Social Media

Addicted to Social Media

Youths are most at risk of developing Social Media addiction. Having grown up in a world dominated by social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, many of them rely heavily on  these platforms for interactions and relationship-building.

Moreover, the shrewd social media platform developers are continually adding features and functions (games, groups, live stories, etc.) that attract these young users. While most of them are able to regulate their time spent on such platforms, some grow overly attached and dependent on social media in order to feel a sense of acceptance and affirmation.

Who is at risk of developing an addiction to social media?

• Those who are socially insecure and may be more comfortable with communicating via social media platforms rather than face-to-face
• Those who lack self-discipline and time management

How do you tell if your child is addicted to social media?

Given the ever-expanding base of social media users, experts have embarked on studies to examine resultant problems of addiction and excessive usage. Dr. Cecilie Andraessen from Norway currently leads the “Facebook Addiction” research project at the University of Bergen. Her team has formulated the “Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale”; it is based on six basic criteria, where all items are scored on the following scale: (1) Very rarely, (2) Rarely, (3) Sometimes, (4) Often, and (5) Very often:

• You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or plan use of Facebook.
• You feel an urge to use Facebook more and more.
• You use Facebook in order to forget about personal problems.
• You have tried to cut down on the use of Facebook without success.
• You become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook.
• You use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies. ⁽¹⁾

Andreassen’s study shows that scoring “often” or “very often” on at least four of the six items may suggest your child is addicted to Facebook. Other signs include going to bed very late and getting up very late, due to excessive Facebook usage.

What can you do to help your child?

• If you suspect your child is addicted to social media, it is best to start addressing the problem early by limiting his/her usage.
• Remember to be patient and reasonable when explaining the rationale behind your actions.
• Try to direct your child to meaningful activities that provide healthy social interactions (e.g. playing board/ball games, learning new skills in a class, going for dinner with friends).
• Let your child learn that time is precious and should not be devoured by Facebook; moderation is key.
• If necessary, confiscate the mobile device/laptop or get your child to deactivate the account temporarily, but this should be a last option.

If you need help or advice, call our helpline, Help123 at 1800-6123-123 or email hello@help123.sg.