Is there such a thing as social media addiction?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Yes, there is a growing recognition and concern about social media addiction. Social media addiction refers to excessive and compulsive use of social media platforms that negatively impacts an individual’s daily life, relationships, and overall well-being. While social media platforms have provided numerous benefits, such as connecting people across the globe and facilitating the exchange of information, they can also become addictive due to their design features and the psychological rewards they offer.
There are several key factors that contribute to social media addiction:
Dopamine-driven reward system: Social media platforms are designed to trigger the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. Features like likes, comments, and notifications provide instant gratification, creating a cycle of seeking validation and increasing the desire for more engagement.
Fear of missing out (FOMO): Social media feeds are often filled with carefully curated content that showcases others’ achievements, experiences, and social events. The fear of missing out on these experiences can lead individuals to constantly check their social media accounts to stay connected and avoid feeling left out.
Escapism and emotional regulation: Social media can serve as an escape from real-life problems or emotional distress. People may turn to social media as a coping mechanism, seeking distraction or validation to temporarily alleviate negative emotions.
Comparison and self-esteem: Social media platforms often facilitate comparisons with others, leading to feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem. Individuals may engage in excessive social media use to seek validation or compare their lives with others, further fueling the addictive behavior.
Design features and algorithms: Social media platforms employ various design techniques, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay videos, to keep users engaged for longer periods. These features can lead to mindless browsing and make it challenging for individuals to control their usage.
Research has shown that social media addiction can have detrimental effects on individuals’ mental health and well-being. Excessive social media use has been linked to increased levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, poor sleep quality, and decreased self-esteem.
Recognizing the impact of social media addiction, steps are being taken to address this issue. Some individuals and organizations are promoting digital well-being and advocating for responsible social media use. Many social media platforms have implemented features that allow users to monitor their screen time, set usage limits, and receive notifications when they have spent excessive time on the platform.
In conclusion, while social media addiction is a relatively new phenomenon, there is evidence to suggest that it exists and can have negative consequences on individuals’ lives. It is important for individuals to be aware of their social media usage patterns, set healthy boundaries, and seek support if they find themselves struggling with addictive behaviors related to social media. Additionally, further research is needed to better understand the causes and impacts of social media addiction and to develop effective strategies for prevention and intervention.
