A recent widespread outage of major social media platforms has reignited discussions about society’s addiction to and dependence on digital platforms.
On 5 March, millions of users around the world found themselves disconnected from popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads, prompting a wave of concern and reflection on the role of social media in today’s world.
Social media platforms have become integral parts of people’s daily lives. They serve as places for connection, self-expression, story-sharing, and staying informed about global events. However their extensive integration on smartphones could be a double-edged sword due to people’s heavy reliance on them.
Avoiding social media has become increasingly difficult for many individuals, as evidenced by the disruption experienced on 5 March, which lasted more than two hours and made users fear they were victims of hacking attempts.
According to the outage tracking website Downdetector.com, the incident resulted in more than 550,000 reports of issues with Facebook and approximately 92,000 reports regarding Instagram. However, WhatsApp, another platform owned by META, remained unaffected, providing a glimpse of the intricate network of digital dependencies that underpin modern communication.
Shortly after the social media blackout and the thousands of reports that followed it, Andy Stone, Meta’s head communication officer, wrote on X, “We resolved the issue as quickly as possible for everyone who was impacted, and we apologize for any inconvenience.”
Despite the swift resolution, the outage shed light on the pervasive reliance on online platforms and the potential consequences of their unavailability.
For many people and businesses, social media serves as a lifeline for communication, networking, and brand promotion. Facebook pages, for instance, act as central hubs for businesses to engage with customers and showcase their products or services. Moreover, the advertising capabilities of platforms like Facebook and Instagram enable users to generate revenue through targeted marketing campaigns.
However, the brief disruption also highlighted the darker side of social media – addiction.
According to Addiction Help, a significant percentage of young people report feeling compelled to use social media due to FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), despite the adverse effects on mental health associated with excessive usage. Self-reported social media addiction rates vary by age group, with 40 percent of 18 to 22-year-olds, 37 percent of 23 to 38-year-olds, 26 percent of 38 to 54-year-olds, and 21 percent of 55 to 64-year-olds in the US acknowledging addiction to social media.
As society becomes increasingly interconnected through digital platforms, the prevalence of social media addiction highlights the need for awareness and moderation in its use. Despite its benefits, the negative effects of excessive use cannot be ignored, and individuals are encouraged to find a healthy balance in their online activities.
