Social Media Addicts

We are all addicts struggling with our drug of choice. But one addiction that we don't even realize we have slipped into is social media addiction. It is more widespread than substance abuse. But we get away with it since we need technology in our daily lives. Plus there is no rehab. We need to heal solo and it requires a lot of discipline.

How to know if we are addicted?

When one or more social networks start consuming over 4 hours of your day; when the virtual world seems to be one of your priorities; it’s a loud enough sign that you might be falling into addiction.

What are the symptoms of this addiction?

1. First thing you do after waking up is checking your social media notifications

2. You spend hours looking at your newsfeed

3. You count ‘Likes’ and ‘Shares’ and it gives you kind of a different high

4. You feel tempted to check your phone in the mid of your family get-together, meetings, conversations

5. You feel strange when someone doesn’t respond to your social media message soon

6. Number of followers feels like an achievement

7. You feel like checking your phone every 5-10 minutes.

How does Social media addiction happen?

Social media apps are designed to make us use those for hours even though we are not doing anything. Many of us seek validation on social media with the number of likes and comments we get on it. The habit of feeling good with so much virtual attention from strangers starts disconnecting us from reality. It gives us a false sense of belonging and connecting that isn't based on real-life exchanges. It happens so slowly that we don’t even get to know.

How to keep Social media usage on the check?

Here are a few apps that can help you keep track of your social media usage.

1. Quality Time

This app isn’t just a social media blocker. It blocks ads, records your user history while providing harsher “usage penalties.”

You can also customize a usage schedule. You can set certain times where using your phone isn’t allowed.

This is excellent if you work within a schedule. It ensures you have a proper division between work and fiddling with your phone!

2. Your Hour

Your Hour is one of the highest-rated apps on our list. It has 24,000 reviews and a 94% rating on Google Play. It’s also used by over a million users, and it’s tailored for 8 different languages (mostly English and European).

The app is also easy and fun to use. You get different analytics that let you track usage over a period of time.

Plus, you get a rating system that shows your “level of addiction” to your phone!

In a way, you can turn to quit your phone into a game. And that’ll keep you engaged in the long run!

3. Stay Focused

For maximum control over your phone access, this is an app to try.

As for options, you can tweak the timeline of when (and how often) you access your phone. You can adjust the phone for access on certain days. You can even block certain sites during specific hours.

You can also set a limit on the “log-ins” you’re allowed in a timeframe. Plus, you can define usage time, just like every other app.

Plus, Stay Focused is cheap. It only costs $6/month, making it perfect for budget needs!

4. App Block

It’s an off-shoot of the Stay Focused app.

This app doesn’t just block social media. It can also block multiple apps on your phone. So it’s good if you cheat your addiction! You can use it to block games or useless tools that you fiddle with.

Also, App Block lets you decide when specific profiles can be activated. For example, you can set a certain portion of the day (your break time) to explore blocked apps.

Something else this app does is provide a “normal mode” and a “strict mode.”

In strict mode, you don’t need to change the app’s settings when it’s active. This prevents you from backpedaling block decisions, thus keeping your discipline in-check!

The only problem with this app is the speed. It takes a few seconds to block content, making the occasional indulgence easier!

5. Offtim

This app is highly popular. It has 16,000+ reviews. And the reason is, it provides many approaches to curing your phone addiction.

For starters, you’re not just blocking social media use. You can block contacts and text messages too!

Also, this app provides restrictions on the internet and app access. It tracks how you use both, where you can set a limit to deny access.

Plus, it provides analytics. So you can track progress and compare where you’re at in phone use!

6. Hold

Need a phone app that’s simple to use? Want something that lacks complex analytics?

If so, “Hold” works well. This app is actually a system that gives you “rewards” for staying off your phone! It lets you treat quitting your addiction as a game, where you get 10 points for every 20 minutes you stay off.

Over time, you can use the accumulated points to buy coupons – giving you discounts at many stores!

7. Siempo

Siempo is a phone app that takes a different approach to phone addictions. Instead of locking you out, it makes phone use less pleasing!

It provides screen blocks and simplified menus, ensuring fewer distractions.

Also, the app provides tempo functions that control how often you get notifications. It’s a method that ensures fewer distractions, and a reduced need to check for updates!

Social media addiction is widespread, but it isn’t a hopeless problem. It’s conquerable.

Unlike substance abuse, it’s not physically addictive. It’s simply an issue where you lack structure and external controls.

Thus, you can easily track your use. You can get a timeline of phone use, letting you tackle the issue effectively.

Never let social media control you, be in control of it and believe me you will start enjoying life.

A tip: Uninstall Instagram on your phone and use it on your browser. Instagram browser view sucks so you will automatically start using it less.

Do let me know if any of these above apps help you.