Norwegian researchers developed a survey (coined Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale) to study activities on Social Media Network sites. The results of the survey likens the inordinate amount of time spent on social media network use to other types of excessive use of any purportedly ‘feel good’ activities – i.e. street drugs and alcohol. While I object to the subliminal suggestion that Facebook is the main focus and/or the worst social enemy; the survey has revealed concerning results.
The survey measures how often people use electronic social media networks; if they do so to forget their problems and how using a social media site negatively affects their personal or work relationships.
The survey revealed groups of people most at risk for Social Network excessive use:
• Women who tend to be more social than men.
• Young people, who are tech savvy and are unsupervised
• Socially insecure men and women
“Social media, and the trend on the importance of ‘multitasking,’ have helped drive a wedge between family members,” stated psychologist Gregory L. Jantz, author, Hooked: The Pitfalls of Media, Technology and Social Networking.
Jantz reported, electronic social media has the opposite effect on people; instead of becoming more social they are becoming less social the more time they spend on social network sites. They tend to get less done while multitasking because they do not focus on completing one task at a time.
When people use street drugs and alcohol to excess, they want to feel better, yet they are worsening their situation. The research reveals that using social media has the same effect – the person wants to feel more social and therefore, better. Ironically, it worsens their situation. Another parallel to excessive use of street drugs and alcohol is the fact the hardest hit is the family unit.
• With regard to under eighteen year-old users, parents need to monitor their own time online and that of their child to ensure it is not further limiting the already shrinking amount of time available to their children. Parents need to safeguard their children setting firm limits. One important question every parent needs to ask him/herself in defining limits:
• How much time is spent on electronic devices – television, Internet, Social media sites, cell phone, Blu-rays and game systems? The more time spent with electronic devices, the lower a child’s academic performance, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study. More than three hours per says is excessive.
• How much time do you spend with your child? Simply being in the same room is not spending time. The less the scales tip in favor of human-to-human interaction, the more likely there is a problem.
• Do you know how each device works and what games your child plays on the Internet? Familiarize yourself with the Internet games and individual devices to have a perspective of what your child is learning, experiencing and how it is forming their behavior and habits.
• What are the potential consequences of their tech habits? What needs to be changed? Make a list of the positive and negative consequences of your family’s electronic use. Identify the amount of time spent using with each device. Decide how much time is appropriate for the use each electronic devices.
Technology will continue to accelerate, therefore, adults and parents need to set boundaries for their own and their child's use. Granted it is uncharted territory. However, the majority of time needs to be spent in human interaction; such as sports, discussions, learning to solve issues created through human interactions, etc. We need to remember that electronic gadgets and social media networking was created to serve us, and not the other way around.
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- June 10, 2012 2:42 pm
