Social networks are engineered to be addictive and habit-forming. Throughout the day, the common user will check and interact on social platforms several times if not constantly. We do it so often that it becomes unconscious sometimes and we might catch ourselves going back to the same social network only a short moment after having logged out. It is sometimes difficult to realise how much time exactly we are spending on social media during the day. The addictive aspect of social networking has to do with FOMO (fear of missing out). People start opening accounts on different platforms because their friends, family or coworkers are on it and soon everyone is. People don’t want to feel excluded and many end up joining in even those who don’t necessarilt like social media.

 

A vast majority of social media users, especially the younger generations, give too much value to what people think of their posts or pictures. In fact, 62 percent of adults worldwide have reported to have a higher self-esteem after receiving positive feedback on social media according to Ford’s 2014 consumer trend report. It is rewarding and validating to have more likes, and comments and more followers or friends.

 

“People are addicted. We experience withdrawals. We are so driven by this drug, getting just one hit elicits truly peculiar reactions.” (O’Connor, Addicted to Likes)

 

I believe that social media is an amazing opportunity to reduce the distance between cities and countries but we are forgetting to socialize in real life. It is easy to post a quote or message that we could rewrite or rephrase as many times as want until it is to our liking or upload a picture that showcases our best attributes but our social media personal pages don’t seem to reflect our reality. The majority of what we post is done in the hope of having positive feedback and several likes.

 

But is any of this filling a void or creating a void?