Social media making millennials social slugs

 

There’s a lot of speculation surrounding the issue of ‘egoism’ in millennials, but the problem does not lie in the 20-somethings themselves, but instead their surroundings.

As a millennial, this technological age has caused social media to become an important factor in my generation. The reliance on social networks has created artificial connectionsthat are ultimately causing a disconnection.

It has become the backbone of our day-to-day lives by using Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram as an outlet for our successes, failures, and any other detail you think the world should know.

Due to the openness of social media, it creates a platform for constant comparison to our peers. Personally, I feel higher levels of anxiety and inadequacy after reading a post of one of my friends finding a job immediately after graduating, and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way.

A 2013 study conducted by the University of Michigan found that the more millennials used Facebook, the worse they felt. It also said that the constant use of Facebook causes a decline in moment-to-moment happiness.

Now, if you compare that study to the population of millennials using social media, you’ll realize many people feel this discontent. In a study conducted by Statista on Canadian and American millennials, 90 per cent use smartphones and 93 per cent access the internet.

There are tons more studies that prove social media has serious effects on how we view and treat ourselves, but why is it so powerful?

Updates on your favourite bands upcoming album? Check their Facebook page. Want to know what your celebrity crush is doing? Follow their Twitter account. Want to read the news without having to turn on your T.V.? Scroll through CNN’s Instagram account.

Social media has become more than a means to connect people, but a condescend resource for users to get updated on almost everything. Ultimately, we know something interesting is happening at all times so we resort to our phones, whether it be in boredom or to avoid an awkward conversation.

Either way, phones give us a sense of comfort. Think about it, have you or someone you know ever cried over a broken phone or cracked screen? I’ve witnessed it, and it’s a little unnerving when you realize how attached people have become to their devices.

When your social media account holds more of your overall attention than the outside world, it may be time to make some changes, maybe find a hobby that doesn’t involve staring at a screen.