PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Experts and residents have expressed concern over the growing addiction to social media reels, citing the need for people to distract themselves with other activities to avoid its ill effects. This comment follows a recent incident where a car plunged into a 60-metre deep gorge near Lalpul on the Kalsi-Chakrata motor road, resulting in one death and five injuries. According to police, the accident occurred while the occupants were creating a reel for social media.
It is pertinent to mention that the addiction of reels has surged among the general public, including children, young adults and older adults and has occasionally resulted in serious consequences.
A senior citizen Jagmohan Bhandari has voiced his concerns regarding this matter. He shared that his 20-year-old grandchild is heavily reliant on his phone and reels, which has led to a withdrawal from social interactions. Bhandari described the recent incident as troubling and believed that educational institutions, such as schools and colleges, should address the negative impacts of reel addiction in awareness programmes.
Additionally, young adult Vansh Tiwari said that he also creates reels to showcase his talents on social media. However, he makes a conscious effort to avoid becoming addicted to it and thinks that everyone should adopt a similar approach.
In relation to this issue, clinical psychologist Pratibha Sharma stated that in today’s society, addiction to reels, screens and related activities has emerged as a top addiction. Currently, not only children but also adults are becoming increasingly hooked on creating reels. Many are seeking to showcase themselves on social media for popularity and other reasons. Unfortunately, this growing addiction to reels poses significant risks to individuals’ lives and adversely affects their mental well-being. It has been linked to rising levels of aggression, frustration and various unbearable recent incidents.
To combat this trend, Sharma encouraged people to distance themselves from such habits and to engage in more physical activities or others. She also advised parents to reduce their own screen time and reel addiction, as doing so sets a better example for their children; otherwise, parents may inadvertently drive their children towards similar addictions.
