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How is social media changing our brain
- 1. How is social media changing our brain? The Internet is the most widespread and rapidly adopted technology inthe historyof humanity. In only decades, Internet use has completelyre‐ invented the ways in which we search for information, consume media and entertainment, and manage our social networks and relationships. With the even more recent advent of smartphones, Internet access has become portable and ubiquitous to the point at which the population of the developed worldcan be considered “online”. The average person spends over three hours on their phone each day, including approximately 2 and a half hours on social media. While it may seem like a harmless pastime, research shows that doing anything repeatedly for extended amounts of time can cause physiological changes in the brain. This begs the question, what is social media actually doing to our brains? CHANGES IN ATTENTION Social media has the abilityto capture your attention. With a simple “refresh,” constant new information is at your fingertips. Through a process called “variable-ratio reinforcement,” you are constantly excitedand rewarded to see more and more fresh new posts. Recent researches revealed that heavy social mediausers perform worse on cognitive tests, especiallythose that examine their attention and abilityto multitask. Compared to moderate to light social mediausers, heavy users need to exert more effort to remain focused in the face of distraction. Researchers hypothesize that since social media is easilyaccessible and competes for your attention withthe promise of perpetual new content, heavy social media users become less able to ignore distractioningeneral. It also shrinks parts of the brain associatedwith maintaining attention. Related link: https://oke.io/XSk6 CHANGES IN REWARD PATHWAYS Beyond lowering your abilityto maintain your attention on any one selected topic, social media makes you addicted to your screens. It provides immediate rewards in the form of a dopamine release (happiness hormone) every time you post or get a notificationfrom the app. This constant barrage of shallow rewards rewires your brain to want more of what caused that dopamine release, which leads to social mediaaddiction. Studies show that the brain scans of heavy social media users look very similar to those addicted to drugs or gambling. Related link: https://oke.io/XSk6 CHANGES IN MEMORY PROCESSES
- 2. Research also shows that heavy social mediause is linked withmemory deficits, especiallyinyour transactive memory. This kind of memory involves deciding what information is important enough to store in your brain and what information can be outsourced. Related link: https://oke.io/XSk6 DISTURBING YOUR SLEEP Can't sleep? Your phone, computer, and tablet might be to blame. Medical Daily reported that the type of blue light that's emitted from your devices could be keeping you awake at night. Insomnia can lead to more scrolling, whichcreates a vicious cycle of wakefulness. If you want to get some serious shut-eye, experts recommend disconnecting from your devices after 9 p.m. Ont he other hand here are myriad positive aspects to social mediaincluding new friendships, career opportunities, learning new languages, and connection to new cultures and movements. However, science tells us how important it is to be aware of, and guard against, social media’s negative impacts as they are, quite literally, shrinking your brain. The takeaway? Despite how social media may have changed your life for the better and no matter how much you enjoy carrying around a mini dopamine dispenser, moderation is key.