Can social media be addicting? Sure, when it interferes or prevents us from doing the things we need to do in order to live our lives.
But when it simply replaces a traditional activity, it’s no more harmful than what it’s replacing. Retrevo would have you believe we’re on the cusp of some crisis where everyone is an addict.
If I don’t watch the morning news and instead get that information from an online news source or aggregator such as Twitter, does that make me an addict? No more than watching Fox News every morning does (I’d argue that Fox News is worse for you). If I choose to check my iPhone from bed (easy to do considering I use my iHome as an alarm clock) instead of turning on the TV or radio, does that mean I can’t live without social media? Nope.
Studies like this are ridiculous and pander to whatever society is obsessed with at the time. Ten years ago all the smart people were addicted to investing in internet startups and no one said anything. Funny how that turned out.
Social media is a CHANNEL. It is a METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING. You cannot be addicted to such. You can, however, be hungry for attention, needy, or just like connecting with people on a regular basis.
Considering how a large portion of social media users are over 35, the aforementioned study does a poor job of separating communication needs. I used Facebook 10x more in college than I do now, mostly because people were more readily accessible. Does that mean I’ve beaten my addiction? Nope, my needs have changed.
And for the 17% of you that answer tweets during sex…well, as long as your partner doesn’t care, why should anyone else (though I think it’s sad)? And don’t EVEN tell me that using an iPhone while on the john is an interruption.
If social media is used for productive means, it’s not addictive. The Phoenix community will quickly tell you that Twitter allowed it to cross previously unseen geographical barriers to form a close, if not intimate, community out of hundreds of square miles of disparate cities and interests. If wanting to meet people, share ideas and learn is an addiction, sign me up.
I won’t even tell you what ELSE I’m doing right now.
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