Scrolling vs. Smoking: Exploring the Complexities of Social Media and Nicotine Addictions

Abstract

At this time in development, almost everyone around the world has a phone. On that phone, almost everyone has at least one social media platform downloaded. But what if that app was just as harmful as a smoking habit? In this project, the biochemical aspects of social media addiction will be explored and compared directly to the highly known nicotine addiction. Studies have proven that these addictions are on par with each other and that social media addiction is a more serious concern than would have been predicted. The biochemical pathways of the brain are similarly altered by chronic phone usage as they are by chronic nicotine consumption, and recent efforts to reduce this have been repeatedly failing. This project will provide an array of information about this topic that emphasizes its severity and potential actions that can be taken against it to protect society from this growing issue.