Facebook vs Happiness. The side effects of social media
We already know how much Facebook can compromise a relationship, but couples are not the only victims of the most famous social network in the world.
How many times have you thought "let's just take a quick look at Facebook notifications" and two hours later you were still there, between the posts on the home page and the profiles of your "friends"?
In the meantime, you may have also felt a growing feeling of unease ...
Well, Facebook is likely the cause of your frustration; a study explains why!
This video tells you something about it ...
The effects of Facebook on our mental health
A recent study published by two American researchers, Holly Shakya and Nicholas Christakis, showed that our suspicions about Facebook's negative effects on mood and self-esteem have a foundation of truth.
Start noticing, as soon as we connect to our favorite social network we are curious to find out if new likes have arrived and we get excited. But if we make the terrible mistake of extending our stay on Facebook, our mood becomes more and more gloomy, passing from disappointment to melancholy ... up to a real evil of living!
Know that Facebook was designed specifically for this purpose; not to make us depressed (maybe ...), but to keep us connected as long as possible.
See also
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It seems that social media, in fact, have been conceived on the model of slot machines, known to create a dangerous addiction. There would not be much difference, therefore, between the constant search for a new like and that of a gambling win, and this should already put us on the alert.
This truth had already been revealed by Tristan Harris, former Google designer and author of addiction studies on Facebook, Instagram and ... Netflix (would you like to deny it?).
If you have seen The Circle - based on the dystopian novel by Dave Eggers - you'll know what we're talking about. The film describes a social context in which it is compulsory be social and live every moment (including intimacy) under the eyes of all, with all the consequences that (for better or for worse) derive from it.
People show only the best of themselves and their life experiences on social media (don't forget the great power of Photoshop).
Yet we seem not to remember it every time, scrolling through our Facebook home, we only see photos of holidays, parties with old and new friends, aperitifs with colleagues and, in short, only posts and statuses that suggest a perfect life. indeed many perfect lives ... (and enviable!)
Faced with so many incredible personal and professional successes, what we ask ourselves is: is it possible that they are all so beautiful and accomplished? My life, in comparison, is so normal / mundane!
It is at this point that our self-esteem sinks, leaving room for depression and perhaps even a victimistic and not very productive attitude.
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The latest findings on the use of Facebook
But what is the real discovery of Shakya and Christakis?
Researchers have examined the social behavior of more than 5,000 Americans for over two years, noting all the statuses they have posted, the posts they have shared, and the likes they have placed and received. All of this was then related to the quality of their lives and their level of personal satisfaction.
What came out? That after using Facebook, a person's psycho-physical well-being can drop by up to 8%. Good news, considering that we spend on Facebook on average at least a hour a day.
There are various apps to calculate how long we waste on social networks and to understand if the time reserved for virtual activities and knowledge exceeds or not the one set aside for developing projects and relationships in real life.
Black Mirror - TV series on the grotesque consequences of IAD (Internet addiction disorder) - is trying to warn us about how much the web, and technology in general, can negatively influence the opinion we have of others and of ourselves and, consequently, our behaviors and our choices.
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How to make Facebook a constructive tool
An excellent solution could be to use social media for different purposes than those we are used to; instead of being windows into the lives of others, they could become collectors of our interests and passions, or a real source of information. Instead of tracking all friends, it is better to follow the pages that interest us and from which we can learn something new or stay updated.
Another suggestion is to also follow pages that support opinions opposite to ours, to broaden our vision of the facts and so that our social networks are not just a redundant mirror of our beliefs.
In short, sitting on the sofa looking at photos on Facebook or stories on Instagram will not help you reach your goals, including a toned body! In your free time try yoga, which is good for the body and helps maintain a positive mindset ...
