Social media is the internet fad that never ends. From Facebook to Instagram and every site in between, people everywhere are hooked.

Social Media Today in August 2015 revealed that, “Social Media users have risen by 176 million in the last year.” Social media is becoming more prominent each year and the use of it isn’t going to die down anytime soon.

Now let’s get this straight, I’m not saying that people should never use social media. I have social media accounts and I think they are a great way to keep in contact with friends and family. However, the constant status updates, pictures, videos, tweets, and snaps, can quickly become an obsession.

English teacher Rachel McBride has accounts on Facebook and Instagram. While she likes keeping in contact with her friends, she finds that she is often spending way too much time on her phone because of it. McBride said, “I look at it when I first wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night. I don’t like that I do that. I feel like it’s holding me captive.”

Sophomore Kelvina Ng also uses Instagram, Snapchat, and Vine. “It distracts me from my homework because I’m literally just sitting there scrolling. My homework ends up taking me hours,” Ng said.

These accounts show that people of all ages are being engulfed into the world of social media. It is not just being used as a pass time but it is negatively affecting their lives. For many, social media is an addiction and it can be extremely challenging to limit ones time on it.

A recent study conducted by We are Social found that the average American spends 2.7 hours on social media every day. That’s nearly three hours that could be being spent in a productive manner.

To the people who are fixated on social media, or to those being held captive by their iPhones, don’t feel discouraged. I am here to tell you there is hope!

McBride said, “I love being outside, running, and hiking so that helps me spend a lot of time off of it.”

While McBride’s alternative is staying active, Ng said, “I will leave my phone in one room and go work in another so I’m not tempted. I get my work done a lot faster that way.”

It is possible to moderately use social media, but in order to do so people need to get their priorities straight. Someone’s biggest concern shouldn’t be checking their social media or uploading a picture. People should strive to live their lives outside of the internet world. This can be done by pursuing healthy hobbies such as sports, art, or music.

The moderate usage of social media had many benefits. But once it becomes overused, that’s when the drawbacks come into play.

However, the world today revolves around technology. Technology can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you utilize it. By limiting your time on social media, you will change your life for the better.