Scrolling through social media has become second nature—we snap photos of our meals before eating and share every moment of our lives online. But at what point does casual browsing turn into full-blown addiction? With social media dependency on the rise, especially among younger users, new research has uncovered just how long it takes to become addicted. Are you already hooked without realizing it? Let’s find out.
New Research Reveals How Quickly Social Media Turns Into an Addiction
0
How Much Time Do You Spend on Instagram Daily?
Most of us are probably unaware of the time we spend on Instagram each day. Social media apps, always at our fingertips, pull us in like a vortex. The recently introduced 'Explore' feature makes it even harder to close the app. Within seconds, you're onto the next video, and thanks to algorithms, you're constantly consuming content tailored to your interests!
Why Is It So Hard to Log Off?
Logging out of social media isn’t as easy as it seems. The main reason? Dopamine! Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) trigger the reward system in your brain. According to a report by TRT, instant likes, notifications, and rapidly consumed content influence dopamine release, making your brain crave more. As a result, you end up spending even more time on these apps.
When Does Social Media Turn Into an Addiction?
Leaked internal documents from TikTok have revealed the threshold for social media addiction! According to company records, TikTok considers 35 minutes the point at which users begin showing addictive behaviors. Shockingly, the average TikTok user spends 95 minutes per day on the app!
On Instagram, if you're spending more than 30 minutes a day, you might be addicted.
Given that Instagram is heavily focused on photos and videos, it’s no surprise that almost everyone has the app on their phone. Reports indicate that users spend an average of over 1 hour daily on Instagram.
Since YouTube features longer videos, the addiction threshold extends to 45 minutes. Meanwhile, the cutoff for X (Twitter) is 31 minutes, as its constant news updates fuel FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
Facebook, which has declined in popularity among younger users, has an addiction threshold of 33 minutes.
Though many perceive it as harmless due to its focus on communication with close friends and family, data suggests otherwise!
So, how much time do you really spend on social media?