Is Facebook affecting your well-being?
- 19 Aug
Facebook could play a large role in your mental health and well being.
Many of us use social media to keep up to date with friends and family whilst also using it as a way to kill time and unwind. We already know that the amount of Facebook users is high, and whilst we think that the social media network is just another way to check up on others doings what we fail to realise is the impact on what it could be doing to our health.
A new academic study has found that using the network can "undermine" your own sense of happiness and well-being. It also found that Facebook, when used negatively, impacts how users feel "moment to moment" and how satisfied they feel with their overall lives.
Researchers from the University of Michigan looked at 82 young adults and asked them how often they used Facebook and their feelings after. For two weeks the researchers sent participants five text messages each day asking them to check online. The study (which you can read here) was led by Ethan Krossand reads that:
"On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling such needs by allowing people to instantly connect, rather than enhancing well-being, as frequent interactions with supportive 'offline' social networks powerfully do, the current findings demonstrate that interacting with Facebook may predict the opposite result for young adults - it may undermine it."
It was also found that the more the participants frequented Facebook, the worse they felt; whether it be from ‘fear of missing out' or feeling that others' lives are more exciting than their own.
Before you go deleting your Facebook account it is important to know that the declines in happiness reported where quite minor and as long as you take everything with a pinch of salt, you should be ok. However, if you do find that Facebook is affecting you, there is always the option to suspend your account, without completely deleting it; meaning you can go back once you feel you are in a better frame of mind.
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/299648
Related articles
- 19 May
THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE
The online survey posed questions to 1,479 people between ages 14 to 24 to rate which social media platform (of YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter) negatively impact their users.The...
- 25 Jul
SOCIAL MEDIA APPS FOR HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS
INSTAGRAMGOOGLE TRANSLATEHOMESWAPPER MATCHESFACEBOOK LIVEWHATSAPPTAWKYou can download these apps online and via Android or IOS devices as well. Enjoy!What do you think? Please tweet...
- 17 Jun
FREE DEVICES AND APPS FOR BETTER HEALTH
Some of such devices and apps which will be available in April 2017 are:AliveCor- A mobile heart monitor (strapped to the back of a smartphone) which will also save NHS money, reducing need for...
- 08 Jun
#UKHousingFast
The #UKHousingFast is a social media campaign which is led by people living and working in social housing to support the activities of Trussell Trust.This fast is in its third year and will take...
- 26 Jan
Twitter leads national campaign for compassionate care
#HelloMyNameIs is a social media based campaign created by one doctor, Kate Granger, in order to encourage healthcare professionals to introduce themselves to patients.The campaign is now being...
- 23 Jan
Social media for housing associations
Online engagement between many commercial and charitable organisations and their clients and users has become very popular. However, many housing organisations have not succeeded as well as they...
- 22 Jan
An effective social media strategy for your social organisation
It is important to reach a position on social media where the community feels comfortable in sharing the content that you post.Your content should reflect the trust and integrity your users have for...
- 15 Jan
The Social Media Presence of Social Organisations
However, there are still many organisations who are not taking full advantage of social media platforms by not regularly updating their users and followers with content, nor sharing links that their...
- 15 Jan
Charity urges homelessness to be put to an end
Homeless Link, in its manifesto to end homelessness, has urged the next Government to end rough sleeping, ensure employment and welfare support, provide more homes and protect the rights of tenants,...
- 13 Jan
Instagram for your Social Organisation
It has beat Twitter in terms of number of users, but it is currently outperforming in terms of engagement as well.Instagram's engagement is 50 times higher than Twitter. The difference is a large...
Responding to the DWP Consultation: Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing "I thought this briefing was very good and very useful. The presentation was clear, well argued and I always find Michael gives me food for thought even if I don't agree with everything he says. I really like the way he facilitates a discussion in the room and I learn as much from other participants as I do from the presenter which is always good. Right length, right tone." R.P. - Richmond Fellowship
