Social Media addiction

John Boyne has written a brilliant satirical novel about the consequences of using social media. It is called The Echo Chamber.
I think we are aware of how addictive it can be. Social media aside, I can't leave the house without my phone. It has become a kind of safety device and I don't feel safe without it, if that makes any sense.

I don’t do Facebook, Twitter etc. I use Whatsapp with family and friends and I read the news etc online and I dip in and out of Gransnet throughout the day. I hadn’t considered just how much I was reliant on the internet till I was forced to go cold turkey.

I’ve just spent 7 days in hospital in 2 different wards. The first 3 days I had no internet connection on my phone and the hospital WiFi was off. I found myself repeatedly lifting my phone hoping a signal would miraculously appear and I’d be reconnected with the outside world!

I was delighted when we were transferred to another ward and my 4G signal was restored on my phone.

I should think it would cost the taxpayer a couple of million pounds, doesn’t everything?

I put the kitchen timer on, so after an hour's 'tea break' turn off everything - my laptop - the TV and heating too. I don't use social media on my phone, as I don't want to join the many phone zombies wandering about locally. It must be so crippling, having an addiction to social media, constantly on duty with all the sites open, watching for the next post 'needing' your instant attention. My friend is a complete slave to WhatsApp, always on the alert (like an athlete on the starting line) for that little chime to call her back to her phone. I make her leave it in her car, when she pops in. She can go out to check it whenever she likes - but it's not coming in. I've told her I won't tolerate the rudeness of her constantly looking at that screen - or enable her mental illness with it. No screens for anyone at the dinner table either, they stay in the hall!

I have an all or nothing approach. I go hell for leather on a couple of threads first thing in the day, then switch off completely at work. Back in at lunchtime and after school for relaxation, because then it is easy chat.
What does treatment actually involve? Is it free?

If I stop for a coffee, I usually have a quick look at GN.

What did I do before I used this site?