Facebook Addiction

Facebook Addiction

Thats right, according to a recent study at the University of Chicago Business School Facebook addiction is the new monkey on our backs and it can be even more addicting than alcohol and cigarettes for some people.  Its not that hard to believe either seeing how many studies have shown that some of the best times to post new content is at around 5 o’clock in the morning, because many avid users check their Facebook before they get out of bed in the morning.  Companies have blocked out social media sites in many cases, just because Facebook addiction is so prevalent in the workplace.  Lets take a look at some of the factors of Facebook addiction from the University of Chicago study.

Facebook Addiction | Symptoms

So just how addictive are social networks, the Deccon Chronical reports in their recent article on Facebook addiction.

The study found that though the urges for sleep and sex are stronger, people are willing to forgo many cravings in order to check their social profiles.

The pull of something interesting and spicy, even at the expense of another person’s privacy, comes naturally to human beings, and platforms like Facebook allow us to easily explore them.

“The whole social media concept took interaction to a whole new level. It’s definitely addictive. I think part of the addiction comes from the fact that social media is like a giant party ‘out there’, where something is happening all the time. So it’s much easier to plug in and feel you’re part of something worthwhile going on,” says Ankush Thakur of Green Smyles, a multi-services agency.

I don’t know about you, but I prefer sex over social media.  Can you imagine explaining that to you lover: Sorry honey, not now.  I need to check my Facebook profile.  However the point that Facebook is like a non-stop party is interesting, and when someone likes or comments on your posts it does give you a shot of euphoria, which is one of the reasons that Facebook addiction is so widespread.

Facebook Addiction | Come Together

Psychologists have gotten behind this study, check out this snipet from an ABC report on Facebook addiction, where a prominent psychologist confirms the report:

“There’s a natural tendency towards association,  towards coming together, to joining with others,” said Dr. Abbott.   “Also a natural inclination to put information together.  So this builds on forces that are built into the human nervous system.  We are social beings, and we collectively do things and we trade information with each other.  This provides an immediate way to do it.”

“We’re a communicating, connected society now.  And that’s going to increase, it’s not going to decrease.  These technologies will become more ubiquitous, easier to use, and connected to our televisions in a much more profound way than it is now.  It’s not going to go backwards.”

Many actually compare Facebook addiction to workaholism, its an obsession.

Facebook Addiction | What Do You Think?

So now that we’ve given you the facts, what do you think?  Blast off about Facebook addiction and whether or not you buy the claims in the comment section below.

Image attribution: http://silvershadowmanman.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-recover-from-your-facebook.html