Teen social media addiction has become a growing problem in the United States. This addiction can have devastating consequences, but treatment services can help teens recover. Reach out to Foothills at Red Oak Recovery by calling 866.300.5275 to learn more about our comprehensive teen social media addiction treatment program for boys.

3 Social Media Addiction Examples

While you have heard about how social media addiction is affecting teens, you may not know what social media addiction looks like. Below, we’ve shared some common social media addiction examples that can help you understand how social media addiction impacts teens and when to seek treatment:

1. Difficulty Cutting Down on Social Media Use

The first sign of social media addiction in teens is an inability to reduce social media use. This is the hallmark of an addictive disorder and can be an incredibly challenging obstacle.

When a teenager experiences social media addiction, the consequences of their behavior begin to mount. They may tell themselves something along the lines of, “I’m going to cut down on my use. I’ll only go on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook for an hour.”

Yet as the hour comes to a close, they often cannot resist the temptation to continue their social media use. They may try to stop altogether, only to find themselves logging back in.

2. Constantly Thinking About Social Media

Teenagers with a social media addiction often devote a great deal of mental energy to thinking about social media platforms, even when they’re not using them. If they’re forced to put their phones away, they may begin to experience cravings. Often, this takes on the form of FOMO, which stands for fear of missing out.

People with a social media addiction can feel as though important things are happening on the platform that they’re going to miss out on if they’re not online. Many social media companies use strategies to reinforce this idea, such as time-limited Instagram stories or spontaneous live streams.

3. Using Social Media So Much It Affects School or Social Life

One of the biggest problems with social media addiction is how it can impact other parts of a teenager’s life. Teens who compulsively use social media often neglect things in their life that used to be important to them, such as:

• School
• Hobbies
• Sports
• Friendships

When these areas and interests start to fall to the wayside because of social media use, your teen has likely developed an addiction.

A Sign of Social Media Addiction: Emotional Outbursts When They Can’t Use It

Social media addictions in teens can result in sudden and intense outbursts when their social media use is restricted. If you take your teenager’s phone away, restrict their access to social media platforms, or limit their internet usage, they may show signs like:

• Restlessness
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sadness

These symptoms are often compared to drug or alcohol withdrawals. Like substance addiction, teenagers with a social media addiction can feel uncomfortable psychological side effects if their use suddenly stops.

Thankfully, professionals can alleviate most of these symptoms with targeted treatment at a teen social media addiction treatment center.

Start Teen Social Media Addiction Treatment with Foothills at Red Oak Recovery

Foothills at Red Oak Recovery offers targeted services to help teenage boys with social media addiction achieve recovery. Our specialized mental health facility is designed specifically for adolescent boys and can treat several different mental health concerns.

To get your adolescent boy started with professional addiction treatment services, reach out to our team by calling 866.300.5275. Stopping social media addiction when it is in the early stages is the surest path to a long-term recovery and can set your child up for a lifetime of future success.