I. Introduction

• Hook: I plan to include a surprising statistic about the increasing use and prevalence of social media in society and develop that into how social media causes the paradigm shift.
• Over the last twenty years, the rise in social media use has caused a shift towards cell phone addiction in society.

II. Body

A. Review of the shift

• • The shift accompanied the rapid growth of technology in the early 21st century. The shift is still underway; social media is growing and becoming more in tune with human behaviors, further ingraining cell phone addiction into society.

B. Analysis of Causes

• • Social media creates a feeling of social dependence in some users
    • The sharing nature of social media creates a system by which some users depend on the feedback they receive from posts as validation from their followers. Their self-esteem is only being held afloat by the number of comments or likes they receive. It also supports unnecessary social competition, as people will try to look cooler or more adventurous than their friends. Ultimately, social media harbors a superficial system in which users care too much about what other people think of them. Moreover, according to certain studies, social media even supports a system of body shaming, epitomizing the outlook some users have on social media.
  • Algorithms
    • Social media platforms utilize specific algorithms that personalize a user’s feed. The individualized nature of social media browsing, as well as it being never-ending on some sites including TikTok’s For You page, makes it more difficult for users to put down the phone.
  • Provides connection to other people when physical connection is not possible
    • Celebrities: social media gives users access to the lives and happenings of celebrities and other influential figures. The platforms create a false sense of friendship or acquaintance between people and celebrities, and some people become too attached and invested in their lives.
    • COVID-19: social media usage has surged during the pandemic, a time when physical contact is not a viable means of connection. Social media provided its users with the addicting and satisfying feeling of connecting with other people amidst a time of social barrenness.

C. Critique of the Shift

• • The shift is significant because social media and smart phones are most regularly used by adolescents, as they have grown up with the technology. There are differing arguments as to why the addictive nature of cell phones is alarming, though; many researchers believe it’s harmful to teenager’s psychological health, and sleeping patterns, though.

III. Conclusion

• I plan to begin with a restatement of my main ideas from my thesis from which I will then develop into a broader outlook on the issue of cell phone addiction. I want to conclude with a statement related to how it is ironically encouraging the disconnect in an already disconnected society.