans, and disrupted sleep patterns are merely the beginning of the extensive negative effects of social media in our lives. These effects can harm us physically, mentally, emotionally, and academically as well, which completely justifies that social media is controlling us in today’s time.

However, completely avoiding social media is not a practical solution at all. It is because avoiding social media does not just reduce distractions but also cuts us off from the digital world or the future. But using social media responsibly and following techniques like digital detox helps us significantly in this regard. Simple steps can make a massive impact.