Well, maybe not exactly but heavy use does lead to an increase in selfish behavior and a diminishing of self-control.
For one experiment in the study, Wilcox and Stephen asked 84 study participants to either browse Facebook or read CNN.com for five minutes. Both groups then had to choose between a healthy granola bar or not-so-healthy chocolate chip cookie. The Facebook group was much more likely to go for the cookie, while the CNN group picked the granola bar.
My theory on this is that the rush of dopamine that comes from the constant sense of external validation that comes from counting your Facebook Likes and so on then leads to a pattern of wanting more and more of that good sensation. So if you’re presented with the opportunity to get just that – whether it’s a cookie or whatever revs your engine – you’ll go for it.
Chris Thilk 