Social Phobia in Social Media? - Laura Wewers

Social Phobia has been a large phenomenon in the media.  Since social media is becoming ever more prevalent and popular, it has been shown in studies that the absence of this social media causes stress and anxiety in individuals.  Studies have shown that the population is dependent upon this social interaction through online resources.  In a study done by the non-profit organization Anxiety UK, showed that over 73% of the participants would panic if they lost their smartphone, and 54% of these individuals admitted to sleeping with and checking their phone during the night.  These addictions can lead to sleeping problems, anxiety.  So is social media causing anxiety in the population?  But are social media users more anxious, or do more anxious people gravitate toward online interaction?

            In a study don’t by the University of Bergen in Norway, Facebook user addiction was measured finding that those with poor sleeping habits used Facebook more often.  It was also reported that people who were more anxious and socially insecure used Facebook more often than those who had lower scores on those traits, as Dr. Cecilie Schou Andreassen stated.  Dr. Andreassen stated that this measurement could be due to the fact that socially insecure individuals find it easier to communicate via online rather than face-to-face interaction. Therefore, social media might be a great coping process that eases a person with social phobia into forming connections and friendships with other people.  It is human nature for us to want human interaction and seek a sense of belonging; it is abnormal for our species to want to be alone.  We are social creatures naturally.  People who are diagnosed with social phobia feel most uncomfortable alone. Socially anxious or phobic individuals seek human interaction but are held back by their fears of others opinions and their fears of embarrassment.  It can even be speculated that social media is becoming ever more popular due to the increased prevalence of people plagued by this disorder.