Dopamine: The Effect Of Positive Attention On Social Media

After a long workout, muscles are tight and sore, sweat has gathered in uncomfortable areas, but there is a feeling of warmth, euphoria, and achievement. Meanwhile, teenagers all over the world are scrolling, liking, and commenting on posts from their friends or celebrities, tuned into the world inside their phones, their eyes locked on the screen. Although these facts seem to have no relation to each other, they are similar when the concept of dopamine comes into play. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s pleasure and reward centers, is released in both instances. Working out and receiving positive attention on social media both cause the brain to release dopamine, boosting self-esteem and self-worth. Because dopamine is a “pleasure drug”, it can, like many drugs, become addictive. People who work out consistently become addicted to the feelings of euphoria, whereas teenagers become addicted to social media, craving the attention and approval of others,
Because this behavior is such a social norm, teenagers can get caught up in creating another world inside their phones; a world where self-esteem is created by likes and positive stimuli. According to an article from Pennsylvania State University, “An individual will post photos that are outside their character just to seek approval through likes from their peers.” The article then goes on. “This may boost an individual’s self-esteem temporarily, but once he or she logs off social media their self-esteem really hasn’t improved” (Penn State). This quotation accurately describes the “epidemic” that social media has on teenagers. They crave attention, but the release of dopamine that comes with the positive attention is only temporary, causing them to crave it again and again, leading to a false sense of