Salvation Through Social Media Validation and Addiction

The growing influence of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter has led to a culture where validation through likes, followers, and views has significant impact. Increasing likes and followers equate to social and financial capital, transforming content creators into influential promoters of various products. The rush of going viral or gaining followers triggers dopamine release, leading to addictive behavior like frequent checking, increased posting, and lengthy content creation. Research shows a rise in phone usage, with users checking their devices up to 96 times a day, highlighting a deep societal attachment to online validation and addiction to social media engagement.