The use of social media has surged, raising concerns about the detrimental effects of over-dependence. Such a habit may interfere with people's lifestyle if they get overly-compelled to engage in social media updates at every moment. The term "social network addiction" has been informally coined to describe a person who spends too much time on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking platforms to the extent that it interferes with his or her daily life (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011). Even though the social network addiction is not an official medical term, it is a real issue that the Ministry of Education (MOE) needs to address, specifically to the iGeneration, and to seek a solution to juggle the delicate balance between pleasure and obsession.
Konnikova (2014) states that The American Journal of Psychiatry strongly suggests adding "Internet Addiction" in the next DSM. Such compulsion to be involved in social media network almost constantly to the extent that is causes distress demonstrates signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). While the term is still vaguely defined, a social network addict would be someone who has a compulsion to excessively check status updates, new photo uploads and view profiles at every second. Meikle (2012) states that urges to twitter are actually stronger and harder to resist as compared to cravings for alcohol and cigarettes. However, it is difficult to draw a line between plain fondness for engaging in social media and an addiction that is harmful to one's life.
Rosen (2014) conducted a survey to members across four generations to analyze the use of social media and what factors would predict who would use more or less technology. Results showed that the younger generation, also known as the iGeneration, those born between 1990 to 1999, are the most avid users of the internet. This sub-population grew up with the internet technology and is probably the most likely folks to be affected by the "social network addiction" syndrome.
As such, rehabilitation is needed for such an addiction. Increasing the awareness of the public of the term "social network addiction" would be a huge first step in addressing the issue. One would need to be aware of the symptoms so if he or she identifies the problem, measures can be taken to tackle the addiction. The Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) should release short video clips that are engaging and informative on social network platforms such as Facebook and Youtube to educate these young children and teenagers about the symptoms of social network addiction. In the campaign, it should include visible signs that can be easily identified and helplines should be displayed so they are aware of who to contact if they are in need of help.
In addition, the Ministry of Education (MOE) could implement a program to increase the awareness of the negative consequences of internet addiction. Teachers have close contact with these young children and teenagers from the iGeneration and thus, they would be the best candidates in relaying the message to them. This could be incorporated into their "Health Education" lesson, where the teachers could bring up the "social network addiction" issue. Such a session should be conducted in a smaller, intimate setting as it would encourage self-disclosure and open discussion about any possible fears, worries or concerns about the over-usage or addiction to social media. While this could be an exposure to them, it could also bolster critical reflection in which they think about the purpose of engaging in social media and how it influences their life.
Currently, the MOE has encouraged schools to teach about internet safety and security, especially on how to prevent oneself from falling prey into online scams. They are also safeguarding certain materials such as pornographic websites from under-aged children. However, the internet is vast and it is impossible to keep track of every single user's actions. Similarly, if we were to implement the awareness campaign about internet addiction and the possible symptoms, the message could be relayed effectively. However, this effectiveness may not translate to objective outcomes. They may still be over-reliant on internet technology and may get hooked into it so much that it disrupts their daily lifestyle. This is a flaw that would need to be explored further.
To sum up, "social network addiction" may not be a term that exists in official documents, as of now, but it has been a growing concern ever since the Internet revolution. Studies have shown the detrimental effects on an individual's psychological, emotional and social being and while we may not have sunk into the psychiatric disorder, it would be safe to take precautionary measures to prevent such a situation. As such, the MDA and MOE play a critical role in raising awareness and educate these citizens, especially the iGeneration, on how to use social media moderately, only to reap the best benefits.
References
Konnikova, M. (2014). Is internet addiction a real thing?. The New Yorker. Retrieved from: http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/internet-addiction-real-thing
Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M, D. (2011). Online social networking and addiction - a review of the psychological literature. International journal of environmental research and public health, 8(9), 3528-3552.
Meikle, J. (2012). Twitter is harder to resist than cigarettes and alcohol, study finds. The Guardian. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/feb/03/twitter-resist-cigarettes-alcohol-study
Rosen, L. (2014). Our Social Media Obsession. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/rewired-the-psychology-technology/201407/our-social-media-obsession
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