Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins

We spend more time scrolling through social media than eating and exercising, according to a new study.

A Canterbury university study surveyed almost 400 social media users aged 18 to 44 about their use of Facebook and Instagram.

Respondents spent an average of two and a half hours per day on the docks.

Study participants showed signs of addiction, reporting being subconsciously drawn to using social media.

Knseniia Zarhai, professor at the University of Canterbury, spoke with Checkpoint’s Lisa Owen and said many people underestimate the amount of time spent on the platforms.

“The average user spends around 2.5 hours per day on social media.

“This time may seem minimal, but it represents 37 days, or more than a month spent without interruption on social networks per year.”

For young people in Aotearoa, this number is significantly higher, often seven or eight hours a day.

“Many other stories told (us) that (some) social media users were spending more than 10 hours a day on it.

“This use has consequences, and many studies show that excessive use of social media can lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and distorted perceptions of oneself and others.”

There is also a physical danger. For example, drivers who don’t put their phone down while driving.

“There were different cases that our participants shared.

“One of them said they had a situation while they were driving in a rural area…they got a push notification and they picked up their phone, there was a large animal crossing the road. road. A deer.

“They were lucky to avoid this accident.”

Because of the way our brains work, checking social media is often an impulse rather than a deliberate decision, she said.

So, even when users understand the damage caused by excessive use, it can be very difficult to stop it.

“That’s why people sometimes connect impulsively, even against their values, and even though they understand the danger it poses to their well-being.”

From mindlessness to mindfulness

And while there’s no silver bullet for reducing time spent on social media, there are steps you can take.

“Based on our study, we suggest at least three simple steps.

“First, try to reduce impulsive triggers by turning off notifications and trying to keep your phone out of immediate reach.

“The second step is to set social media use goals based on your intentions for using social media, rather than time limits.

“It’s very important.

“The third is to engage with valuable content.

“If you’ve heard of social media algorithms, they display content that we’re constantly interacting with, so you can actually control what you see in your news feed.

“This is how you can move from mindless to conscious use of social media.”

“Too nice”

Some Wellingtonians who spoke to RNZ said they spend up to six hours a day checking their diet.

“If you’re hanging out at a friend’s house, definitely the easiest thing to do is go on your phone and scroll… (we’ll) Snapchat when we’re next to each other, where we should be really active and, you know, talking.

Another user said she deleted TikTok after spending up to five hours glued to the screen.

“And after I deleted it, it was much better.”

Another said he found social media “so addicting”.

“You absentmindedly pick up your phone, open an app, and then half an hour later you might still be scrolling through reels.

“It’s nice, but maybe too nice. I found it much harder to get into things like reading a book.”

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