In case you’re worried about being addicted to YouTube and it’s causing you a mental disorder and strain, you must know the initial signs and the steps you can carry out to start getting assistance. This article discusses the increasing problem of YouTube addiction, the causes, and the steps one can take to curb this compulsive internet use. Read on to find out why you are so addicted to YouTube and the efficient strategies to assist yourself and your loved ones in building a healthy YouTube relationship. YouTubers made $1 trillion with YouTube ads, which can be a fair reason to be addicted to this platform.
What is YouTube Addiction?
YouTube Addiction is a situation where someone watches more YouTube than he is supposed to, and that behavior can lead to greater problems. Still, in some situations, being a YouTube addict doesn’t mean a mental health condition, though professionals still suggest this addiction is an obvious disorder in the DSM-5. This is a manual that healthcare experts utilize for diagnosing mental disorders.
Causes of Being Addicted to YouTube
- Just as in other behavioral addictions, watching videos on YouTube will bring out a short-term reward. Over time, individuals can start feeling that they’ve less control over their behaviors. Then, they might keep viewing many videos despite the unfavorable consequences.
- Someone may have the feeling to watch videos at odd times or in unsuitable locations like work, which will interfere with their regular functioning abilities, just as absenting oneself from work purposely to watch YouTube videos. A bad thing about this behavior is that it’ll start slowly at most times before eventually building with time. It’s quite hard to start seeing how the behaviors interfere with one’s lifestyle and wellness because they will be happening gradually,
- You may have started viewing videos because of a particular aim. Afterward, you may watch in boring or lonely situations. Then, as time goes on, you’ll open the YouTube app every morning, then become used to viewing just one more video in half hours and half days. Before you know this, more than four hours have passed, and you’re still in bed.
- There are many topics on YouTube, which signifies that one won’t ever become bored. When you are no longer interested in a niche, the platform’s algorithm must surely give a response and begin to suggest one video or other suitable for you and your interests.
- Just as in other social media platforms, the YouTube algorithm will recommend a new video according to how you interact with former videos. It will ensure that many new videos and fresh content are always provided for you and targeted towards your interest. This will render it difficult for you to stop watching YouTube videos.
Signs of YouTube Addiction
There are no agreed signs of addiction on YouTube yet because it isn’t seen as an official condition. Still, some peculiar signs show that one or somebody else he knows is addicted to YouTube. They include;
- Using many hours to view videos, ponder them, and prepare to watch them. Some sites, like Views4You, help your channel grow and save you time to do that.
- Having a great urge to start watching YouTube videos even as you’re not on the site.
- Wanting to sit entranced in the pixelated underworld for a long time period until a YouTube video finishes. On the platform, search for similar thrills.
- Doing everything to control and spending less time watching YouTube videos but not succeeding.
- Feeling withdrawal signs like irritability, restlessness, and anxiousness whenever you’re not on YouTube.
- Seeking YouTube as an escape from private issues and getting instant gratification even if it’s thoroughly useless information you receive.
- Not stopping to watch YouTube videos even after getting harmful consequences.
- Going ahead to hide YouTube watching habits from other people.
- Abandoning sleep only to watch more videos.
- Not being able to stop watching videos while doing other chores.
- Abandoning work, education, social life, family members, close friends, and other aspects of life.
- Not being interested again in every other hobby or pastime.
- Going back to YouTube overuse fast after giving the site a break.
Effect of Being Addicted to YouTube
YouTube addiction is not good for a person, and it can have adverse effects on that person. It can possibly lead you to master the addictive behavior of going to YouTube all the time and internet addiction. This addictive behavior will become compulsive and continue, though having bad consequences in your life. Even when viewing YouTube isn’t seen as addictive, it’ll start creating issues for you later. It can lead to disruption in one’s lifestyle and relationships.
Also, it’ll affect one’s job and performance. In a situation where you’re feeling distressed due to continuous watching online, and you find fulfilling your normal obligations hard, together with constant interference with your relationship, you must tackle this issue effectively.
Steps to Tackle Binge-Watching on YouTube
Binge-watching videos on YouTube can cause someone problems in life even when he is not completely addicted. If you’re aiming to put a final end to time spent on addiction so you will no longer be spending time online, you should follow these steps;
Start Clearing Your YouTube History
As we have stated earlier, the YouTube algorithm usually goes through one’s watch history so that YouTube gently wove videos it believes that you’ll surely love so that you’ll want extra. Therefore, deleting your watch history is the right means of stopping this.
Start Setting a YouTube Limit
You should go through screen-time guidelines because it will aid you in deciding on the right amount of time you’ll spend every day watching videos. Put up a daily time limit so you’ll not use YouTube again after reaching the limit.
Utilize the Take-A-Break Reminder
There’s a ‘take a break’ reminder in YouTube settings, which aids people in managing their usage of the platform. It pauses a video until one dismisses it or starts to play it from where he stopped. This reminder is usually on for YouTubers who are 13 to 17 years of age but off for YouTubers who are above 18 years. Normally, it’s set as ‘off’, so you should ensure you put it on.
Off Auto-Play
YouTube has a feature called auto-play, which it uses to bombard YouTubers with continuous videos. You’re free to off-auto-play if you want. Do this by using the toggle button on the watch home page. Doing this will help you easily stop watching whenever the video is finished.
Consider Deleting the YouTube App
One should try to delete the YouTube app on his phone. When one restricts access to his laptop and any other device, it’ll reduce the time he’s watching videos.
Consider Deleting Your YouTube Account
You may have tried all the steps mentioned earlier, but they didn’t work. YouTube may still be bringing you disruptions and distress. Therefore, you’ll have to ensure total abstinence. Do this by deleting your account on YouTube completely.
Try Out New Hobbies
You should look for other means of filling up your time so you do not fall again into the temptation of spending free time to binge-watch videos, though this is a baby step.
Start Seeking Help to Free Yourself from YouTube Addiction
You or someone you know may be addicted to YouTube and even possess other forms of internet addiction. You should look for help from experts in such situations. Also, try out programs created to help people and family members break free from this YouTube habit. If you’re addicted to YouTube, you can also talk to a mental health expert. They’ll provide you with treatments to aid in your behavioral addiction. In final words, therapy is great because it’ll aid you in developing fresh coping skills for breaking free from YouTube addiction.
FAQs
Is Watching YouTube Without Stopping an Addiction?
YouTube addiction wasn’t included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, but using YouTube compulsively is termed a behavioral addiction. It does not involve substances, unlike drug addiction and alcohol addiction.
How Can One End YouTube Addiction?
One should discuss with mental health professionals, like a licensed clinical psychologist if he feels addicted to YouTube. They’ll aid in providing treatment to assist one in tackling his behavioral addiction. With the help of therapy and clinical psychology, you’ll start developing new skills to become free.
