Advertisement
For £35 you can help a vendor keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing
BUY A VENDOR SUPPORT KIT
Health

How your brain operates when using social media

Social media has been blamed for a rise in anxiety, depression and insecurity. So what is actually happening to you when tweeting or on Facebook?

Woman using mobile phone

Social media provides a platform for interaction and distraction that can counter isolation and loneliness, but the digital world of follows and likes is also blamed for a rise in anxiety, lower levels of self-esteem and insecurity. Or the complete opposite if you’re President of the United States. Either way, it can be addictive. But why?

Studies show that people who use Facebook for over two hours per day are almost three times more likely to suffer from depression. But does social media increase depression or does depression increase social media use? It likely works both ways, creating a cycle; the more depressed someone is, the more they use social media and the worse their mental health will become.

1. GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Every post, share, like, comment or invitation creates an expectation and anticipation that a sense of belonging and connection will be generated.

Every post creates an expectation that a sense of belonging will be generated

2. GETTING STIMULATED

One brain region involved is the nucleus accumbens, considered to be the brain’s reward centre because it responds to a variety of rewards including money, sugar, and positive social feedback.

Advertisement
Advertisement

3. CHEMICAL REACTION

Dopamine is released, which reinforces positive behaviour needed to sustain life, for example eating or drinking, to encourage repetition. Instead of being a pleasure in itself, like one of Pavlov’s dogs, dopamine reinforces our idea of where potential rewards come from.

Young woman using mobile phone

4. DOUBLE SHOT

If your interaction is connected to a subject or activity that naturally gives you a dopamine shot – food porn or anything involving kittens – sharing gives a second hit.

5. RED ALERT

Receiving an alert becomes a conditioned stimulus, predicting a personal reward (maybe someone’s sent a video of kittens sneezing or pandas playing chess) or that someone approves of your activity (thinks you’re funny).

Advertisement

6. POSITIVE SIGNS

If somebody out there likes you, it stimulates the same areas of the brain as someone smiling at you in the real world or praising you at work. These social reinforcers also boost social media use.

Receiving an alert becomes a conditioned stimulus, predicting a personal reward

7. ENVIOUS GLANCES

Research has shown that browsing posts and photos recording other’s successes can trigger envy, misery and loneliness, especially if their updates seem to be more popular than yours.

SO HOW CAN YOU MANAGE THE DIGITAL DOOMS?

• Turn off automatic notifications

Advertisement

• Check social media at specific times, for example after mealtimes or during breaks at work

• Do not use digital devices for at least 30 minutes before going to bed

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

View all
Movember: Men being more attuned to their cars than their own bodies needs to change
Health

Movember: Men being more attuned to their cars than their own bodies needs to change

One million people in England who weren't smokers now vape – but it's not as alarming as it sounds
Vaping

One million people in England who weren't smokers now vape – but it's not as alarming as it sounds

How Everton football club is easing strain on the NHS by taking on heart health
Former Everton midfielder and club ambassador Graham Stuart receives his breathlessness test at the Everton in the Community hub
Health

How Everton football club is easing strain on the NHS by taking on heart health

Starmer wants a 'dramatic reimagining' of the NHS. What does that mean for you?
NHS

Starmer wants a 'dramatic reimagining' of the NHS. What does that mean for you?

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know