Greetings everyone! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying your lives. I am also doing well, by the grace of Allah Almighty. Today, I am here to participate in a contest organized by @leonciocast. I learned about this contest through an invitation from @paholags. The topic of this contest is whether technology, digital devices, and social networking websites create addiction. I found this topic interesting and decided to participate. I will do my best to explain my thoughts on this topic. So, let’s get started.

In today’s world, electronic devices and social media have become an essential part of our daily lives. We can’t live without them because if we want to stay in touch with our friends or family, we have to rely on mobile phones and social media. Additionally, if we want to stay up-to-date with the news in our area, social media is very helpful. However, as we start using social media and mobile phones excessively, our concerns about their negative impacts increase. If we don’t reduce our screen time, we can become addicted to these things which is not good for our psychological, mental and physical health. This can cause irritability and disturb our social behaviour.

What is Addiction?

Before understanding how digital devices and social media platforms can cause addiction, we need to understand what addiction is. Addiction is a complex and multifaceted condition where you feel enjoyment in doing a particular thing or activity and can’t live without it, even if it’s harmful to you. Your brain becomes accustomed to it and forces you to do it repeatedly. Addiction can be counted in both positive and negative senses and can include many behaviours and substances such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, shopping or even exercise.

As a former chemistry student myself, I would like to explain addiction scientifically. A key feature of addiction is that it involves the brain’s reward system. When we engage in pleasurable activities such as eating or socializing, a chemical called dopamine is released in our brains. This release of dopamine causes a feeling of pleasure and reinforces the behaviour so that we are more likely to repeat it. In addiction, this reward system becomes dysregulated, causing an increased desire for the substance or behaviour in question and a decrease in control over it.

Social and Emotional Impacts of Digital Device and Social Media Addiction

In my opinion, the reason why people can become addicted to digital devices and social media is due to their impact on the brain’s reward system. When we receive notifications or likes on social media, the release of dopamine in our brains causes a feeling of pleasure and reward. Over time, this repeated release of dopamine can create a cycle of craving and reinforcement that can lead to compulsive use of these technologies.

Another reason why we can become addicted to digital devices and social media is their impact on our social and emotional well-being. Social media has been linked to feelings such as envy, anxiety and depression when users compare themselves to others and feel pressure to present a perfect image online. This can create a cycle of negative emotions and compulsive use of social media as a form of escape or distraction.

Additionally, social media and digital devices can impact our sleep, especially when we become addicted and use them excessively at night. The blue light emitted by mobile screens can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle, causing difficulties in falling and staying asleep.

A major concern with addiction to digital devices and social media is its impact on young people. Research has shown that young people are particularly vulnerable to addiction because their brains are still developing and they may be more susceptible to the reward system dysregulation that underlies addiction. Additionally, young people may use digital devices and social media more for socializing and connecting with peers, making them more vulnerable to addiction.

Video Games Addiction and Academic Performance

After finishing my M.Sc in Chemistry, I had a six-month gap before the results were released. During this time, I took up a teaching position at a private college.

During those days, a video game called PUBG had gone viral and among the students I was teaching, there were about 6 or 7 students who were spending a lot of time on this game. When I found out, I tried to explain to them and even called their parents to explain but maybe their parents didn’t take it seriously or they were their parents’ favourites. When the results came out, these students’ progress was down by about 30% compared to the previous year’s results. Here I would like to say that parents should keep an eye on their children’s social activities and not spoil them with too much love but limit their screen time.

Conclusion

On one hand, these technologies have brought many benefits such as increased social connectivity, access to information and opportunities for self-expression. On the other hand, the potential for addiction raises concerns about its impact on our mental health and well-being and our ability to engage in other meaningful activities. We need to learn to use them in a balanced way and take action, especially parents should keep an eye on their children because timely action can ensure that digital devices and social media remain a positive force in our lives rather than a source of addiction and harm.

^{Author: @waqarahmadshah | Achievement 1}