NationalInstituteofMentalHealth&Neuroscience(NIMHANS),

Bangalore,India
DepartmentofClinicalPsychology

SOCIAL MEDIA
ADDICTION

Dr.Manoj Kumar Sharma,Krishna Kumari K

SocialMediaAddictionSymptoms
*Preoccupation:Preoccupiedwithsocial
mediaandhasastrongdesireforthem,and
socialmediauseisthedominantactivityin
theirleisuretime
*AdverseConsequences:Personsuffers
fromnegativeconsequencesbecauseof
excessivesocialmediausesuchasschool
performanceorproductivityimpairments,but
he/shestillcontinuetousethem.
*AlleviationofNegativeEmotions:Using
socialmediatorelievedysphoricmoodsor
escapefromdisturbingthoughts
*Lossofinterestinsocialactivities:
Preferencetosocialmediaratherthangoing
outofflineforsocialactivitieswithfriends

WhosAtRiskforSocialMediaAddiction?

*Peoplewithprioraddictionsoraddictivepersonality
*Housewivesorthosewhostayathomewholongforadult
interaction
*Peoplewithlittleornohomesupportsystem
*Individualswithsocialphobias
*Teensareatthehighestriskduetothe
naturalprocessesofadolescentdoubts
andpressure
*Thosewithdepressionorloneliness
*Individualswithanxietydisorders

Management

*Lookforhealthyoutletscreatediversechoicesand
activities
*Replacetheaddictivebehaviorwithonethatcausesthe
samestimulationinahealthymanner
*Lookintobehaviormodificationexercises
*Createasupportsystemtoridyourselfoftheaddiction
*Donotusesocialnetworkswhenyouareemotionally
upset(eg.angry,sad,scared)becausespurofthemoment
expressioncancauselongstandingproblems
*Seekprofessionalhelp