Why are we so addicted to social media?
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Social media holds an undeniable presence in most of our lives – but why is it that we find it so addictive? Teacher and trainee psychotherapist Emma Kilburn explores three different psychological theories to explain why we’re hooked.
By Emma Kilburn
Over the last few months, many of us will have spent more time than ever in front of a screen. For those working from home, a lot of this time will have been dedicated to work-related activity. However, the period of lockdown also saw a sharp increase in the amount of screen time we spent socialising and keeping in touch with friends and family. It is hard to imagine how different our experience would have been had the pandemic struck pre-Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Zoom or Houseparty. We would have experienced our physical isolation in a much more immediate way, without the technology and apps that enabled most of us to maintain contact with our support networks.
Our recent experiences have shone a fresh light on their undeniable ...
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