Submission Illustration

The Social Media Paradox

This collage explores how social media connects us yet pulls us apart. Bold red letters state: "Social Media Is An Addiction," using red to signal warning. Torn paper strips repeat words like isolation, anxiety, loneliness and cyberbullying — ragged edges mirror how addiction leaves us feeling fragmented. Statistics reveal 24% of social-media-related deaths, 3+ hours daily use, and 59% of teens facing cyberbullying, showing this is a widespread crisis, not just personal struggle. Smartphones with familiar app icons sit centre-stage, while half-hidden faces behind them suggest our true selves are fading. It captures the paradox: we appear more connected yet feel lonelier. This piece doesn’t reject technology — it simply asks: what do we gain from endless scrolling, and what are we losing?

The Social Media Paradox

This collage explores how social media connects us yet pulls us apart. Bold red letters state: “Social Media Is An Addiction,” using red to signal warning. Torn paper strips repeat words like isolation, anxiety, loneliness and cyberbullying — ragged edges mirror how addiction leaves us feeling fragmented. Statistics reveal 24% of social-media-related deaths, 3+ hours daily use, and 59% of teens facing cyberbullying, showing this is a widespread crisis, not just personal struggle. Smartphones with familiar app icons sit centre-stage, while half-hidden faces behind them suggest our true selves are fading. It captures the paradox: we appear more connected yet feel lonelier. This piece doesn’t reject technology — it simply asks: what do we gain from endless scrolling, and what are we losing?