YouTube Addiction Is a Real Issue Worth Discussing

I must admit something.

I’m addicted to YouTube.

Let me explain how this came to be.

It all began in high school when I received my first iPhone. I vividly remember rushing home, settling onto the couch with a snack in hand, and launching the YouTube app. I would scroll through my subscriptions, searching for videos that piqued my interest. Unsurprisingly, I found many of them captivating. Once I started with one video, the addictive cycle would ensue.

I would often find myself watching YouTube for 3 to 5 hours a day, consuming content on fashion, food, comedy sketches, tutorials, and art. Eventually, this spiraled into a whirlwind of viral songs, videos, and memes. This routine continued for weeks.

Before long, my free time was dominated by YouTube.

Whenever I felt bored, anxious, or simply moody, my instinct was to grab my phone and open YouTube. For me, it served as an escape, a form of entertainment that numbed my mind. Watching videos allowed me to forget about my real-life issues, putting off my responsibilities until my parents reminded me.

I found it hard to stop. It felt like a substance — instantly gratifying and highly addictive.

This pattern persisted throughout my high school years and into university.

It was only when I realized I was entertaining myself into oblivion that I recognized I had a problem.

“Social media is addictive precisely because it gives us something that the real world lacks: it gives us immediacy, direction, a sense of clarity and value as an individual.” — David Amerland

Sadly, many others find themselves in the same predicament, particularly Millennials and Generation Z, who have grown up in a tech-centric world.

Here are some eye-opening statistics about the platform:

• YouTube ranks as the second most popular social media platform, with 79% of users holding an account.
• The platform boasts 2 billion users globally, surpassing Instagram and WhatsApp.
• Daily, 1 billion hours of video are watched on YouTube, averaging 8.4 minutes per user.
• Every minute, 500 hours of new video content are uploaded to YouTube.

It's clear that YouTube has experienced remarkable growth since its launch in 2005. Today, millions are engaged in watching and creating videos, leading to an overwhelming abundance of content.

In essence, there are too many videos and not enough time to consume them.

What Sets YouTube Apart from Other Social Media Platforms?

YouTube provides a unique experience that distinguishes it from other social media, contributing to its remarkable success.

Content Monetization

Creators have the opportunity to earn money from their videos through AdSense, sponsorships, or brand partnerships, provided they meet the monetization requirements. This allows many creators to pursue YouTube as a full-time career. Consequently, the platform fosters accessibility to a diverse audience, enhancing user engagement. The more engagement a creator's content garners, the greater their financial rewards.

Online Community

“Birds of a feather flock together.” — Plato

YouTube enables like-minded creators and viewers to connect over shared interests. Collaborations among creators are common, leading to the formation of sub-communities within the platform. Many creators develop devoted fan bases that support their work, resulting in para-social relationships where viewers feel personally connected to the creator's life.

Diverse Perspectives

In contrast to platforms filled with third-party content, YouTube is driven by creative filmmakers. This exposure to varied nationalities, ethnicities, religions, and identities allows viewers to encounter a rich tapestry of perspectives and skills, giving underrepresented voices a platform.

Subscriber Incentives

YouTube creators receive recognition through subscriber milestones:

• Silver Play Button: 100,000 subscribers
• Gold Play Button: 1 million subscribers
• Diamond Play Button: 10 million subscribers

These milestones foster a game-like environment where creators are acknowledged for their hard work, encouraging them to continue producing content.

Understanding YouTube Addiction

Our reliance on social media and the internet has significantly increased, with an estimated 210 million users potentially grappling with social media addiction.

Social media addiction manifests as an uncontrollable compulsion to engage with these platforms, often at the expense of other life areas. This may result in mood elevation, heightened awareness, and an increasing tolerance for social media use, along with withdrawal symptoms when access is restricted.

This can be linked to the dopamine-driven environment of social media, which mirrors the addictive patterns seen in gambling or drug use through a constant influx of likes, followers, and comments. This phenomenon is termed the attention economy, emphasizing the limited attention span of online users in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

“Attention is a resource — a person has only so much of it.” — Matthew Crawford

YouTube, however, possesses additional elements that enhance its addictive appeal:

Content Gratification

Users actively seek information across various forms, including images, text, quizzes, and videos. YouTube delivers valuable insights in video format, encouraging user interaction through comments and reaction videos. The platform promotes the creation of original content across diverse genres, making users more inclined to engage, especially with educational material.

Social Gratification

YouTube facilitates relationships through comments, likes, and subscriber counts. This social interaction can appeal to those seeking connection, fostering communication and sharing on the platform. The rise of "E-Influencers" has cultivated a strong community of fans, creating a sense of belonging and relatability as viewers witness creators' lives unfold on screen, fostering loyalty.

Process Gratification

This type of gratification satisfies entertainment needs, time-passing, and self-expression. YouTube serves as a digital television, providing amusement and a way to occupy time while also allowing creators to express themselves and engage with fans. This interaction enhances viewer enjoyment and encourages continued viewing, especially of educational content.

Technology Gratification

YouTube is accessible and user-friendly, featuring a simple design that showcases recommended videos on the homepage. It can be accessed via various devices, including computers and smartphones, and offers free content.

The ease of access drives viewers to watch, engage, and create on YouTube.

Strategies for Overcoming Your YouTube Addiction

1. The 5-Second Rule

When the urge to browse YouTube strikes, count to five. This brief moment prepares your brain to make a choice: either focus on your responsibilities or indulge in YouTube. After those five seconds, redirect your energy towards your intended task. If you don’t refocus quickly, the temptation to watch YouTube may overpower you. Those five seconds offer a chance to hold yourself accountable to your goals or surrender to fleeting entertainment.

2. Engage in Alternative Activities

Choose to invest the time you would typically spend on YouTube in pursuing a hobby, passion, or interest. Our time on Earth is limited, and we can decide how to utilize it. While watching YouTube for relaxation isn’t inherently wrong (I still enjoy it!), allowing it to consume your time can impede progress in other areas. Imagine if those hours spent on YouTube were directed toward something that sparked your interest and fostered growth.

3. Envision Your Ideal Self

Who do you aspire to be? It could be enlightening to compare your current self—your beliefs, values, interests, and hobbies—with the person you wish to become. What do you want to do? How would you prefer to spend your free time? Who do you want to share your time with? Develop systems and plans to work towards that ideal self. While this may sound simple, numerous online resources can assist you in this journey.

Conclusion

YouTube addiction is a growing concern amid the rise of social media platforms. Several factors differentiate YouTube from other media, contributing to its success. Content, social, process, and technological gratification are the main forces behind YouTube addiction. However, strategies exist to help break free, including:

• The 5-Second Rule
• Finding a hobby or passion
• Becoming your ideal self

Ultimately, the choice to take action lies with you.