Nigerians spend more than 12 hours on social media per day on average. That’s 60% of the time spent on these platforms, and it doesn’t stop there.
The average Nigerian spends an additional 3 hours on the phone with their friends, family, or business associates. The combined total is about 18 hours per day spent in a digital world without real-life physical human contact.
There are many problems that come with being addicted to social media, and Nigerian society is no exception to this phenomenon, but I will be focusing on how this impacts Nigerian women specifically those who have a high rate of internet addiction, social anxiety, and body image issues.
Social media addiction is a prevalent problem in Nigeria. However, the effects of this problem vary from person to person. The only way to find the root cause of this social media addiction is by analyzing its different effects on people.
The first effect of social media addiction is on the user’s mental health. People with a social media addiction are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than those who do not use it as much or at all.
A study by Oxford University found that symptoms of depression were three times more likely in people who spend over two hours per day on social media, compared to those who spend 10 minutes or less per day on it.
The second effect of being addicted to social them is a lack of self-control, which can lead to other issues such as impulsiveness, irritability, and feeling restless.
The user’s cognitive abilities are also affected by their constant engagement with the internet and they may find themselves unable to concentrate at school or work because they are
Nigerian millennials are addicted to social media, and this addiction is also a serious problem in Nigeria. With the increasing number of young Nigerians who are hooked to their phones, social media is becoming more intrusive in our lives. It seems like it has become the new TV show that we all enjoy.
We spend as many hours on Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter conversations as we used to spend on TV shows like Game of Thrones or Friends.
Social media has created a culture of instant gratification in some Nigerian millennials because of its emphasis on instant replies, likes, and comments. That’s why people would rather read their Instagram feed than actually go out and experience life.
Breaking Social Media Addiction
According to Dr. Logan Jones, psychologist and founder of NYC Therapy + Wellness, breaking the addiction depends.
While Jones acknowledges that occasionally taking a vacation from social media might be beneficial, there is much more to be said about the reasons behind your sabbatical.
“On a deeper level, these social media companies know exactly what they are doing [from] a neurological perspective.”
What they’re doing is known as intermittent reinforcement, and it’s similar to what casinos do with slot machines. And it’s the same with swiping on Tinder or checking your Instagram. “The addiction is the reward pathway, it’s a dopamine hit,” Jones said.
Jones advises modifying your habits gradually rather than completely giving up social media. “The problem, in my opinion, is when people start out too big.
“Wherever there is the least resistance, start there,” Jones remarked. Turning off notifications, disabling vibrate, and using a function on your phone that tracks how much time you spend on social applications are a few examples of simple measures you may take to help break your addiction.
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