Unlike! Research Links Social Networking to Unhappiness

[yknotme]

Facebook could be spreading unhappiness through society as well as keeping people connected, research has shown.

The number one social networking site is strongly associated with declines in well-being, psychologists claim.

Scientists found the more time people spent on Facebook over a two-week period, the worse they subsequently felt.

In contrast, talking to friends on the phone or meeting them in person led to greater levels of happiness.

"On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection," said Study leader Ethan Kross, from the University of Michigan.




'Rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite -- it undermines it.'

- University of Michigan researcher Ethan Kross


"But rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result -- it undermines it."

The researchers recruited 82 young adults, all of whom had smartphones and Facebook accounts.

To assess their personal levels of well-being, participants were sent questions by text message at five random times each day for two weeks.

The "experience sampling" technique is a recognised reliable way of measuring how people think, feel and behave in their day-to-day lives.

Participants were asked how they felt "right now", how worried or lonely they were, and to what extent they had been using Facebook or interacting with other people directly.

Writing in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE, the researchers said higher levels of Facebook use correlated with greater loss of well-being.

Volunteers were also asked to rate their level of life satisfaction at the start and end of the study.

Over the two-week period, satisfaction ratings were found to decline the more people used Facebook.

"This is a result of critical importance because it goes to the very heart of the influence that social networks may have on people's lives," said University of Michigan neuroscientist and co-author Dr John Jonides.


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/08/...#ixzz2c3u3buzN

[Lana-Banana]

No shit!

[kellyhound]

Scientists really needed a research to find out all that ? lol

By Emma Barnett. According to a new poll, women consistently lie on social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, in order to present the best versions of themselves.

Well first things first: the said survey only questioned women. Sadly OnePoll, the company asking the questions, did not extend their queries to men.

However, I did. Using my social profile on both Facebook and Twitter, I did my own very unscientific poll and found that most women and men agreed – people aren’t lying per se.

Both genders just ain’t sharing the bad stuff about their lives on their respective social networks and so the ‘humble brag’ was born.

You know the statuses I am talking about because we’ve all done it: “Just checking into the VIP lounge at BA”, or “OMG just met Rob Lowe #blush”, (that second one is actually my own and I included a photo with the status – garnering some 37 likes or so). Come on it was Rob Lowe and we were in Wales at the Hay Festival.

But why would you share the bad stuff in your life in a status update?

These digital networks, which now dominate most people’s lives, weren’t designed to encourage people to share negative news.

[invertigo]

I wonder if the 'Water Cooler' falls into this catergory...

[Sharon]

In contrast, talking to friends on the phone or meeting them in person led to greater levels of happiness.

Absolutely true but those I know are so isolated and all over the UK, I never get to see them often and FB is a way of keeping in touch though not at that deep level I miss.

[Faline]

I have a few mates on FB that post bullshit. The ones that are more pathetic though are those that constantly post images of themselves seeking flattering comments and those that post 50 images a day of their newborn child
I have the correct settings in place though so they don't flood my news feed.

Social networking sites are good if you use them correctly. I have close family/friends dotted about that i enjoy keeping track of. Plus some of the games are quite good and people i follow.

[yknotme]

Originally Posted by invertigo

I wonder if the 'Water Cooler' falls into this catergory...

With out a doubt. We are all super unhappy!

[invertigo]

Originally Posted by yknotme

With out a doubt. We are all super unhappy!

You've got to admit, pretty much every 'water cooler' thread turns into a Jerry Springer episode if it's left open long enough.