Social Media has been a part of our lives for a brief period, yet the effects that social media has had on our lives are far from brief. Most users that are active on social media start off their day endlessly scrolling on one of the major apps that are prevalent in our lives. This addiction is one of the hardest addictions to break and is only getting worse. But a question that might be asked is, why is it so hard to break these addictions? 
 Social media companies use an endless number of resources to keep the brain wanting more. One of the strategies they use is the scrolling trap. Companies like Tik Tok and Instagram have features that allow the ability to scroll for hours upon hours with no stopping point. Users' brains become addicted to scrolling and the short videos they see. “They offer bite-sized content that makes it easy to quickly consume several videos or posts in a row, they often automatically suggest similar content, and many of them even automatically start playing similar videos, reducing the potential for interruptions.”(“The Psychology of Your Scrolling Addiction”). Another issue is people can see whatever their friends are doing whenever they want. Subsequently a fear called FOMO is developed which makes the user unwilling to separate from their device. (Scott.) 
While there are many negatives, social media is not always bad if used in moderation, for example, social media has blessed us with instant communication. Users can text, talk, or listen to anyone worldwide in around 5 seconds (How Fast SMS Travel). Users are also able to spread news such as fundraisers or charities to a community way faster than door to door or posters. All these positives can be enjoyed if users use social media wisely. If too much time is being spent on these apps users may find it extremely difficult to break away from the virtual world, they live in.  
 In conclusion, if we use social media wisely, the benefits are endless. But the more we endlessly scroll the worse these addictions and habits will become. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Works Cited 
Elizabeth Scott, PhD. “Do You Have Fomo? Here Is How to Cope.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 16 Nov. 2022, www.verywellmind.com/how-to-cope-with-fomo Accessed 26 Sept. 2023. 
 
“✅ How Long Does a Message Take to Be Delivered to Its Recipients?” ProTexting.com, Inc. ProTexting, www.protexting.com/faq/how-long-does-a-message-take-to-be-delivered-to-its-recipients.html. Accessed 26 Sept. 2023. 
 
“The Psychology of Your Scrolling Addiction.” Harvard Business School. Harvard Business Review, 3 Feb. 2022, hbr.org/2022/01/the-psychology-of-your-scrolling-addiction