Is social media addiction a serious concern?

Like many people, I use social media on a daily basis. Recently, however, I've begun to worry about the risks surrounding daily social media usage, like what should happen if I became addicted to it. Unhealthy dependence pushes bad thoughts through our mind, and while they might linger in the nervous system, we can recognise unhealthy stressful urges and fight them. Conquering addiction takes willpower, redirection and support.Social media addiction is a real and increasing concern.A study done in India found that “Students are the most vunerable to developing a dependence on Internet. The Internet’s promise to result in student proficiency, and it becoming essential in certain courses of study has led to the use of the Internet on campuses; this is instrumental in making students susceptible to pathological Internet use.”If it feels like you're losing your willpower and getting online is becoming a habit, I have a few suggestions. Risks can be physical, mental and societal and (much like cell phones, computers and social media platforms) they hybridise, combine and support each other. Physical risk #1-Lack of exercise. We need to be active. Video media is distracting and it can keep you in front of the screen for hours. Yoga, martial arts and weight lifting can be a new reason to go out on evenings and weekends. Exercises like these discipline the mind and body and they can be done solo or social.Physical risk #2 - EMF radiation - Within the last century we have increased our energy use one hundred times over. In the last ten years, some cities registered an increase in the level of information carrying radio waves (ICRWs), used for wifi and cell phones, by 500 times. A silent debate as to whether these levels of radiation affect cellular regeneration is brewing. Dr. George Carlo, a leading scientist on this type of radiation, found that cell phones are undeniably connected with eye and brain cancers.The science is complicated and concerns the vibrations that our cell membranes use to communicate, but cell phones could result in cell damage. Young children grow up using these devices. Carlo believes that IRCWs disrupt intracellular communication and can lead to a host of different diseases including prenatal autism, ADD, Parkinson disease and Alzheimers. Mental risk #1 – Simulacra – A sixteen year-old girl took a week off from electronic technology. She sent an editorial to Adbusters 2010 Summer edition about it. “A few days have passed since I started my Digi Detox week. Honestly, I’m not doing too well… It’s my crutch. It helps me get away from the real world, real people and real responsibilities.” The Internet enables us to create a separate being: our online selves. We live a double life. It took a week long “digi detox” for this young girl to realise that she was using her online self to avoid real life. However, she recognised her addiction which is the pivotal first step towards recovery. Mental risk #2 - Isolation – The Internet was created to facilitate communication and bring people together. Does this ever backfire and isolate us from our friend and family?  Technology has replaced many things; candles, 26 volume encyclopedias. It also has the potential to replace a normal conversation. Video phone calls are close to having a real conversation but social media can’t replace social interaction. It can only add to it.It can, however, distract us and chip away at our motivations to meet up with friends. To avoid this, recognise when you crave companionship and limit your use of social media. Societal risk #1 - No choice - New technologies hit stores before their risks can be fully studied. Our legal committees are impatient when studying long term effects.  High technology industries get so much business that they are nearly untouchable. Their stock is internationally invested. The global economy depends on them surviving. This leads to unethical business practices, like Sprint's new ad campaign directed at 8 years olds. Societal risk #2 – Global Homogenisation – We are connected with people in different time zones through social media platforms. In order to communicate, we need to find common ground. It’s easier to translate simple concepts than the culture’s entire folk history. To maintain the beauty and diversity of our culture, we need to continue to innovate and well as preserve culture.Our youngest generation has probably never mailed a letter to a pen-pal, or had to wait until they got home to make a phone call. We communicate with push-button ease and are becoming increasingly accustomed to it.An unprecedented swell of complex technology is sweeping planet Earth and beyond. While we are eager to explore it, it is important to stay grounded and most importantly, to embrace the people around us.With substance addictions, the best way to kick the habit is to avoid alcohol, tobacco or drugs as well as risky behaviours. For social media addiction, rehab could be as simple as opening a book, or as intense as taking karate lessons; maybe even going to a bar.Have you considered the effects of social media addiction? What techniques do you use to overcome its risks?