Stop the FOMO: Addressing Digital Addiction

Epic parties, beach vacations, super fit bodies, devoted significant others, happy families— this is the stuff social media is made of, and buying into it too much can be harmful, especially for teenagers.

From a very young age, our minds operate in a specific way to help us make sense of the world. In a process called “mentalization,” we imagine what’s in other people’s thoughts and compare those to our own. We are constantly trying to match up our own values, actions, and behavior based on what we see in others.

“Basically, we are hardwired for comparison,” says Gina Servelle, LMSW, social worker at Sheppard Pratt. “This is a beneficial trait if you want your child to model appropriate table etiquette or if you are trying to fit in at a new job. But those types of situations rely on in-person interactions, where you have a flow of information with both positive and negative input.”

Servelle explains that social media, on the other hand, not only exploits this innate trait, but also hollows out that information, so we see only the positive. As we attempt to compare our experience to what we see while scrolling, we often feel as if we don’t measure up to other people’s “highlight reel” of images and experiences.

“Teenagers are especially impacted by this perspective,” says Servelle. “This often leads to a feeling of missing out and being inadequate. For those who are prone to depression or anxiety, this ‘not good enough’ sensation can make those feelings worse.” Then, rather than recognize how social media is fueling unhappiness, many people keep scrolling, leading to digital addiction that feeds feelings of insecurity, inadequacy, and dissatisfaction.