Ask HN: Does social media use lead to mental/physical fatigue? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Does social media use lead to mental/physical fatigue?

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I’ve noticed that I have mental (and perhaps physical) fatigue when I spent a lot of time online. I don’t yet have a theory as to why, but I’m curious if this translates to other people’s experience with social media / online.

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That does match my experience. I mostly don't participate in social media, but created an Instagram account to see if I could promote my photography. Within a couple weeks I had gathered a hundred followers and found myself worrying far more about what to post, when to post. I realized that I was no longer actually focused on my work. I was focused on its social media presence instead. So I stopped posting, and almost immediately felt my stress levels decrease.

Now I'm back to just living my life. I participate on HN, but this is about the limit of my online interactions, and I enjoy my life.

Social media is available 24*7 providing pleasure and elevating threat. Unlike any other drug.

Every time the brain has to handle pleasure or threat its using energy. Its not designed to do it all the time. So if you are feeling drained its a signal to take a break from the endless stream of pleasure and threat.

I think most drugs are available 24/7. Especially the illicit ones.

Sorry should have added "for free" . Illicit drugs arent free.

Thinking in any capacity burns energy. The "harder" you're thinking/focusing, the more energy you burn.

An interesting example is high-performing chess players: https://www.npr.org/2019/09/18/762046422/the-chess-grandmast...

If you're super focused/engaged with social media, you're brain is burning energy.

I blocked it all, and I didn't notice a big difference. The exception is if I get involved in some dumb argument that turns sour. I just don't do that anymore.

However, I do feel a weird sort of boredom. I am not having fun, but I'm not bored enough to go do something else. It's a bit like when I have snacks instead of a meal. I should be doing something bigger and better, but that prevents me from getting started.

Sample size of 1 I've been using a blocker for the last week (do this a few times a year) and yes I can attribute it to social media, I will ebb and flow between being on social media too much and being too antisocial - its okay to swap them in and out

I feel it for sure. Social media has so many side effects: - comparing our lives with other - we forget to do our job -> which leads to stress

It takes a lot of energy. It's exhausting.

idk about fatigue, but my patience is ridiculously low and it probably played a part.

I get so bored i have to check social media in the middle of my run / workout. And I’m pretty sure i’m one of those weird people who likes working out! Anything else - classes, reading, hanging out - is a struggle because i just get so bored. I’m pretty sure it affects me falling asleep too.

It can, but it doesn't have to.

Yes

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