Spending too much time online has become common, especially with social media and trends. When this behavior takes over your life, it’s called being “chronically online.”
What is Meant by Chronically Online?
Chronically online is a term used on social media to describe someone who spends a lot of time online and revolves around internet trends, memes, and cultures. Another word used in place of chronically online is “Terminally online.”
How Do I Know If I am Chronically Online?
It’s easy to spot when digital habits start taking over your life. Here are a few clear signs to help you figure it out:
- Excessive Screen Time: If you’re glued to your device for hours, scrolling aimlessly or jumping from one app to another, you might be chronically online.
- Constant Online Availability: Do you feel the need to reply instantly to messages, comments, or notifications, no matter the time or place? That’s a major sign.
- Obsession with Online Presence: You’re overly focused on how you’re perceived online, whether obsessing over likes and followers or curating the perfect post.
- Neglecting Real-Life Responsibilities: When deadlines, chores, or relationships take a backseat to your online life, it’s a wake-up call.
How Does Being Chronically Online Affect Mental Health?
Staying online all the time impacts the physical as well as the mental health of individuals. Here is how terminally online can impact your mental health:
- Low Self-esteem: Constantly scrolling through curated lives on social media can tank your self-esteem. The comparison game is brutal.
- Anxiety and Stress: Then there’s the anxiety from nonstop doomscrolling or feeling like you must keep up with every online debate.
- Emotional Exhaustion: Add to that the emotional exhaustion of negative news, the sleep disruption from late-night scrolling, and the craving for validation through likes and shares. It’s a recipe for burnout.
The key is to keep a balance. Take regular breaks, unplug when needed, and curate your feed to focus on content that inspires rather than drains.
