How Does Social Media Impact Your Brain?

For Medium

Have you ever taken the time to examine how many hours you spend on your cell phone each week? Let's delve deeper. Have you scrutinized the amount of time spent on each app, especially social media?

According to Forbes, Americans spend about two and a half hours on social media every day.

With that in mind, you might wonder just how that screen time affects you. Keep reading!

You'll gain insights into:

The Dopamine Effect of Social Media

Social Media Overload

What Is Dopamine?

Dopamine is one of the brain's feel-good hormones. It’s produced by neurons in the base of your brain, acting as a messenger for various activities like running, writing, and even breathing. It plays a key role in how you experience pleasure and reinforcement. For example, the scent of freshly baked cookies makes your mouth water, and eating one brings you joy, often prompting you to eat another.

So what does dopamine have to do with social media? The same dopamine-driven pleasure response that can lead to addiction with substances like heroin or cocaine is triggered by the likes and comments on your posts. Your brain craves that dopamine rush, making you repeatedly check for notifications.

Is it bad to share moments from your life on social media? No.

Consider this Bible verse:

“You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT).

Does posting on social media foster a loving community? Does it encourage others? Or does it create anxiety and stress, pulling you away from real-life interactions?

Social media can be a powerful tool for connection and information. It's fascinating how technology and neurology intersect.

Dopamine isn’t bad; it draws you back to enjoyable activities. The challenge is keeping social media enjoyable rather than stressful or controlling.

At ActsSocial, we're excited about a new kind of social media—one that serves communities positively, shares truthful information, and supports local businesses while encouraging Christian principles.

Even Christians need reminders. Social media should be a small part of daily interactions, used to:

- Make new connections

- Encourage existing relationships

- Find new community groups

Social media is not a replacement for face-to-face time. Over-reliance can negatively impact brain chemistry, making you a slave to it.

We at ActsSocial challenge you to use social media to spread positive change in your communities!

Now, let’s discuss social media overload. It refers to feeling overwhelmed by the constant stream of notifications from multiple platforms, leading to distraction and mental fatigue.

A 2017 study highlighted how processing vast amounts of social media information can cause mental health issues. Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) is a significant factor, driven by polished and perfect posts that create unrealistic expectations.

More recently, a 2023 study found that excessive social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic led to anxiety and decreased health self-efficacy.

So, how much time is too much? Research suggests limiting social media use to less than 30 minutes per day to avoid feelings of isolation.

You’ve learned about dopamine and social media overload. Now, consider how to use social media wisely, honoring your time and health.

Let’s work towards spreading love and positive change.

Want to read the complete blog post of How Does Social Media Impact Your Brain? Visit us at,https://actssocial.com/blog/social-medias-hidden-toll-on-teens-guide-for-concerned-parents