Is Addiction on Social Media Only Applicable to Young People?
Social media addiction is a growing phenomenon that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by an excessive and compulsive use of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, that interferes with other aspects of life, such as work, school, relationships, and health. Social media addiction can have negative consequences on mental and physical well-being, such as depression, anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, sleep problems, and obesity.
One might wonder if social media addiction is only applicable to young people, who are often considered the most avid and frequent users of social media. However, the answer is no. Social media addiction can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or background. In fact, some studies have shown that older generations are not immune to social media addiction and may even be more vulnerable to it than younger ones.
According to a report by Statista (2023), the global social media penetration rate was 70.4% in 2023, meaning that more than two-thirds of the world’s population were active on social media. The report also showed that the average daily time spent on social media was 2 hours and 31 minutes per person. However, these averages varied across different age groups. The report found that the highest social media penetration rate was among the 25-34 age group (90.4%), followed by the 18-24 age group (89.7%), the 35-44 age group (85.5%), the 45-54 age group (74.9%), the 55-64 age group (63.6%), and the 65+ age group (46.8%). The report also found that the highest daily time spent on social media was among the 18-24 age group (3 hours and 16 minutes), followed by the 25-34 age group (2 hours and 47 minutes), the 35-44 age group (2 hours and 22 minutes), the 45-54 age group (1 hour and 55 minutes), the 55-64 age group (1 hour and 37 minutes), and the 65+ age group (1 hour and 12 minutes).
These statistics suggest that social media addiction is not only applicable to young people, but also to older people who use social media frequently and for long periods of time. Moreover, some researchers have argued that older people may be more prone to social media addiction because they face more challenges in their lives, such as retirement, loneliness, health issues, or bereavement, and may use social media as a way to cope with these difficulties or to seek social support and validation (Cross River Therapy, 2023). Additionally, older people may have less digital literacy and awareness of the potential risks and harms of social media use, such as privacy breaches, cyberbullying, misinformation, or identity theft (Cloudwards, 2024).
Therefore, social media addiction is not a problem that only affects young people. It is a widespread and serious issue that can affect anyone who uses social media excessively and compulsively. Social media addiction can have detrimental effects on mental and physical health, as well as on personal and professional relationships. It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of social media addiction and to seek help if needed.
References:
Statista. (2023). Social Media Usage Worldwide – Statistics & Facts. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-networks/
Cross River Therapy. (2023). 121 Social Media Addiction Statistics Worldwide – Cross River Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.crossrivertherapy.com/research/social-media-addiction-statistics
Cloudwards. (2024). 21+ Eye-Opening Social Media Addiction Statistics in 2024 – Cloudwards. Retrieved from https://www.cloudwards.net/social-media-addiction-statistics/
