Having known the misery of addiction to alcohol and tobacco I shy away from anything even vaguely addictive. This includes social media which has been proven to be as addictive as chemical substances. I stay away from social media when I feel that I’m giving it more attention than other important issues in my life. For instance, I have been away from Facebook for the past six months and for sure it hasn’t hurt.
Here are some tips to avoid social media addiction:
- Set Limits: Allocate specific periods of your day for using social media and stick to them — try setting a time limit such as 30 minutes per day.
- Turn Off Notifications: This will help to reduce the constant interruptions that social media notifications create.
- Avoid Social Media Before Bed: Don’t use social media before bedtime as the blue light from your phone can interfere with your sleep.
- Find Other Activities: Engage yourself in other activities like reading, exercising, or spending time with family and friends.
- Turn Off Your Phone During Social Interactions: Give others your undivided attention and be present during conversations.
- Use Social Media Mindfully: Before you start scrolling through social media, ask yourself if it is truly necessary or beneficial in that moment.
- Seek Help: If you think you are addicted or unable to control your social media use, seek help from a mental health professional or support group.
Finally and most importantly, give God first place in your life and all other things will fall into place.
BETTING CAN BE AN ADDICTION
Kenyans may be in danger of mass addiction from the legalized betting now plaguing the country like one of the plagues of ancient Egypt. All kinds of mass media are being used to entice gullible Kenyans. The following is a quotation from the Scientific American, a reputable science journal, recognizing that gambling can be as addictive as chemical addiction- that is, as in addiction to alcohol or heroin. I quote, “Whereas experts used to think of addiction as dependency on a chemical, they now define it as repeatedly pursuing a rewarding experience despite serious repercussions.” I believe many Kenyans are already addicted and I request feedback on this serious issue.