ClearHealthLife continues cutting-edge research about the addictive influence of social media. Using real life subjects as they interact inside the applications, we inform them they are being studied. CHL does not let the subject know WHEN they are observed to reduce the Hawthorne Effect. CHL is able to make significant penetration into the minds and behavior of people as they use social media. CHL studies comments, writings, pictures and personal information that users post in the public arena.
UPDATE 7.6.24: After notifying Crystal Cope that we were tracking the time she wasted playing on social media, she simply continued. Crystal is a single mother who does not work. Cannot care for her four children financially. Doesn’t aggressively seek employment. America has created a generation of single mothers who are content to be dependent on society.
I was raised to be kind, respectful, nurturing, to work my ass off, to help those in need. I’m glad you finally get it
Crystal Cope
Crystal’s response followed the pattern of Ego Defense, as described in Eckhart Tolle’s book, “A New Earth”:
You’re entitled to your opinion, however, it doesn’t affect me because I know who I am, those that ACTUALLY know me, know who I am and their opinions I actually care about. Yours is just another narcissistic view because you think you’re holier than thou. I’ve seen your posts, too, and good lord…. you’re not the center of the universe, you’re definitely no “king”, you’re a keyboard warrior that has to make sure everyone sees or hears your opinion. Probably insecurities leaking through, so you have to lash out 🤷
A person suffering addiction tends to behave in this matter. Opinions of others “do not matter.” They claim those who ACTUALLY know the “addict” might speak differently. In many cases, those individuals is not aware the person suffers addiction and might actually be enabling the addiction. Crystal refers to our researcher’s comment as “just another narcissistic view” because she claims the researcher thinks “you’re holier than thou.” Crystal attacks the one who challenges her addiction.
UPDATE 7.7.24: This SINGLE MOM wastes time on social media; doesn’t work; isn’t caring properly for her FOUR children; and selfishly REFUSES to be kind to people who have helped her. Welcome to our FREELOADING generation !!!
Crystal added some “social media” self-help. How ironic! Rose Milligan suggests not to dust, but get to work on something productive and lasting. Crystal wastes time on social media scrolling and scrolling and scrolling. Millions of single mothers follow this same pattern. Dusting would actually be more productive. Ponder the difference between “want and need,” advises Rose. There’s not much time, and people waste their time scrolling mindlessly on social media.
Social Media Addiction is known to be problematic, and compulsive use of social media results in significant impairments in an individual’s functioning in various aspects of life, including social, work and academic arenas.
CHL has been observing women, particular women at home with children. Many are bored. Most do not work outside the home, which prevents these women from establishing adult in-person relationships. They find false comfort playing and wasting time on social media.
This distraction however further distances these women from real relationships. Previous generations of at-home mothers volunteered in their community or with a church, for example. They might get together with other single mothers or fathers in their neighborhood.
Social media is new; and social media is breaking traditional communal ties. People aren’t really connected. This false community leaves them lonely, isolated and frustrated. All are factors that lead to addiction. They return to social media — further distancing themselves from real connection — and likes, comments, arguments and affirmations trigger their pleasure and reward systems.
Individual screen time averages have risen to about three hours daily. Many people admit their internet use is “compulsive.” Teens addicted to social media apps have significant alterations in their brain function, worsening addictive behaviors and prohibiting normal development. Social Media Addiction, powered by uncontrollable urges, disrupts their development, psychological well-being, and every aspect of their lives – mental, emotional, social, and physical.
Teens’ still immature brains suffered changes that adversely affected intellectual function, physical coordination, mental health, development, and overall well-being. The brain is especially vulnerable during adolescence, and more susceptible to social media compulsions. Adults are also displaying significant changes and damage to functionality.
Some of the compulsions are nonstop mouse clicking and playing on social media. Damage can be profound, with dire consequences. Can manifest as problems in maintaining relationships, lying about online activities, and disturbed eating and sleeping patterns. Sleep disruption interferes with daytime concentration and chronic fatigue.
Millions of single mothers across America fall into this at-risk group. They do not hold or cannot hold long term or professional jobs. They’re lonely, alienated from traditional productive employment, and frustrated with their lack of finances, child support and position in society.
They demonstrate a lack of motivation and resilience. They hope for a lending hand — and will hold out seemingly forever — for a “bleeding heart liberal” type to “Save a Ho,” as they say.
SUBJECT of RESEARCH: Crystal Cope
Single Mother of four
Former Freight Crew at The Home Depot
Former Autozoner at AutoZone
Former Personal Shopper at Walmart Supercenter
Former restoration at Walmart
Former Direct Support Professional at TURN Community Services
CHL has observed Crystal for years. Many discussions and conversation were held. CHL shared a draft of this article with Crystal weeks ago. CHL informed Crystal that she appears to suffer social media addiction. She’s not working; not effectively seeking employment; and does not have an adequate income stream or long term savings. She is failing her family financially, but wasting time playing on social media.
CHL offered to assist with job prep and search. CHL offered addiction counseling. Crystal turned down the offers and simply sought the solace of another social media user. Crystal stated she simply prefers to remain at home with her kids, and will accept employment only if she likes the work and job environment.
This story begins after Crystal posted commentary explaining how a Good Samaritan helped her and four kids after their vehicle “died.” A rational-thinking person would likely fix the vehicle. Much cheaper to repair transmission, change engine or update cooling and electrical systems. Not an optimal time financially to take large debt obligations. Crystal said, “RIP my beast.” Appears that many people in this generation give up on fixing and await a helping hand.
Social Media Addiction Disproves Drowning Rat Theory
Decades ago, Curt Richter demonstrated how hope is a powerful factor in perseverance. Many link an individual’s perception of hope to resilience. Richter experimented with DOMESTICATED Rats in a tall bucket of water. Could not get out. A few of the rats swam around the surface, dove to the bottom of the bucket and explored what was there for a while. Lasted a total of two minutes before they drowned.
Most of the domesticated rats did something different. After an initial exploration, they predominantly spent their time on the surface. They just kept swimming. Survived literally for days before eventually succumbing to exhaustion and drowning.
Richter then experimented with WILD Rats. Despite their ferocity, fitness and swimming ability, not one of the 34 wild rats survived more than a few minutes. Richter theorized Domesticated Rats had more hope than Wild Rats. Hope led to resilience in the Domesticated Rats.
As CHL observed in Crystal’s case, Social Media Addiction appears to destroy her motivation, hope and resilience. Her comments and behavior suggests she simply gives up. Crystal drowns while wasting time playing on social media. Seems she is waiting for someone to pull her from the bucket.
Some of the compulsions were nonstop mouse clicking and playing on social media. Damage can be profound, with dire consequences. Can manifest as problems in maintaining relationships, lying about online activities, and disturbed eating and sleeping patterns. Sleep disruption interferes with daytime concentration and chronic fatigue.
Beginning in the 1970s, the USA increased social programs to provide assistance to struggling citizens, primary single women. These individuals were tagged, “Welfare Queens.” Why fight to get out of poverty and desperate conditions? A helping hand, the “bleeding heart liberal,” would come to the rescue.
From her comments, a single mother like Crystal has HOPE not in her abilities — but in social assistance and kindness from strangers. Her vehicle in need of fixing is one example. Crystal chose not to fix it. Drove the vehicle until it died. Good Samaritan helped out. Crystal appears to wait until someone will help her out. She needs a job; she also needs a vehicle. Expressed she didn’t have much in savings. Difficult situation.
One elderly man joined some of the conversations over social morals and values. To Crystal, it was entertaining to debate moral obligations and expectations of paying back the kindness of the Good Samaritan. The discussion became a convenient distraction from moving on to more important daily tasks. This example shows how Social Media Addiction captures users.
CHL challenged Crystal over a period of weeks to (1) update her resume (CHL offered assistance), (2) get a J … O … B (Crystal said she only wanted to work with people and a boss she liked), and since Crystal was not working, (3) take a few hours to repay the Good Samaritan for his kindness in her family’s difficult predicament.
The process of getting out of the house, getting away from social media, and doing something with and for a non-virtual stranger, might rekindle her instinct to persevere and be resilient.
Crystal refused all suggestions. CHL observed her online behavior. She continued to play on social media — “Dust if you must.” She kept swimming in the bucket of water — apparently waiting for a helping hand to pull her out. Social Media Addiction sucks people into a virtual black hole.
The Drowning Rat experiments suggested when individuals have hope, they have higher levels of perseverance. They will keep fighting when they feel these is a chance of success or rescue. When they don’t have hope, they won’t.
Social Media Addiction interrupts this normal process of fighting to succeed. Compulsions from nonstop mouse clicking, seeking “likes,” affirmation, arguing with others — even complete strangers — over meaningless issues, and playing on social media is a sufficient and rewarding distraction, an escape, an excuse from dealing with more pressing concerns. Not any different than taking a hit from the crack pipe or snorting heroin. The abuser escapes into a virtual world of perceived bliss.
Crystal, in this state, can only hope that some Knight in Shining Armor will come to her rescue. Keep swimming around on social media. She will swim forever … just clicking and scrolling her life away.
Extrapolating from the Drowning Rats theory, if people are rescued from time to time, if they are supported, if they have faith that the future will be a better place, and if they feel others are there to help them, they may drive themselves through difficult situations. The importance of faith therefore is similar to the importance of belief in the expectancy theory of motivation.
Social Media Addiction impedes this normal development of resilence. There is little motivation. The individual has little drive to push through difficult situations. The constant scrolling on endless pages, clicks that focus their attention, and anticipation of some “interesting” new story or finding numbs their reasoning centers and impairs the “individual’s functioning in various aspects of life, including social, work, and academic arenas.”
At this time, our nation is overwhelmed by millions of impaired and addicted human beings, particularly teens, single mothers and disenfranchised males wasting away and abusing their lives on social media. They don’t want to work. They complain about high costs and are frustrated with political candidates for not providing for their housing and basic needs.
In general, the arguing and simplistic debate seems to appeal more to males, while social interaction with virtual strangers appears more likely to captivates females.
All these behaviors stimulate egotistical pleasure centers of the brain. The most significant changes occur in the connectivity portion of the brain critical for active thinking and decision-making.
We witness an increase in anxiety, depression and social isolation from the severe consequences of these irresistible compulsions. Physical health deteriorates because the Social Media Addict is sedentary, leading to weight gain, obesity, and related health conditions. Our younger generations have become rats floating around and around in a bucket of water — without compass or purpose — while they wait for someone to bail them out.
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