Instagram Addiction: 62-Year-Old's Ordeal Exposes Social Media's Dark Side

• A 62-year-old woman in Vadodara, Gujarat, became severely addicted to Instagram reels, skipping meals and sleep.
• Her family removed Instagram, leading to classic withdrawal symptoms like irritability, mood swings, and protest.
• The incident challenges the notion that older generations are immune to online addiction, highlighting its pervasive nature.
• Scientific studies define problematic social media use with cravings, failed attempts to cut down, and withdrawal symptoms.
• Social media algorithms are designed to keep users hooked, altering reward pathways and increasing risks of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.