Dopamine, SM and Addiction

#Thread

Please check where you fit and act accordingly.

‘Like’ it or not, using social media can cause anxiety, depression, and other health challenges.

A study performed by California State University found that individuals that visited any social media site at least 58 times per week were 3 times more likely to feel socially isolated and depressed compared to those who used social media fewer than 9 times per week.

How does SM affect our brain?

According to a new study by Harvard University, self-disclosure on social networking sites lights up the same part of the brain that also ignites when taking an addictive substance.

The reward area in the brain and its chemical messenger pathways affect decisions & sensations. 

When someone experiences something rewarding or uses an addictive substance, neurons in the principal dopamine-producing areas in the brain are activated & dopamine levels rise.

Therefore, the brain receives a “reward” and associates the drug or activity with positive reinforcement.

This is observable in SM usage; when an individual gets a notification, such as a like or mention, the brain receives a rush of dopamine & sends it along reward pathways,