The time we have on this planet is limited, which is why we give life meaning. Yet despite knowing this, humans often fail to cherish each moment. One growing reason is our problem with technology. The addictive nature of social media has plagued younger generations for far too long, creating a barrier between people and their ability to value time.

Social media apps are designed to keep users engaged by blurring the passage of time and disconnecting them from reality. According to scientist Bruce Goldman of Stanford Medicine, social media apps can “release large amounts of dopamine” into the brain (Goldman 2021). This release has a similar effect to heroin or alcohol, giving users a rush of happiness and making them rely on these apps for positive emotion. More importantly, their addictive nature makes them extremely difficult to resist.

Additionally, the National Library of Medicine article “Echo chamber effects on short video platforms” shows how social media apps engage audiences in unhealthy ways. One way they do this is through echo chambers, which “promote the spread of misleading information, fake news, and rumors” (Gao 2023). By showing users a reality they want to see, these apps keep them engaged without considering truth or morality. As Gao explains, they prey on gullible and naive individuals, spreading misinformation for just a few more minutes of interaction. All things considered, social media apps do not care about the morality of their intoxicating algorithms or the misinformation they spread for user engagement.

This helps explain why younger generations struggle to value time in their everyday lives. In the endless worries that life presents, many young students want an escape where they do not have to make difficult decisions. Social media seems to offer that escape by taking away worries momentarily. At face value, this “place” where students can relax should be a good thing; however, these apps do not provide a real escape. Instead, social media fuels the desire to separate from the real world, resulting in countless hours of life being scrolled away.

Speaking from personal experience, students can find it extremely difficult to stay on task. Homework requires concentration, critical thinking, and time, while social media presents an easy and fun alternative. These apps require little effort on the consumer’s end, persuading users to pour their attention into them. This contributes to shorter attention spans and more procrastination. What was meant to be a ten-minute break after school can easily turn into an hour on a phone. While students may not realize this in the moment, their discipline is atrophied by these social media apps.

All things considered, social media and its addictive properties have warped the youth and their perception of time, making it difficult for them to value anything outside of their technological devices. Life is too short; our limited time on this planet is the very thing that gives our lives meaning. The most important thing about our lives is having control over our time, time that should not be wasted by merely scrolling away.

<Marcus Cho 학생기자 페어몬트 아카데미 10학년>