Well,there it goes. Internet is addictive and social media even more. That’s pretty much a conclusion of the study conducted by the University of Maryland’s International Center for Media and the Public Agenda and the Salzburg Global Seminar’s Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change. The scientists deprived heavy internet users of any contact with the internet,mobile,iPads,Twitter,Facebook,emails and so on for 24 hours. The students were allowed to read books,take notes in diaries but had no connection to any kind of hi-tech internet technology. Surprisingly,the volunteers quickly started exhibiting some dangerous syndromes,which are typical for alcohol and drug addictions. Those symptoms were not only psychological but also physical (anxiety,fear,coldness,feeling of isolation,feeling of “being on a diet”).
Isn’t it scary? Now imagine this. Let’s assume that you work as a social media marketer for some agency or company and spent your entire days by heavily using Twitter,Facebook or StmbleUpon to promote products and services online. So what happens when you leave your company or retire? Well,you get a mental breakdown and have to spend your pension on a rehab program (almost like Amy Winehouse). But can you sue your company for damages? Well,that’s another interesting question.
Now let’s ask a more pertinent one. Knowing that the social media can get you into mental and physical addiction (possibly ending in an emotional break-down),shouldn’t all of the social media websites have a warning signs like those on the cigarettes? For example:“The more frequently you use Facebook the bigger likelihood of you getting divorced” or “Heavy use of Twitter can cause you mental and physical disease.” And shouldn’t those signs be of the size of one third of the layouts?
What do you think? Any thoughts on that? To read more about the study go to The Telegraph’s site
Study: People who use #socialmedia frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/eaNdXp6
“@NewMediaBlogg: Study: People who use #socialmedia frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/PUk4KtS”
Study:People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/IfWMPec
Study:People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/BrZtknx
Study: People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts -The European Courier http://t.co/nYitokC
Study:People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/LuFL3JL via @EuropeanCourier
Study: People who use #socialmedia frequently display symptoms of drug and alcohol addicts http://t.co/7ECLj5A
How nice. RT @EuropeanCourier: Study: People who use #socialmedia frequently display symptoms of drug & alcohol addicts http://bit.ly/kYf4ai
#hiccup MRT @EuropeanCourier: Study: People who use #socialmedia display symptoms of drg/alc addiction http://bit.ly/kYf4ai (via @kalsoom82)
MT @EuropeanCourier: Study: People who use socialmedia frequently display symptoms of drug/alcohol addicts http://t.co/POrUz7v cc @AJStream
MT @AJEproducer: MT @EuropeanCourier: People who use socialmedia frequently display symptoms of drug/alcohol addicts http://t.co/POrUz7v
“@mirza9: MT @AJEproducer: MT @EuropeanCourier: People who use socialmedia frequently display symptoms of addicts http://t.co/uNRbfxV” S:"
WTF! Study: People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts – The European Courier http://ow.ly/57jYt Stupid Article
Uh oh @frasereC4 RT @_x4o: WTF! Study: People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts: http://ow.ly/57jYt
[boy oh boy!] Study:People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/L8Bs7VG via @EuropeanCourier
Study:People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/gMTSpTH via @EuropeanCourier
@EuropeanCourier: Study: People who use socialmedia frequently display symptoms of drug/alcohol addicts http://t.co/POrUz7v – I CONCUR!
Study: People who use #socialmedia frequently display symptoms of … – http://ow.ly/57Dh1
What companies capitalize on. RT @fondalo Study: People who use #socialmedia frequently display symptoms of … – http://ow.ly/57Dh1
Study:People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/nabYYOm via @EuropeanCourier
Study: People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/L7MBeIp via @EuropeanCourier #IntCom #PrincAd
It’s not just a joke…#socialmedia really IS like crack. http://t.co/mk49AqZ via @EuropeanCourier
Not addict. Activist. My excuse. (; MT @whatjruthsaid: People who frequent social media display symptoms of drug addicts http://is.gd/nHWHJV
Study: People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://j.mp/kYf4ai didn’t happen when I was MIA for 2 weeks.
Study: People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/eaNdXp6 really? Via @NewMediaBlogg
Study: People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts! http://t.co/4Lvfke5
Study:People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts http://t.co/MvlkfRF via @EuropeanCourier
Surely not… "People who use social media frequently display symptoms of drug addicts" http://t.co/MvlkfRF via @EuropeanCourier
I guess this is a good thing? RT @EuropeanCourier: Study: Facebook more addictive than marihuana http://t.co/s5fBNgE
מחקר: מדיה חברתית ממכרת! http://bit.ly/kYf4ai נכון מפתיע? בדיוק כמו לגלות שסלולרי מסרטן!