00:00What does social media addiction do to your brain?
00:03In a world where the smartphone is an extension of the hand
00:05and the first and last action of the day is to check notifications,
00:09the question that hangs in the air is
00:10What is this constant immersion in social media doing to our brains?
00:16The answer, according to neuroscience, is complex and worrying.
00:21The excessive use of these platforms is not just a simple distraction,
00:25it alters brain chemistry and structure,
00:28shaping the way we think,
00:30we feel and relate.
00:32At the center of this dynamic is dopamine,
00:35the neurotransmitter of pleasure and reward.
00:38Every like, every comment and every notification
00:41triggers the brain's reward system,
00:44releasing a dose of dopamine.
00:46This feeling of fleeting pleasure creates a vicious cycle.
00:50The brain, addicted to this instant reward,
00:53seeks more and more stimuli.
00:55It is a mechanism similar to what occurs with drugs or gambling,
01:00where the anticipation of the reward is as powerful as, or more powerful than, the reward itself.
01:04The relentless pursuit of online approval also has a profound impact on our self-esteem.
01:10Constant comparison with perfect, edited lives creates anxiety and dissatisfaction.
01:16The brain, when processing this flood of idealized images,
01:20may develop a distorted sense of reality,
01:23leading to feelings of inadequacy and depression.
01:27Studies show that prolonged exposure to this type of content
01:30may decrease gray matter in the anterior cingulate cortex,
01:34an area of the brain associated with decision-making and impulse control.
01:39Another victim of social media addiction is our ability to concentrate.
01:43The flood of quick and superficial information fragments attention.
01:49Multitasking, which many consider a skill,
01:52actually impairs working memory
01:54and the ability to focus on a single task for an extended period.
01:59The brain gets used to instant gratification
02:02and becomes less tolerant of activities that require cognitive effort and patience,
02:06like reading a book or having a deep conversation.
02:09In the long term, the consequences could be even more serious.
02:14Constant exposure to blue light from screens, especially at night,
02:19suppresses the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.
02:23Sleep deprivation doesn't just affect mood and energy,
02:26but it also compromises memory consolidation and learning ability.
02:32Furthermore, screen-mediated social interaction
02:35can atrophy interpersonal communication skills.
02:38The brain gets used to short, impersonal dialogues
02:42and the ability to read facial expressions,
02:45body language and voice intonations,
02:47essential for empathy and human connection, may diminish.
02:52Social media addiction is not a matter of character weakness,
02:55but rather a neurobiological phenomenon with real and tangible consequences.
03:00It is a warning of the need for more conscious and balanced use,
03:04in order to protect the health of our brain and, consequently, the quality of our lives.
03:11The challenge is to find a balance between the benefits of connectivity
03:15and the preservation of our mental well-being.
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