Takes on Social Media

I remember not-so patiently waiting for the day my mom would allow me to make my own Facebook profile. When I first got a Facebook it was new and exciting. Now, it’s apart of my daily routine. I check it everyday, multiple times a day, to stay involved with my family, friends and news in my home town.  I often wonder though, if social media is having a negative effect on my life and well-being.  

One article I read cited social media as the key factor in the amount of stress people have in their lives. On social media platforms, users are keen to present themselves in the best light possible.  When we see nothing but the highlights of peoples lives, there is a pressure that forms. We can’t keep the positive and negative in our lives in perspective and it causes us to stress. The more we pay attention to our friends’ activities, tastes and possessions, the more stress we report in our lives.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-dick/social-networks-and-stress_b_3534170.html?utm_hp_ref=social-networking

Despite the fact that viewing people’s lives out of context can prove to be a stresser on our lives, social media is also proven to reduce loneliness.  In this article, a team at the University of Arizona organized a study on how a person’s volume of Facebook use effects his or her perception of connection to friends, family and the rest of the world.  They found that people who use Facebook more often feel more closely connected to their real lives. You can watch the interview here of the the Professor who headed the experiment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/facebook-loneliness_n_3839003.html?utm_hp_ref=social-networking

My First Profile Picture

February 2008

My Profile Picture Now

June 2014

In the long run, you can see that Facebook is just about like any other fun filled past-time.  It’s great and even good for you, but it’s good to keep the right mindset and take everything in moderation.