Stay Positive this Holiday Season: Stop Lurking!

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Holidays got you down? If you’ve found yourself spending hours scrolling through the endless feeds of Facebook and Twitter, social media could be one culprit behind your misery.

The BBC reports that a new University of Copenhagen suggests that seeing an abundance of “perfect” families, faces, and holiday festivities could trigger envy and feelings of isolation. It makes sense that when you’re feeling low and alone, seeing so much togetherness from a distance could make you feel even worse.

The study, which had more than 1,000 participants, particularly noted this effect when users are “lurking” on social media – simply taking all the information in without interacting or connecting with anyone.

The conclusion? “[R]egular use of social networking such as Facebook can negatively affect your emotional well-being and satisfaction with life.”

But these days, everyone is so plugged into social media that not partaking at all might also make people feel isolated. The researchers suggest some simple solutions: being more of an “active” user and engaging with others; and unplugging from social media when possible.

In fact, the study suggests that actively engaging with others will create a much more positive experience for users; so, if you’re not ready to take a break, consider changing your usage habits instead.

If limiting your time on social media seems like the best solution, consider taking an entire week off. Alternatively, try uninstalling social media apps from your phone and only checking Facebook once per day for a limited period. Not only could this help your mood, but it also might help you be more productive and less distracted at work or school!

It’s also important to note that many social media users tend to share only their happiest moments, best pictures, and envy-inducing events. Comparing your everyday life with someone else’s top highlights is an unrealistic comparison to make—it’s enough to make anyone envious! Remember that no one’s life is quite the same as it looks on the outside.

Have you ever experienced the “deterioration of mood” that this new study suggests? What have you found to be the best solution?

Facebook Funk

Facebook got you in a funk? You're not alone.
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Feeling a like you’re in a funk lately? New research points to Facebook as a potential instigator of the blues. A study out of the University of Michigan claims that the more time people spend on the social network, the worse they feel about their own lives—no matter how supportive or large their network is.

After just two weeks of using Facebook, the funk set in. Moods grew more morose as minutes ticked by. “We were able to show on a moment-to-moment basis throughout the day how people’s moods fluctuated depending on their Facebook usage,” said Ethan Kross, who is the social psychologist who led the project.

Facebook can decrease feelings of well-being.
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Kross’s study certainly isn’t the first to indicate that drumming away on social media can darken moods quickly. But if you work hard to make sure your network is filled with supportive family and friends that you can be more involved with at the click of a “Like” button, how can that be harmful?

We can gain self-affirmation by looking at our own profiles, but let’s be honest—how often do we actually do that? I know I only take a quick gander when I’m looking for a particular post someone left or checking up to see whether I remembered to post something. Far more of my time—and yours, I’m betting—is spent looking at others’ profiles and our news feed.

It feels good to be engaged with others, even if they’re far away, and some studies suggest that networks like Facebook actually increase life satisfaction. But other studies look at the darker side of social media, the one that leaves us feeling less satisfied, worse about ourselves, and not so great about our lives.

Kross’s study was the first to look at usage of Facebook over time. The end result suggested that online communication and face-to-face interaction have a linear relationship. As the two increased, the feeling of well-being decreased, leaving users feeling worse off.

“The negative effect of Facebook use on happiness became more pronounced the more you interacted with other people within that time frame,” said Kross. “It’s very likely that there are going to be a multitude of mechanisms that explain this effect.” Basically, more research still needs to be done.

What are your thoughts? Have you experienced the Facebook Funk? Or does using the social network uplift your mood and increase your satisfaction? Me? I’m an everything in moderation kind of gal.