Social media has always been extremely addictive, both physically and psychologically, but the question is why? Although many people try convincing themselves that Instagram is used for simply capturing and sharing the moment, the app is much more complex and interactive than that. In this modern age, things like boredom, curiosity as to what others are up to, and our fear of missing out on those things can be triggers for what leads us to pick up our phones and click on the Instagram app.
The addictive part of Instagram includes many small factors that people do not realize contribute greatly. For example, if you buy tickets to a concert of your favorite band, it is one thing to go to the concert and enjoy the moment, but it is another to go to the concert and spend almost all of the time "capturing the moment." It is the fear that people have of losing the moment or forgetting about it, that leads them to do this. One step further is the itch to share that you went to the concert. This could be for multiple reasons; some people genuinely want to share the experience for those who did not have the chance to go, while others may want to subliminally brag about their time there by showing it off.
But the brains behind Instagram are genius, for once those photos and videos are taken, filters and editing can be applied. In another article of mine, I wrote about how there are many photos on social media depicting the wrong image of who people really are. A lot of this has to do with editing. Everyone wants to look their best, or follow trends and editing styles of others and so on. Eventually, it becomes rare to scroll through your feed and find an authentic photo with truly #nofilter.
In my opinion, the cherry on top for this addictive trap we constantly fall for is the reward. We take the photos, we edit them, we upload them, and then the likes and comments start coming in. The more likes and comments people receive, the better they feel about their investment in posting, and their self esteem is raised. Sounds crazy, but it's true if you think about it.
Instagram is the medicine that cures boredom in many situations. It is literally a drug. When a new notification appears on your lock screen, the neurotransmitter called dopamine is released; it is the brain's pleasure and reward center. It is a craving that many social media users have today. When I found out about this, I tried my best to be off Instagram and other social media as much as possible, because we did live without it at some point. If you feel like you have this addiction to social media, try picking up other hobbies to keep busy, or set a time limit on how long you go on the app for!
