Research shows that the average person spends over 3 hours a day on their phone and other electronics, this includes 2 and a half out of those 3 hours being on social media. While this may seem harmless, research shows that doing anything repeatedly for an extended amount of time can cause physiological changes to the brain, as well as the way it functions. 

Social media can fluctuate a person’s attention due to the fact that it can both capture and scatter one’s brain. New information is constantly at one’s fingertips, with constant refreshments of information a process called “variable-ratio reinforcement” takes place in which one is constantly excited and rewarded to see new posts and absorb new information. This ability to capture one’s attention is shown to have an adverse affect on your brain. 

Studies show that the use of social media for an extended amount of time can show similar likes in brain functions as those of a drug user. Social media can provide immediate rewards in the form of a dopamine release every time you get a notification or like. This constant of dopamine releases can rewire the brain to be inclined to want more of this source of dopamine (social media) causing an addiction.

Heavy social media users are reported to perform worse on cognitive tests, especially those who examine their attention and ability to multitask, those who heavily use social media need to exert more effort to remain focused in the face of distractions. Heavy users of social media are more inclined to amuse distractions in general, not only does this lead to poor cognitive performance but it also shrinks parts of the brain associated with maintaining attention. 

Social Media may also be altering the memories or experiences in which you store in your brain. When storing a memory on something like a phone the brain receives a message that it does not likewise need to store that same experience because it is being stored elsewhere.

Studies show that the use of social media for an extended amount of time can show similar likes in brain functions as those of a drug user. Social media can provide immediate rewards in the form of a dopamine release every time you get a notification or like. This constant of dopamine releases can rewire the brain to be inclined to want more of this source of dopamine (social media) causing an addiction.