Does social media change your personality?

Experts have found evidence that suggests that increased social media use (SMU) may increase the risk of developing depression for certain personality characteristics, as the study showed that people low in conscientiousness with high SMU were more likely to perceive social isolation.

medicalnewstoday.com - Social media and depression: Does personality affect risk?

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Social media, depression, and personality Research suggests that mood disorders such as depression tend to begin in early adulthood . Multiple investigations, including a 2021 study in JAMA Network Open, found that young adults with “minimal depression symptoms” were more likely to report developing worse symptoms with SMU. In an exclusive interview, Medical News Today asked Merrill if SMU-related depression is similar to depression linked to behavioral disorders such as substance use, problem gambling, or sex addiction. “Addiction can be found throughout society in its various forms that increase the risk of developing different types of health problems. SMU-related depression is no different and can also be categorized as problematic addiction. This is due to the similar neuro-effects in the reward centers of the brain that contribute to reactive behavior,” Merrill said. “Furthermore, both positive and negative reinforcement (e.g., alerts, auto-play features, and the general interaction between one’s network) on social media platforms contribute to using the devices more,” she added. However, Merrill said she observed that research up to this point did not clarify whether this association varied among people with different personality traits. The study’s methods Merrill and co-authors used data collected over six months by University of Pittsburgh researchers, using a national sample of 978 people aged 18–30. Merrill explained that her team used the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depression at baseline and follow-up. She said that researchers and practitioners commonly use this survey in clinical settings. The participants in this study reported how much time they spent on 10 leading social media platforms. The researchers used the Five-Factor Model, a widely accepted personality theory, to assess personality traits. They examined data for associations between personality characteristics (neuroticism, agreeableness, openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion), social media use, and the development of depression over 6 months. The team found that participants with high agreeableness were 49% less likely to develop depression than those with low agreeableness. However, individuals with high neuroticism were more than twice as likely to develop depression as people with low neuroticism. The study’s authors concluded: “For each personality characteristic, increased social media use was significantly associated with developing depression. Interaction terms showed that associations between social media use and developing depression did not vary according to any of the personality characteristics.” The researchers only analyzed data on young adults, so they caution against extending their findings to other age groups. Moreover, the study depended on self-reported data, which could be susceptible to response bias. Built for our attention Since SMU was significantly associated with the development of depression for all personality traits, the researchers encourage practitioners to “target reduction of social media use overall regardless of personality type.” Experts say that this is easier said than done, though. Dr. Lisa W. Coyne, is an assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and a senior clinical consultant at the Child and Adolescent OCD Institute at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts. In an April 2022 podcast, Dr. Coyne said that limiting social media time is challenging “because these platforms are built to keep our attention.” She said that social media “[…] is meant to […] capture you, and it shapes your behavior to continue to engage you.” Dr. Coyne cautioned that there is no easy or right way to scale back on SMU as “It involves willingness to be uncomfortable, willingness to feel the absence of [social media].” She advised planning tasks to fill time normally spent scrolling. She recommended setting small, purposeful goals such as calling a friend, walking, chores, or reading.

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Can a person stay without social media?

You don't need social media to live a fulfilling life. Devoting less time to social media will help you recover time you didn't know you had—time you can spend on the stuff that makes you truly happy.

wikihow.com - How to Live Without Social Media (with Pictures) - wikiHow

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Nicole Levine, MFA . Nicole Levine is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. She has more than 20 years of experience creating technical documentation and leading support teams at major web hosting and software companies. Nicole also holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Portland State University and teaches composition, fiction-writing, and zine-making at various institutions. This article has been viewed 137,352 times.

Article Summary

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To live without social media, deactivate your accounts and delete any social media apps from your smartphone or tablet, since this will remove the temptation to check them. If you use social media on your computer, use a browser extension like StayFocusd to block social media websites. Additionally, since you’ll have more free time when you stop using social media, you should use it to immerse yourself into a new hobby like writing or learning to play an instrument. When you’re with your family and friends, ask them to use social media when they’re not spending time with you, since you don’t want to be lured back. For more advice, like how to connect with other people who don’t use social media, keep reading!