The dangers of social media are fast becoming known to all of us. Whether it’s data leaks, privacy hacking or the increased likelihood of ill mental health, social media is fast becoming a vice more than it is a positive platform for connecting. Now, experts are warning that social media platforms create the same addictive behaviour that gambling does.
According to researchers, platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter employ the same techniques as gambling sites in order to create a psychological dependency on the app. Natasha Schull, author of Addiction by Design, wrote about the way in which slot machines are designed to perpetuate addiction. She told The Guardian:
‘Facebook, Twitter and other companies use methods similar to the gambling industry to keep users on their sites. In the online economy, revenue is a function of continuous consumer attention – which is measured in clicks and time spent.’
‘If you disengage, you get peppered with little messages or bonus offers to get your attention and pull you back in,’ Schull continued, ‘We have to start recognizing the costs of time spent on social media. It’s not just a game – it affects us financially, physically and emotionally.’
The phenomenon has been highlighted by various designers, who have previously warned that social media platforms have entire departments devoted to making their app addictive. According to Professor Daniel Kruger, an expert in human behaviour, ‘they want you to be permanently online and by bombarding you with messages and stimuli try to redirect your attention back to their app or webpage.’
And the real danger of this is how easily the psychological impact can be overlooked. Kruger claims that there are various signs of phone dependency, including thinking your phone is vibrating when it’s not.
‘Phantom calls and notifications are linked to our psychological craving for such signals,’ he continued, ‘these social media messages can activate the same brain mechanisms as cocaine [does] and this is just one of the ways to identify those mechanisms because our minds are a physiological product of our brain.’
And as these habits are continuously reinforced, they become harder to break. Nir Eyal, a behavioral psychologist, explained further:
‘It starts with a trigger, an action, a reward and then an investment and its through successive cycles, through these hooks, that habits are formed. We see them in all sorts of products, certainly in social media and gambling. This is a big part of how habits are changed.’
Then, as the habit is formed, the external trigger (a notification or vibration) is no longer necessary, instead replaced with an internal trigger where we associate wanting to use the product with serving an emotional need. He continued:
‘The products are built to be engaging and what’s engaging for some is addictive for others, that’s clear.'
Check out our easy ways to streamline social media out of your day here
Click through to find some natural anti-depressants...
Discover: Natural Anti Depressants
1 of 11Omega 3
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential minerals which reduce inflammation and are vital to brain functions such as mood and memory. Your body doesn't produce them naturally so you can only get them in you via food (like fish, nuts and seeds) or dietary supplements.
2 of 11Vitamin D
In addition to bone health, Vitamin D can play a vital role in the areas of the brain that are linked to the development of depression and other mental health problems.
3 of 11S Adenosylemthionine
SAMeis a molecule that the body naturally forms and is available as a dietary supplement. In addition to depression and anxiety, it can be used for many other conditions including heart disease, fibromyalgia, tendonitis and many more. It is also recommended for PMS. It works by making sure that chemicals in the body that play a role in pain, depression, liver disease, and other conditions, actually do their job.
4 of 115-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
Like SAMe,5-HTP is also a chemical (an essential amino acid) that the body makes naturally. It works by helping to raise the serotonin (the happy hormone) levels in the brain. 5-HTP has been known to have a positive effect on sleep, mood, anxiety, appetite, and pain.
5 of 11Roseroot Herb
A study conducted on whether the Rhodiola Rosea (Roseroot) herb was effective for depression showed that it was almost as effective as the popular antidepressant, Sertraline (Zoloft), but with fewer side effects. The herb boasts strengthening the nervous system, fighting depression, enhancing the immune system and memory, elevating stamina, aiding in weight-loss and increasing sexual function.
6 of 11Iron
A lot of adults, especially women, suffer from iron deficiency, and guess what? Iron deficiency symptoms are pretty similar to depression symptoms, i.e. fatigue, irritability, and foggy brain. The recommended daily iron allowance in adults is roughly 8 to 18 mg daily (check with your doctor though because everyone's number is different).
7 of 11Folate
If you don't have enough folate, antidepressants may not work. Some docs prescribe folate along with antidepressants to treat depression and improve the effectiveness the medication. Most adults need at least 0.4mg daily, which you can though food including dark leafy greens, beans and citrus fruit, or as a supplement.
8 of 11B12
Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins can play a role in producing mood-affecting brain chemicals and low levels of these may be linked to depression. If you have a poor diet and the body can not absorb enough B vits, your mood can be severely affected. Getting a blood test will determine how much of the B goodness you have in your system, and whether you need to stock up. B vitamins are found in animal products like milk, fish, meat and eggs, so if you are a vegan, you should definitely be getting your B's from dietary supplements and vitamins.
9 of 11Zinc
Zinc is crucial to our system as it activates our digestive enzymes breaking down food, and helps prevent food allergies, which can avert depression. It also helps our DNA to produce and repair proteins, control inflammation and boost our immune system.
10 of 11Tryptophan
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which you get through food such as bananas, tamarind, oats, sesame seeds, kiwi and watermelon. Once in the body, it converts to niacin, serotonin and melatonin. Most antidepressants work by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain and Tryptophan helps to increase serotonin levelswithout the extreme side effects of meds.
11 of 11St John Wort
St John's Wort has been around for yonks and is one of the most popular natural methods used for dealing with stress, anxiety and depression. It's a plant with yellow flowers. There has been some scientific evidence that St. John's wort may be helpful in treating mild depression. It's been claimed that it works just like regular antidepressants in that it inhibits the reuptake of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.