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The Impact Of Social Media On Society

 

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A society drowning in entertainment is now our undeniable reality. Millions of people spend hours scrolling through their feeds every single day, especially among our youth. This overuse of social platforms and short-form content has created an epidemic that is drastically impacting our daily lives in a negative manner. Advancement in modern technology has not only changed the daily lives of citizens through things such as communication habits, but has likely shifted the majority of society into an era of infinite entertainment with no regulation on consumption. The dopamine reward system for many has been completely rewritten by social media, leading to addiction and negative effects on our mental health. This paper will discuss and argue the social epidemic that is the overuse of social media and its effects, its effect on our dopamine reward system, the societal shift it’s causing, and the negative effects of social media on mental health.
Social media has become what modern entertainment is for many people, especially for the vast majority of our youth. We are bombarded constantly with information, from news and politics to biases and personal interests catered specifically to every user, almost none of which is directly important in any way. This information overload has made it difficult for people to focus not only on important issues but also on the daily tasks that are required to advance in life. and we often choose entertainment over education. As a society, we are becoming more passive and less involved in our communities because social media has made it easy for us to avoid real-life interactions. An article from the International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering states, "Student’s motivational level lessens because of the utilization of these long range interpersonal communication locales [regarding cell phones]. They depend on the virtual condition as opposed to increasing reasonable learning from this present reality" (Akram). 
Regarding the rest of our media intake, especially news, author Harry Frankfurt highlights the transformation of news in the modern era of social media and distraction; "...the circle begins to close: both the form and content of news become entertainment" (1).  The traditional role of news as a means of informing the public has shifted towards one that is more focused on capturing the attention of the audience. Frankfurt’s concept of "bulls**t speech acts" is when a speaker does not care whether what they say is true or false, playing directly into the idea that news is no longer solely about providing information but has become a form of entertainment. This historically clear shift towards entertainment media has created blurred lines between news and content created for pleasure, resulting in a society that is increasingly less informed and more focused on fleeting entertainment. The consequences of this shift can be seen in the decreased attention spans and the spread of misinformation that have been facilitated by social platforms' dominant takeover.
To put it lightly, social media's effect on our dopamine reward system is devastating. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. Social media platforms are designed to give us a constant stream of dopamine hits, which keeps us addicted and coming back for more. With minimal effort, we're able to light up our dopamine-reward pathways. Our brains have not evolved far from when hunting meant life or death, and while laying in bed, we’re able to feed our reward system the same way seeing a deer that was your last hope at food would have a thousand years ago. This creates an all-too-real addiction that tends to be overlooked. Author Nicholas Kandaras addresses teenagers' and children's addiction, using examples from studies conducted on groups of both. "...the researchers indicated that such teens have a lot in common with compulsive gamblers, including lost sleep because of the activity, problems cutting back and a tendency to lie to cover up the amount of time they spend doing it" (Kandaras 2). Kandaras explains that this new way of stimulating the brain and connecting with others does not satisfy the psychological need for human connection. Instead, what’s happening is that our dopamine receptors are forced to be on a "perpetual high," creating an illusion of accomplishment and satisfaction when nothing of significance has been done. Because of this, social media has a strong correlation with the deterioration of mental health among young people. These often include feelings of self doubt, self hatred, lack of accomplishment, depression, and failure (1).
We have been gradually moving from a "print society" where text, articles, books, and words in general are our main form of communication, to a "visual audio" society. Quick switches between content in social media and news send the message that one minute or every few seconds is sufficient time to care about something. Others decide for us when it's time to move on to the next set of information, and this obviously affects our attention span. As an entire society we are losing the ability to read long-form content and think deeply about complex issues. Neil Postman puts it brilliantly, "We Americans seem to know everything about the last twenty-four hours but very little about the last sixty centuries or last sixty years" (Postman 4).
Many argue that social media has a completely or mostly positive impact on society, and to that, I challenge them to look around at their peers. Ask them in a judgment free environment if they feel social media has taken away from their lives in any way. The likely answer will almost always be "yes." The benefits to be addressed, such as connecting people from around the world and spreading awareness about important issues, giving a voice to marginalized communities, or creating opportunities for people to connect and share their stories, are not insignificant. These are all marvels of technology; however, the negative effects of social media cannot be ignored. The constant bombardment of information and stimulation will lead to mental exhaustion, addiction, and a decreased attention span. The pressure to present a curated and idealized version of oneself can lead to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. The spread of misinformation and the ease with which it can be shared easily lead to polarizing beliefs and a frightening lack of critical thinking. The downsides of social media may not be immediately apparent, but the long-term consequences are beginning to reveal themselves. The cons of social media far outweigh the pros, and it is important to recognize the impact it is having on our society and mental health.
To conclude, the overuse of social media, especially among today's youth, has become a social epidemic. We are drowning in our own entertainment, and the effect of social media on our dopamine reward system is devastating. The quick switches between content and news we consume are wreaking havoc on our attention span. Furthermore, social media has had negative effects on mental health, particularly among teenagers. Although social media has its benefits, it is crucial that we recognize the harm it can cause and take steps to limit its negative effects. We need to prioritize quality over quantity, focus on meaningful connections, and find a healthy balance between technology and real-life experiences. As we allow technology to strip away our ability to perceive the beauty of life, we become less human. It is up to us to change our relationship with social media and use it responsibly, not let it control us. The future of our mental health and society as a whole depends on it.