When Connection Becomes Compulsion
Understanding Social Media’s Impact on Mental Health
By Ryan Speed, LMSW – Prairie Sky Counseling Center
Wednesday night, I had the privilege of presenting to a room full of compassionate volunteers dedicated to pastoral care—people who regularly show up in the quiet, difficult moments of others’ lives. We gathered to explore a timely and complex topic: social media, internet addiction, and their effects on mental health. I want to share some of that conversation with you here—not only because the topic is urgent, but because we at Prairie Sky Counseling Center believe in equipping communities with both empathy and understanding.
Ryan Speed, LMSW, presenting at Village Church, April 2, 2025, on Social Media and Internet Addiction.
A Question for Reflection
We began with a simple question: How do you personally use the internet and social media? Maybe you check the news in the morning, scroll through photos from loved ones, or use your phone to stay connected to work or community. But for many people—especially teens and young adults—this “connection” can become compulsive. What started as a way to stay informed or entertained begins to chip away at our time, our energy, and even our self-worth.
Is It Really an Addiction?
Right now, social media and internet addiction are not formally recognized disorders in the DSM-5, though a related condition—Internet Gaming Disorder—appears in the manual’s Section III as a topic requiring more research. That might sound like a technicality, but it has real implications. Without a formal diagnosis, people suffering from compulsive digital behaviors often go unrecognized and unsupported.
Still, the signs are all too familiar. As with other behavioral addictions, these patterns follow a loop of trigger, action, and reward. The brain’s dopamine system is activated each time we get a “like” or watch a new video. Over time, we need more and more engagement to get the same reward. We feel anxious when we’re offline. We scroll even when we know it’s interfering with our relationships, work, or sleep. It’s a cycle—one that’s hard to break without help.
The Adolescent Brain on Tech
The science is sobering. A recent article in Cureus (2025) highlights how social media use affects brain development, particularly in teenagers. Areas like the prefrontal cortex (which governs decision-making and impulse control) and the amygdala (linked to emotional regulation) are directly impacted by prolonged engagement with apps that reward immediate gratification. The result? Heightened emotional reactivity, difficulty focusing, and a persistent craving for digital “hits” of validation.
A Pew Research study from 2022 revealed that the majority of teens use YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat daily—many even report being online “almost constantly.” More than half said it would be hard to quit. And while it’s easy to shrug this off as typical adolescent behavior, we’re seeing mounting evidence that the stakes are higher than we once thought.
Who’s Profiting?
In 2022, social media companies earned over $11 billion in advertising revenue from U.S. children alone. Algorithms are engineered to keep users—especially young ones—scrolling longer and clicking more. These aren’t neutral tools; they’re systems designed to monetize attention, not enhance well-being. As clinicians, we are increasingly aware that this attention economy has a psychological cost.
What Can We Do?
The good news is that awareness leads to action. Whether you're a parent, volunteer, teacher, or simply someone trying to make sense of your own habits, there are steps you can take:
• Set screen time limits or use app blockers.
• Turn off notifications to reduce compulsive checking.
• Schedule regular tech-free days to reconnect with yourself or your community.
• Replace screen time with meaningful activities—art, exercise, spiritual practice, or face-to-face connection.
When supporting someone else, remember this: compassion is more powerful than correction. Many of us want to jump in with advice or solutions, but often the most healing response is simply to listen. In therapeutic settings, we use tools like Motivational Interviewing to help individuals build their own motivation for change. You don’t need to be a professional to practice empathy.
We’re Here If You Need Us
At Prairie Sky Counseling Center, we specialize in addressing both substance use disorders and behavioral health issues like problematic internet use. Our team understands the complexities of living in a digital age. We also recognize that spiritual and emotional well-being are interconnected, which is why we approach therapy through a lens of acceptance, curiosity, and grace.
If you or someone you love is struggling with anxiety, loneliness, compulsive behaviors, or the emotional weight of being “always online,” we invite you to reach out. You're not alone—and you don’t need to have everything figured out before asking for help.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Technology is here to stay. The challenge—and the opportunity—is learning how to engage with it in a way that nurtures rather than depletes us.
To connect with a therapist or learn more about our approach to behavioral and spiritual wellness, visit https://www.prairieskycc.org/contactus.