Is Social Media Driving Americans Insane?

SeaBreeze

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
Location
USA
I'm glad I'm not constantly connected to the internet, don't use my phone for that and don't belong to facebook, twitter, etc. Full story here. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/03/09/social-media-negative-effects.aspx
It's only been a little over a decade since Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were created, and 10 years since the launch of the iPhone. The iPad, Pinterest and Instagram have only been around for seven years, Snapchat six.
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Yet in this short timeframe, Americans' use of technology and social media has grown at a striking pace.

The American Psychological Association's (APA) 2017 Stress in America survey reported that only 7 percent of U.S. adults used social media in 2005. By 2015, that had grown to 65 percent (and 90 percent among 18- to 29-year-olds, up from 12 percent in 2005).[SUP]2
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Every month, more than 2 billion users sign on to Facebook and Instagram, revealing their massive following. Also revealing, 86 percent of U.S. adults own a computer, 75 percent an internet-connected smartphone and 55 percent a tablet, according to the APA survey.

What's more, today about half of U.S. adults say they can't imagine life without their cellphones, yet their ability to keep you online and connected 24/7 has its downfalls, especially if you're a "constant checker."

Forty-Three Percent of Americans Are 'Constant Checkers'

A constant checker is someone who checks their email, text messages and social media accounts "constantly" throughout the day; 43 percent of Americans fit this bill, according to the APA, but they may be sacrificing their health as a result.
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I agree. Today's media comes at us from so many more places than even 20 years ago. We are getting it from all directions, and cannot hide from it. It is hard for us to unplug or take a break. My husband has been totally beside himself lately with all the stuff he is watching. I have to force him away. I definitely see a negative impact on him.
 

All I know is after all the political crap some of my friends are taking a break. There's a definite lull on my fb. I'm kind of bored with it myself right now. Something else will come up before long to get us going again. Lol! I just know I saw pretty bad stuff coming from so-called good people. Kinda disappointed.
 
I really think it's affecting our youth in a bad way too, they seem to just have virtual friendships and don't socialize or play outdoors anymore in real life. They lose their feel for humanity and empathy for others. They have lots of online friends, some kind, some cruel....but I think they feel very alone at their devices every day.

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I agree with Falcon, I wish the internet existed when I was growing up, I learn something new every day!

I check FB a couple times a day to see what family members are up to and that is about it. I do get concerned over a couple of folks in the family that are constantly checking, craving likes and only communicating by FB instant messages. For some people social media only creates the illusion of being part of a community or a family it is more like a life in solitary confinement for some.

and don't get me started about FB friends! I have an old friend that has well over 200 FB friends, when he was injured one of his friends started a GoFundMe page to help him with his medical expenses and shared it with his many, many FB friends, it only generated a handful of very small donations. It's just a modern day version of the old story, If you want to know who your friends are start asking for money or a place to stay!
 
It's like anything else, moderation is the key. And as many people as it might harm there are people that have benefited especially those less mobile. Should one have to check email by the minute, no. As a matter of fact sometime I only check email once week and longer, just like paper mail you can tell wether something is important or not.
 
Falcon said:
I'm glad I have the internet. I don't NEED anything else.
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I totally agree. My phone is connected to the wall with wires.

There was the woman who was so focused on her smartphone that she walked into the side of a moving train which knocked her on her butt. She survived so that she can try again.
 
I think cell phones, and social media are a major contributor to an increasing lack of social skills among our population......Just look at our POTUS, for example.
 
I certainly qualify as a "constant checker". But that is how I stay in touch with friends and family who are 5 to 6 time zones away. As an example, I just found out via a Facebook post by a "1st cousin one removed" that one of my elderly Aunts passed away Wednesday morning. Now I can order flowers, send condolence cards, etc. And today I sold my Harley Davidson, having advertised it on Craigslist a week ago. Also, I use FB Messenger to communicate with a high school classmate that I haven't actually seen in 50 years.
 
Whatever happened to quiet time? Making a decision depending on who you are, not on who all the anonymous facebook friends decide you should be. All the personal space we had while we were walking over to a friends place and the feeling of true freedom that allowed us to be out of touch of our guardians to prove our independence 1 little step at a time.... And we wonder why most of the kids never leave home....
 
I was one of the first to buy an IBM desk top PC's many years ago. Soon bought an upgraded one. Then started building them from parts bought by mail. I had one of the first lap tops that had such weak batteries that they mostly stayed at home on the charger. Now have one of the newer laptops that can last 6 to 8 hours just on the battery.

I do emails but little else, no need for these fancy phones. I have one that cost about $40 and it has many internal functions but I never turn them on. Unwanted features for me. My phone is small enough to fit my shirt pocket but most of what I have seen lately are to big and I don't use a purse either.

I think that some day I will be pushed into a smart phone something. Just not ready yet. I don't like calling and talking on phones either but find emails to be fine.

Progress is just too far from reality for me.
 
My son bought me a cell phone from Boost. It was too complicated for me so I gave it back to him, and he loves it.

You can talk to it and ask where the nearest restaurant is etc. and has actually saved us time and gas trying to find
an address.

Now I have a Jitterbug; it is compact and fits in my shirt pocket. Also has an excellent camera.

It's all that I need. And it only costs (circa) $15/mo.
 
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