Signs That You Are Addicted To Social Media "Likes" & How To Deal With It

You can spend hours scrolling your multiple social media apps and following your friends and favorite celebrities. It has become much easier now to catch up with the old friends with the social media sites like Facebook. However, it does not take much time to get addicted to it as the idea of getting validated through likes lures you.

Likes give you the same kind of satisfaction, just like any other addictive substance. According to a study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles, the satisfaction that we derive from getting a “like” is equivalent to that of eating chocolate or winning money.

Here is a list of some telltale signs that you addicted to social media and different ways to deal with it.

Signs you are addicted to social media

#1. Morning ritual

Your addiction becomes evident when the first thing you do in the morning when you are unable to even open your eyes completely, is scroll through your social media applications.

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#2. Sudden urges

You have sudden urges to check you social media application every once in a while. It does not matter where you are or what you are doing. You tend to check your phone even while talking to someone.

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#3. Notifications

Your phone notification ring has the ability to make you respond faster than any other thing in the world. You feel all sorts of emotions whenever your phone squeaks out to notify you.

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#4. Fear of losing your phone

Your phone has become a part of your body. People cannot imagine you without a phone in your hand.

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#5. Updates

You tend to update even the minutest of detail about your day. Social media is more happening for you than the real life.

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#6. Stalking skills

You also use social media to stalk people. With a whole lot of time and practice on it, you end up acing the social media stalking skills.

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#7. Connection crisis

Nothing breaks your heart more than a network or connection crisis. You are even more driven to check the apps when you do not have the internet.

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How to deal with the addiction

#1. Internet free areas

Prohibit yourself from the endless scrolling or a prompt glance while you are at certain places or situations like, eating, having a conversation with someone, or busy hours at your workplace.

#2. Scheduled use

Limit the time you spend on social media by increasing the intervals at which you scroll. Make certain time periods internet free, like the hours when you pursue a hobby.

#3. Turn off notifications

Turning off the notifications for your social media apps might turn out to be a great way of avoiding the distraction. You might begin to notice your phone less when it does not ring every minute.

#4. Minimize sharing and updates

Bring down the number of updates you post on social media. It is not important to share every detail on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Start by getting a track of your average number of updates per day and reduce them gradually.

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#5. Positive reinforcement

Use the social media apps as a reinforcement. Give yourself a social media treat when you are successful in extending the intervals at which you use it.

#6. Filter your list

Adding people you do not know into your list is a convenient way to get more likes and feel validated. However, the number of random people in your friend list is just a way to add fuel to your addiction for social media.

#7. Take a day off

You can develop an interesting ritual of living the past once every month. Fix a day every month when you will cut out on the social media for an entire day. This might seem difficult at first but you will get hold of it gradually.

So, after reading this list, do you think you are addicted to the "likes" on social media? If yes, then try the above-mentioned detox hacks.

Also, if you know any other trick to deal with this 'addiction', then share it with us in the comment section below.

(Featured Image Courtesy; The Odyssey Online)