Social media is a huge part of most people’s lives, and understandably so. It took our entire culture by storm, and now it’s difficult to imagine our lives functioning smoothly without Facebook to plan events or LinkedIn to further our careers.

It’s important to stay grounded, however, and to avoid letting social media control our lives and moods. Joseph Grenny and David Maxfield, co-authors of the New York Times bestseller Crucial Conversations, have released a new study on the primal need for praise and success that is built into our psyche, as well as its effect on our day-to-day lives through social media.

Over half (58%) admitted that trying to post the “perfect picture” has prevented them from enjoying life to some degree. Worrying more about the photo and its aftermath can easily get in the way of enjoying the experience itself. Capturing an entire concert on an iPhone might make you popular amongst your friends on Instagram, but you miss out on enjoying the whole experience of a concert.

Often, this goes beyond just trying to capture a fun moment or two, and becomes what Grenny and Mayfield dub “trophy-hunting.”

14% even said that they’ve risked their own safety to get a good Vine video. And perhaps even more worrisome is the fact that many respondents with children confessed that they’ve let social media interfere with their parenting, by goading their children into emotional behavior because it’s “funny” or just by paying them less attention than they should.

“You may have more friends, you may have more likes [and] you’ll check your accounts more, but you’re actually going to feel empty,” said Maxfield.

Long story short, social media is fun and endlessly useful, but don’t let it become more important than what it is primarily, namely, entertainment.

Information via Mashable.