Responsible Usage
Make Time For DigitalFree Activities
Aim for daily time where you can digitally detox from all technology, this helps you become intentional about where your focus remains. This will encourage mental focus so you’re fully encoding memories for later retrieval
Expand Your Hobbies
Spend time outdoors, learn a new skill or expand a passion Not only is it good for your brain but will help maintain a healthy balance of daily pursuits without the influence of digital escapism.
Commit to Change
Give yourself a list of priorities to complete each day, then add in hobbies/passion so you’re not wasting time “doom strolling”. The brain requires various degrees of stimulation and breaking up the monotony strengthens your attention spana key function in making memories stick
Get Help Now Take Back Your Life
InternetandTechnologyAddictsAnonymous (ITAA): https://internetaddictsanonymous.org/internet-andtechnology-addiction/social-media-addiction/
References
American Psychological Assoc spending nearly 5 hours daily o mental health outcomes. APA M
Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018 & technology 2018 Pew Resea
Coe, E , Doy, A , Enomoto, K , & mental health: The impact of tech and social media. McKinsey Health Institute
MEMORY
Maza, M T , Fox, K A , Kwon, S J , Flannery, J E , Lindquist, K. A., Prinstein, M. J., & Telzer, E. H. (2023). Association of habitual checking behaviors on social media with longitudinal functional brain development. JAMA Pediatrics, 177(2), 160–167
Sharma, R , & Gupta, S (2019) The impact of social media on memory among Indian adolescents. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 7(4), 210-220
Exploring The Relationship Between Social Engagement Platforms and Cognitive Function
While social media can be helpful in finding connection and belonging, relieving stress with hilarious videos - there are side effects of overconsumption that have severe consequences.
Negative Influence of Social Media Usage
Cognitive Function: Habitual usage decreases behavioral regulation and cognitive control (Maza, Fox, Kwon, Flannery, Lindquist, Prinstein, & Telzer, 2023).
Attention: Reduces ability in sustained attention span over a period of time (Anderson & Jiang, 2018).
Memory: Autobiographical memory may decline with overconsumption of media influencing the development of false memories (Sharma, R., & Gupta, S , 2019)
Academic Achievement: Multitasking tendencies while studying disrupts encoding process (Sharma, R., & Gupta, S., 2019).
Chronic Engagement Fatique
Inability To Recall Details
Irritability, Incl. Mental Health Decline
Feeling tired of being engaged? Having difficulty recalling specific details such as who, what, when, where, and why,?
Constantly irritable, physically tensed? These are common issues of memory with the overload of social media information.
3.5-4hours dailyaverage
The prevalence of digital tools usage has a direct correlation of tolerance and overall indulgence in nontechnological activities (e.g, reading). Reading requires active attention and cognitive processing as a higher level cognitive function making this task extremely daunting if mental stamina is low.
Without proper focus and intentionality towards tasks, memory and overall cognitive function decline. Do not live life on autopilot.
The national average of teen social media usage between the ages of 1317, nearly half the time spent in school. Anderson,M.,&Jiang,J.(2018,May31).Teens,socialmedia& technology2018.PewResearchCenter.
