Our propensity for social media emanates from the same drive that helped humans evolve into the dominant species of the day. The issue is the message, not the (neuro)messenger.

Social media is developing a reputation for being detrimental to the human condition and society generally. Certainly, given its current overall impact, such a reputation seems warranted. But it wasn’t always that way. And it needn’t be that way.

The dopamine addiction theory induced by excessive use of social media has gained much attention. While the theory holds – that social media has an addiction-forming potential -, the fact we get a dopamine hit from using social media isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Indeed, it reveals an aspect of the human brain that stems from the very reason human civilisation has grown to be so ‘successful’.

So, don’t feel bad about feeling good on social media. But do remember that how much of a buzz you get off it does not determine whether you are on the right track. A solid moral base will do that. If you were unfortunate enough not to get a solid moral base – the honing of your dopamine pathways – when you were growing up, then find that moral base now; retrain your dopamine pathways.

Most of all remember that, in the main, social media won’t fix those things in the world that feel wrong. Only you can do that.