SocIal medIa Is used to create a new IdentIty

It seems we cannot live without social networking sites. WE are in a world where everything is shared online. Looking at the bigger picture, how do you evaluate the current state of using social media?

We are crazy about social media. First thing we do in the morning is to check our social media. It has benefits like keeping up with the agenda, getting in touch with our beloved ones more often, and announcing things to more people, but I think using social media is deviating from its goal. In a way, it is used by people to create new identities. The easiest way to satisfy ourselves is to pretend to have what we actually don’t.

 

Pretending to be in a happy marriage, proving to be the best mother, and creating the impression to be travelling and exploring new places all the time serve to feel happy by being approved of and liked.

 

What are the signs of social media addiction?

There were many studies about computer and internet addiction before social media was not being used this frequently. Similar studies are being done on social media now and according to research on technology, using social media more than 35 hours a week may be a sign of addiction. Other signs of this addiction are lack of social relations other than social media, experiencing deprivation without social media (feeling incomplete, reaching for the smart phone all the time, unrest, and state of anger etc.), using social media at an increasing rate, failure at school or work due to overusing.

 

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What are the reasons for social media addiction? Is there a psychological explanation for this?

Individual dynamics for each person are different. For this reason, she or he might be using social media for various reasons, but from my observations, loneliness, bad family relationships, dissatisfaction, creating a different identity through the number of likes and comments by pretending to be someone else, addiction to being approved of, saying things on social media that one cannot say in daily life are some other reasons for addiction.

 

What are the risks that children and young people face on social media?

We see that some children take some Youtubers as their role model or see them as idols. I feel shocked and upset when I watch their content.  Some videos put youngsters at physical risks; in some videos there are some make-up tactics to look 18 when you are 13 and in some there are tips on how to plot against teachers at school. Adolescents are developmentally open to try anything new. They think “If a video is watched by thousands and popular, what is wrong with it?” and behave improperly.

 

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Of course it is not possible to stay away from social media today, but how can users decrease their dependency on it?

I suggest they make a social media detox on certain parts of the day. It would be a good start for intense users to stay away from social media for a couple of hours they arrange for themselves. However, we must replace a behaviour we want to change with a new one, so it is necessary to find an activity to do. Knitting, listening to music, meeting friends, playing games with family members, and writing are some of these activities that one can do.