Reading, Writing, Arithmetic…Is too much social media making us sick?

Do you check Facebook the moment you wake in the morning?  Do you feel compelled to Tweet, even from the bathroom?  Does checking in on Foursquare take precedence over your quiet dinner conversation with a friend?  If you answered yes to any of these questions you may be suffering from social media addiction.

A recent online study of 1000 people by Retrevo Gadgetology revealed that “56% of social media users need to check Facebook at least once a day.”  In addition, the question, “how long can you go without checking in on Facebook?” polled the following response.

According to Nielsen stats, Facebook and Twitter “account for 22.7% of time spent on the web.”

Social media addiction is a Twenty-First Century addiction.  In order to study the problem, researchers from the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Pennsylvania performed a social media experiment.

The experiment?  Harrisburg University researchers suspended social media service to the entire 800-student population including use of Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging and other social media for one week.

The cause?  The researchers wanted to test the effects of technology, particularly social media, on the lives of students, faculty and staff.  Eric Darr, HUST provost, agrees that social media serves many purposes, both in business and education.  Darr wanted to observe how social media impacted work and see if denying the use of the medium would improve collaboration among people.  In essence, Darr wanted to see if social media could be used in a better, more effective way.

The findings?  Although students and faculty still had access off campus grounds, they weren’t entirely cut off from social media. The researchers concluded that the use of social media is, in fact, an addiction with withdrawal symptoms similar to those of drug and alcohol addicts.  Reported to Fox News, “Students realized that social media, especially Facebook and instant messaging, if not managed properly, can take over their lives.”  According to Darr one student said he “felt compelled to check Facebook 21 hours a day.”  Darr added, “the majority of students behaved much like smokers who sneak cigarettes after class.  They would sneak off to check things on their smartphones.”

Other discoveries?  Students reported decreased stress levels and more spare time to focus on other activities that allowed for more frequent face-to-face communication.  Natural News reported that “because of the experiment, many students came to the abrupt realization that social network addiction is destroying their health both physically and relationally.”

Social media is addictive because it can advance and enhance communication, both personally and professionally – this we know.  It allows instant access to peers, colleagues, and friends, enabling us to engage in two-way global conversations.  But when does it become a problem?  When do we need to step away from the computers, the iPads and the smartphones and say, enough is enough?  Social media may, at times, interfere with our personal relationships, but it should not be a replacement or a substitute.

Are you at risk?  Watch this.

With any disease, there are treatments and tactics that can assist in curing or keeping it under control.  The Social Times gives five tips to fighting social media addiction – “focus, cull your network, use lists and filters, use a schedule, and set a timer.”  If you or someone you know is battling with social media addiction, read this on how to stop.