Having constant access to the digital world can help provide people with connections and information that they would otherwise not have access to. But what happens when this level of interconnectedness starts to harm people and their interpersonal relationships? This is what many people call being “chronically online.”
If you or a loved one has suffered mental or physical harm as a result of excessive time on social media, contact the social media addiction attorneys at Reich & Binstock today. We have extensive experience helping victims of social media harm seek compensation for their losses.
Take your first step toward justice–call (713) 622-7271 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney at Reich & Binstock today.
Chronically Online Meaning
“Chronically online” is a term used to describe someone who spends too much time on the internet, and it shows through their words or actions. It’s usually used as an insult, often aimed at people whose speech, behaviors, and worldviews are shaped and altered by internet culture.
What Does It Mean to Be Chronically Online?
In general, being chronically online means having your reality shaped by the internet. Someone may call another person “chronically online” if that person lets words, phrases, or behaviors popular in the online world bleed into their real life.
It might also be used to describe someone who constantly feels the need to be in the know on current social media trends and memes, or someone who feels like they need to engage with people on the internet at every chance they get. It’s usually reserved for anyone whose personality revolves around engaging in online activities, staying up-to-date on online culture, and maintaining their digital presence.
Lastly, it might also be used to describe someone who’s willing to fight online over innocuous things, dubbing small missteps or perceived slights as “problematic” and requiring recourse. The internet allows anyone and everyone to engage in online discourse, but the disconnect between real-life interactions and online interactions can give some people the courage to be vocal and argumentative over the smallest of things.
Terminally Online vs Chronically Online
“Terminally online” is another term used to describe someone who spends an excessive amount of time online. However, like a medical condition, being “terminally” online is more serious than being “chronically” online. It’s often used to indicate that someone spends an extremely excessive amount of time on the internet, to the point that it has irreversibly bled into their offline activities and conversations.
Extremely Online vs Chronically Online
The term“extremely online” also refers to people who spend too much time online, but was popularized years before “chronically online” was. The shift from “extremely” to “chronically” online indicates a slight shift in how people have viewed excessive internet use over the past 10 years.
The term chronically online makes spending a lot of time on the internet seem more like a disease or condition that people suffer from, rather than a hobby or activity that people engage in. This could be a result of the link between internet and social media use and addictive behaviors, which have caused internet users to suffer serious mental and physical harm.
Symptoms of Being Chronically Online
Some symptoms of being chronically online include:
- Incorporating internet slang into everyday speech
- Having excessive amounts of screen time on one or more devices every day
- Spending a significant amount of time on social media platforms
- Constantly engaging with others through social media
- Compulsively checking social media apps throughout the day
- Needing a constant flow of new content on social media and other online platforms
- Constantly up-to-date on new memes, phrases, or internet drama
Chronically Online Examples
In 2022, a woman posted on Twitter about how she and her husband would spend “hours” in their garden in the mornings, drinking coffee and talking. She received backlash for having enough free time to spend that much of her time with her husband and how her life was “unachievable” for most people.
Another Twitter account in 2022 posted about how “crazy” it was to make “IRL mutuals” at college (IRL meaning “in real life” and mutuals meaning “people who mutually follow each other on social media”). People immediately replied to this Tweet with “Do you mean friends?” as if the original poster completely forgot what “friends” were.
Am I Chronically Online?
If you use any social media app or platform for more than an hour or two every single day, you may be chronically online. Additionally, if you notice that you bring certain habits, phrases, or perspectives that are popularly used online into your real-life interactions, you may be chronically online.
According to recent social media addiction statistics, about 84% of people in the 18-29 age group use social media. Additionally, many teens use platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, some of whom use these platforms “almost constantly.”
What Are the Side Effects of Being Chronically Online?
While using social media isn’t always harmful, being on social media for hours on end every day, you may experience certain negative effects of social media. Some of the side effects of being chronically online include:
- Poorer mental health outcomes
- Eye strain and trouble sleeping (as a result of excessive screen time)
- Social isolation
- Poor academic/work performance
- Unrealistic views of others
- Unrealistic expectations in relationships
- Low self-worth
- Body image issues
- Exposure to bullying, hateful ideologies, harmful imagery
How to Stop Being Chronically Online
It can be difficult to separate yourself from the online world, especially when you carry the internet with you wherever you go. If you’re looking to change your chronic online behaviour you can:
- Place “screen time” limits on certain social apps
- Place time-based internet blockers on certain social media apps
- Carve out a limited amount of time for scrolling during the day (preferably not first thing in the morning)
- Give yourself things to do without your phone
- Leave your phone in another room whenever you can
- Change your phone’s color filter to black and white if possible
- Give yourself something to fidget with when you don’t have access to your phone
Breaking a social media addiction can be difficult, and it often requires more than just “deleting all social media apps” from your devices. Try not to get frustrated with yourself if the process is harder than you think it should be. Make small changes to your routine and content consumption habits, and build on these changes over time.
Can Someone Who Is Chronically Online File a Social Media Addiction Claim?
While being “chronically online” is not an official term for any physical or psychological condition, those who are chronically online often suffer from social media addiction, which has been recognized as a legitimate health concern. Social media companies design their platforms to keep users engaged and online for as long as possible, which can harm the physical and mental health of their users.
If you or your child has suffered harm as a result of chronic online behavior, you may be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the social media company or companies responsible. You may be eligible to file a social media addiction lawsuit if:
- You or your child may be addicted to one or more social media platforms
- You or your child have suffered mental harm as a result of the addiction
- The addiction started before the age of 25
If you or your child meets these criteria, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the social media company responsible for your or your child’s addiction. A social media addiction lawyer can help determine your eligibility and help you file a claim for compensation.
Contact Reich & Binstock Today
If you or a loved one has suffered mental and/or physical harm as a result of a social media platform, you may be able to recover compensation for your losses, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, therapy expenses, and more. At Reich & Binstock, we understand how serious social media addiction can be and how harmful it can be to individuals and their families.
We’re willing to guide you through the legal process, gather evidence that supports your claim, and fight tirelessly to pursue compensation on your behalf. We provide our clients with personalized legal services, ensuring each case is handled with the care and consideration it deserves.
Call our law firm at (713) 622-7271 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a member of our legal team.
