The Hidden Dangers of Social Media

Dopamine Hits

One thing that we all underestimate with Social Media is the amount of dopamine we're receiving with each and every video as we scroll. Us as humans aren't meant to receive that much dopamine in one sitting constantly. Yes, these videos make you laugh, motivate you at times, and can keep you entertained but it's entirely too much at once to the point where your brain becomes addicted to it. 

When you first obtained your social media platform, you probably scrolled the few initial videos and received immediate satisfaction. Now, if you're like the rest of us, you scroll countlessly searching for that next joyful moment within an video or post. What's even worse is that once you find it, you crave more and your joy disappears immediately until your next hit. So what do you do? You keep scrolling until you find that next hint of joy. However, now it's not enough and you've unknowingly become addicted and scroll for hours and hours within a day.

How many of us scroll on Social Media at work? What about during conversations with others? While we're out with our love ones having a good time, yet we still scroll? We've unknowingly have become slaves to our phone but how and why?

When you're sad, you scroll. When you're happy, you scroll. When you're angry or upset, you scroll. Once you become aware of this, you'll understand that the joy and happiness you feel from Social Media isn't real nor does it last. We just continue to go further and further down that rabbit hole searching for that next video and post to satisfy us for the moment. 

Due to our endless amount of scrolling, our brains begin to crave constant dopamine hits in order to remain "happy" and find bliss in our every day activities. The problem with this is that once we reach this level of addiction, it's never enough. So we scroll all hours of the day. Soon as we wake up, during the day, and right before we sleep. 

The Hate it Brings Within and Distractions

What drives the videos and post that you see uses an algorithm that determines when you pause and how long you view the content. Social Media platforms have learned that what drives the most attention are usually headlines that feature either divide and division, hurtfulness, extreme aggressiveness, and/or sexual. In our day and age, most content creators tend to try to use all or most of these in one posting to drive views and trends. 

The posts and videos all vary but they all have generally the same theme. They will attack an celebrity/influencer/model/politician either directly or indirectly by showcasing their flaws and/or changes within either their looks, lifestyle, and way of life. If the post doesn't feature this pattern, they will incorporate something sexual or violence to get your attention. The do this because of how easily we're influenced and conditioned with lust, hatred, and envy. 

What's even worse is the comments that we all read. Nearly 90% of the comments you see are negative, hurtful, or direct or indirect attacks either to one another or the video and post. A bully was once considered the outcast and their actions weren't tolerated. They were shunned and told to be kind to continue to participate with the group. Now with Social Media, bullying has become the norm and is widely accepted. Not only that but we participate with them and have unknowingly become bullies as well.

The good news is once you see the pattern, you can't unsee it and now you're becoming aware of the hatred you're seeing. This hatred subconsciously incorporates hatred, anger, and aggressiveness within our hearts. This then spills into our every day interactions with friends, love ones, and all humans we come in contact with. We become more and more hurtful and aggressive with everyone due to the videos we've scrolled and loved or related to. It's literally the entire reason trends exist. We see something we like that we look up to and we copy it. None of us are immune to this conditioning and whether we admit it or not, it becomes apart of us over time. 

Due to this, it's a major distraction in our every day lives. We struggle to have meaningful conversations without our phones as we crave to grab our phones once again during conversations. We don't even notice nature anymore. Ask yourself when was the last time you looked at the sky or even the trees and plants around you? 

Don't feel guilty about this as now that you're aware, we can come back. 

Incorporate Productive Task

Counter your cravings with more productive task. As a start, try reading a book is an amazing way to get away from social media. It's an great distraction, grows you mentally, and brings you closer to God. As you read, you'll also notice your awareness for the universe begins to come back as well.

Working out and fitness is also a great tool for countering your addiction to Social Media. Coming up with a healthy dinner plan for the night is a great distraction as well. It's a great way to get your brain turning while also challenging yourself in the kitchen with new ideas that benefit you long term. You can also mediate and/or implement yoga. 

If you're at work and can't do these things, have meaningful conversations with your coworkers and all people you come in contact with. Pay attention to them, truly listen and be ready to add to the conversation and your cravings of grabbing your phone will fade over time. 

Overtime, you'll move on from social media as you implement these task. You simply won't have much time for it between work and your personal growth. 

Every bit of this will naturally bring you closer to God as hatefulness begins to be lifted from your heart. Remember to stay strong and keep your faith. 

God loves you and we love you ♥️