The social media prison - by Chidinma Emilia

The Social Media Trap: How Online Platforms Go From Freedom to LockupIn today's connected world, social media has changed from a helpful tool to something many of us can't escape. What started as places to connect with friends have slowly turned into digital cages. This article looks at the idea of the "social media trap" – how websites meant to free us are now boxing us in mentally, socially, and sometimes politically.  The False Feeling of FreedomSocial media first promised amazing freedoms: talking to anyone worldwide, sharing our true selves, and finding information easily. But this freedom isn't real. Users get caught in clever systems made to keep platforms making money, not to help people feel good.The endless scrolling, constant alerts, and computer-picked content work together to trap our attention. Studies show most people spend over two hours every day on social media, with many saying they want to use it less but find it hard to stop. Always Being WatchedLike a prison where inmates feel they're always being watched, social media creates a feeling that someone is always looking at what you post. This watching comes from website staff, government, friends, bosses, and even people you don't know.Knowing we're being watched makes us hold back what we say and feel nervous about posting. Many users spend too much time making perfect posts because they worry about what others will think. This self-watching creates a mental cage that's more limiting than many physical ones. Built to Be AddictiveMost troubling is how social media is made to get us hooked. Random rewards (like slot machines), likes and comments that make us feel good, and fear of missing out all work together to keep us coming back.Former tech company leaders have admitted that many popular features were made to be addictive on purpose. This turns casual use into a habit that's hard to break, leaving many users feeling stuck even when they know it's hurting their mental health. Opinion BubblesThe way computers choose what content to show creates another kind of trap: the filter bubble. Users mostly see information that matches what they already believe, leading to more extreme views and isolation.These digital bubbles not only limit learning but can push users toward extreme thinking by slowly making radical views seem normal. The trap here is a narrowed viewpoint – where different opinions become impossible to understand rather than just disagreeable. Trapped by EconomicsWhile most social media is free to use, we pay with something possibly more valuable: our attention, personal information, and privacy. This setup makes users the product, not the customer.Not being able to easily move your friends list, posts, and online identity to other platforms makes it hard to leave. Users often stay on platforms they don't like because leaving means giving up years of online relationships and content. Getting Free: Ways to Digital FreedomDespite these worries, many people and groups are working to create healthier relationships with social media. Digital minimalism movements, calls for better rules, and new social platforms with healthier goals all offer hope.The first step toward freedom often starts with awareness. Seeing how you're trapped creates room to question what social media should be and how we use it.As we keep navigating this complex digital world, the key question isn't whether to use social media, but how to use it in ways that improve rather than harm our freedom, happiness, and humanity.

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