Are Millennials addicted to social media?

When was the last time you changed your profile picture on Facebook, or the last food porn you posted on Instagram?

In this digital age, you’ll find it very hard to find someone who’s not active on social media.

Young people nowadays are even more “techie” than their parents. Meanwhile, there are those who have developed the habit of taking selfies and flooding their “wall” with their photos.

These people should be careful, for such media can be addictive.

During the 10th annual meeting of Outstanding Young Scientists Inc. (Oysi), held at the Manila Hotel on July 7, Queena Lee-Chua, a professor at the Ateneo de Manila University (Admu), said social media are addictive because they were designed to be so.

She shared that some psychologists who are experts on addiction were hired to design the social media that most people are enjoying today.

Lee-Chua also shared that these psychologists are also the ones behind casinos.

But, maybe, these psychologists are not the only ones to blame. Just take a look at the way some parents bring up their chidren.

Lee-Chua cited, as an example, that the current generation’s favorite word is “bored”. “Mommy, I’m bored.” Do you often hear that?

“What do the parents do when their kids are bored?” she asked, and continued that some of them hand their kids an iPad or tablet.

While some parents might be unconsciously tolerating their kids, there are those who are concerned about “sexy issues.”

These “sexy issues,” according to Lee-Chua, include porn and cyberbullying.

“But let’s face it, everyone looks at porn,” she said.

Meanwhile, based on a survey involving more than 4000 students from Admu and Miriam College, Lee-Chua said 90 percent of respondents said “yes” to “always” and “often” when asked whether they are bored.

With that answer, she analyzed that, while entertainment was more high- lighted, today’s generation gets bored very easily.

Furthermore, there’s a high incidence of depression in this generation.

In a separate presentation, Merlyn Mendioro, professor at University of the Philippines Los Baños, said the more a person becomes addicted to digital or social media, the more he or she develops a sedentary lifestyle.

“When people are not physically active, there’s a higher chance of developing depression and anxiety,” Mendioro said.

We know that technology was developed to make our lives better. Why would we allow technology to be- come a health issue? PNA