DECEMBER 3, 2022

It happens that you get up and there is a prevailing need to enter social networks without any preponderant justification. What is it that motivates these acts, unconsciously, on a day-to-day basis? If there are reasons, susceptible to analysis, for such addiction and dependence on the social circuits present in everyday life, what are the consequences and how to deal with the damage derived from it?

Since ancient times, humans have had to weave a community or social network, imprisoning their beings (in a philosophical sense), in order to be able, irrevocably, to live healthily. With the foregoing, it is highlighted that a whole range of cultural activities have emerged from social ties that have fostered ways of life and even facilitated the very survival of individuals. We can talk about antecedents that lead us to interrelate and that thanks to these antecedents our culture has molded us with certain values ​​and prejudices. Consequently, one can speak of social conditioning from the human essence.

The human species has advanced urgently in recent times, and everything has been permeated by the industrial revolutions and the enlightenment. Human beings managed to automate several productive sectors; It has even been possible to automate interpersonal relationships with the birth of electronic devices connected to satellite networks. Synchronous and asynchronous relations began to transform the social paradigm– lately I consider that the study of social and political relations has to open a field of research to virtual relations, if there aren't any – and this new accelerated paradigm given the confinement of the health crisis.

Every time something new comes up, there are new problems to consider. Social networks are not only for direct communication, but also for informative or trend communication. Due to the above, a very conjectural psychological phenomenon has been replicated in our media era, FoMo (Fear of Missing Out). This phenomenon has a history in direct relationships, since it is the need for constant connection and permanent stimulation, in any case, toxic social relationships. Currently, this phenomenon has been strongly reproduced, especially in social sectors susceptible to social networks, such as young people.

Many people look at the cell phone as if it were a neurotic need. Since there are some symptoms that alert the FOMO phenomenon, it is necessary to point out some of them to talk about the solutions and lead us to reflect on habits that we do not easily perceive: You are prone to looking at your cell phone when you wake up and before sleeping, you get irritated, or you cannot find anything to do if you do not have digital media at hand, you feel that you are losing some important information, and you are unable to relax, since there must be something you do not know; these are the main symptoms of FOMO.

 In many ways, as a young person, I can relate and sometimes feel like a zombie scrolling down on Instagram with no real purpose. It is difficult to accept this phenomenon in us, and no less difficult to take action on it. With all this, I do not want to demonize social networks, hence they are a window to the world. The important thing to consider is not to be anchored to them to the extent of superimposing our virtual interactions on real relationships.

As a consequence of being tied to the need to observe networks, as they produce satisfaction of approval, expectation and connection with the world, we can experience anxiety and depression. It is difficult to leave social networks, since it is an essential tool, however, the consequences of being addicted to them must be taken into account. It is recommended to give priority to real social relationships, reduce the time spent on networks, not publish every moment lived and update ourselves, as far as possible, with reliable and independent sources in order to get out of the recommendation algorithm.

Translation Jeff Costa

#fomo #teens #teenagehood #adolescence #health #mentalhealth #hebiatry