What is the first thing you do when you wake up?  

   It’s probably something that you don’t need to get out of bed for.

   Here, I’ll answer for you: you check your phone.

   After waking up, you expect at least 3 texts. You expect at least 2 followers on Instagram. You expect at least 15 Snaps. You expect this because that is your worth–right? And, if the reality doesn’t meet that expectation, are you not worth it? Does no one like you? Do you even exist to others? 

   Manipulation; This is all a deception of the mind. The constant conflict with your value, the hasty uneasiness with no text reply, the despicable urge to mindlessly scroll. This is the goal for corporations like Google, Twitter, and Instagram: To make you hooked.

   When most people think of addiction, people’s immediate response is drugs and tobacco; such as cocaine, crack, or smoking. What if I told you the highest rate of addiction is social media? According to the article The Real Social Media Addiction Stats for 2021, it is estimated that around 16-33 million people are potentially suffering from social media addiction. 

   If you like a post on Instagram, you usually “heart” it. If you like the content on someone’s Youtube channel, you press the subscribe button. When you agree with someone’s post on Twitter, you “retweet” it. When you like Pinterest’s outfit idea, you “pin” it. Have you ever thought to yourself, “how does Youtube know I wanted to watch this?” or “when did Pinterest know this is my new aesthetic?” While they call it an algorithm, it’s really called an invasion of your privacy. 

   These companies, (Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter) became the fastest growing industries by using you and your “data”. The Netflix film “Social Dilemma” is a chilling documentary to explain how social media industries do this, explaining how they “want to psychologically figure out how to manipulate you as fast as possible.” 

   Do you ever panic over not knowing where your phone is even for a minute? 

   Have you ever felt antsy after hearing a notification on your phone but not being able to respond fast enough? 

   Were you almost on the cusp of sleeping but a simple text kept you up an hour longer? 

   Do you hear a ding or feel a vibration that was never there? 

   These unnatural habits are what social media deliberately does to your brain. They need you to become reliant on checking your notifications. They need you to watch one last video. They need you to scroll a little longer.

   But you can’t let them consume you. There is so much more to life than what someone else is posting. There are so many more opportunities than the next Youtube video. The Snap someone sent you that night can always be Snapped back in the morning. 

   Just like every other thing–use your phone in moderation. There’s no need to ghost everyone or delete every app if it will cause you misery. Simply minimizing and balancing can allow you to grow better opportunities and open yourself to fulfillment. 

   Make your phone a tool–not a limb.

. . .

   Are you addicted? Try the quiz below to find out.

   Mini Quiz: Are You Addicted To Your Phone?

1.)      What is the first thing you do when you wake up?

1. I make my bed
2. I reflect on why I have to wake up
3. I grab my phone to check the time…and then check my messages

2.)      When I am on the bus I _______.

1. Stare through the window
2. Rush to do forgotten homework
3. Text my friends

3.)    What do you do when you lose your phone for less than 10 minutes?

1. You chill–it’s not a big deal, you’ll find it when it comes up
2. You slightly panic, my parents will kill me
3. MAJOR PANIC–YOU NEVER SNAPPED BACK TO THEM

If You:

Answered mostly A- You have absolutely nothing to worry about

Answered mostly B- You use your phone in moderation

Answered mostly C- Try looking at things other than a screen–you might see something wonderful 🙂