It is estimated that 210 million people worldwide suffer from internet and social media addiction. This was just an estimate for 2017 before our world seemed to be moving online as it has this year. With so many of us trapped indoors, unable to see friends in person, and consequently resorting to social media out of boredom and a desire to connect, our usage patterns have undeniably become even more unhealthy. Breaking social media addiction isn’t something that can be done overnight; it requires a re-evaluation of your digital life balance, and that is personal to you. However, only you can find out for yourself.
If you find yourself losing several minutes (or even hours) at a time after using social media, you are not alone. While social media first started out as a way to connect with friends and family, it has since grown into a coveted hobby used by all age groups. You like social media and use it daily, but are you “addicted” to it? Below we have mention the steps to beat Social Media Addiction.
5 Ways to Break Social Media Addiction
Delete apps, or disable notifications from social media
Most people mindlessly check in on social media, so put a small barrier in the way by disabling notifications. If you don’t see a social media icon or notification every time you pick up your phone, you’re less likely to spend time there.
Set limits and stick to them
Most phones and tablets allow you to view the time spent on specific apps. Set a limit on the time you spend on social media and stick to it, or use an app that blocks social media after you reach your limit.
Dedicate time to hobbies or activities
Picking up a hobby or new activity can help curb your desire to log on to social media. “It’s about filling your free time with things that you enjoy and that are good for you,” says Sternlicht. “Obviously you will find less time to be on social media and more time to be present in life and hopefully even connect in person rather than through a screen.”
Check In With Friends And Family – Offline!
You can never really know what’s going on with someone from their Instagram feed. Instead of assuming you’re all in the loop on what your friends or family are up to, why not text or call them? While it’s not safe to meet in person, you can stay connected without slogging through Instagram Stories.
Need to spice up your Zoom happy hour? Try to make it a weekly game night. Long phone calls may be out of style, but there’s nothing quite like truly connecting with someone in more-than-bite-sized chunks.
Make Social Media A Treat
Treat social media as a treat. You might not buy an craft coffee every day or get your nails done every week, but you can reward yourself with little treats like this when you feel you deserve it. So keep social media in mind too: only give yourself screen time when you’ve accomplished something or done something productive first. In this way, you could change your attitude towards social media. You used to log in and out instead of constantly staying up to date with everything that’s going on – try to get back to that mindset.
Final Words
We hope our article on methods to avoid Social Media Addiction completely will help you and resolve all your problems. There is no official diagnosis of “social media addiction”. But overuse of social media is increasingly common these days and can have serious effects on your physical and mental health.
I hope you understand this article, How to Stop Social Media Addiction.
