I have been wanting to do some research on the emotional/psychological effects of using Facebook, as well as seeing if there are any correlations between these factors and things such as gender, relationship status, number of min/hours of daily Facebook usage. I started thinking of this research idea when I realized that not many people post up images of negative portions of their lives, nor do they usually post up daily statuses about life being miserable. You would think that after viewing status after status (thank you News Feed) of smiling faces in tropical places, messages between significant others, relationship status changes, and promotions/new jobs/new baby/new dog/new car/new everything, it would start to take a toll on people. Facebook, while having many positive features and useful functions for sharing and learning about friends and family, can also pose a negative effect.
I had a conversation with a good friend earlier this year about Facebook. We had decided that no one wants to document the negatives in their lives. Even on a daily basis, we're not whipping out our cameras to document having a fight, having a bad hair day, losing a job, a friend, girlfriend, boyfriend, etc. We don't want people knowing that we're not doing well. In some ways, there is often shame that comes along with having to admit that we're not perfect and that we have experienced failure/disappointment, so instead we share our accomplishments. And through Facebook, we choose to accentuate those positives through uploading pictures and statuses in hopes that the next time we sign in there will be a large count of "thumbs up" icons as people show approval of our life going well. There is nothing wrong with sharing your accomplishments. In fact, one of the psychologies/counseling strategies that I pride myself in focusing on is positive psychology/positive regard, meaning helping a student/client realize and focus on all the things they do well and all the things going well in their lives rather than dwelling on the negatives. In therapy, it gives the client a greater sense of self-esteem, as well as empowerment when he/she realizes that they are capable of succeeding. I guess, in a way, Facebook reflects this. I have had terrible days where I go on Facebook and look through old photos, reminisce, and end up feeling better afterwards. However, I feel like the amount of time spent on Facebook, for most individuals, is increasing. Especially given the easy access that is now available via smart phones - now you can check Facebook every minute of every day of your life, reception-permitting.
Continuous and frequent access to Facebook has the potential to give individuals the unrealistic notion that everyone but them have perfect lives. It has the potential to cause sadness in individuals in situations where they may be stuck in a rut, or having a bad day, and are exposed to reading all the fun things other people are doing and seeing pictures to visually prove their lives are great.
I am not, in any way, trying to say that I think people should stop making status updates, or picture posts, but just wanted to throw some ideas out there. But the next time you sign onto Facebook, there is nothing wrong with letting the world know that you are in fact "OMG I'm TOTALLY in love with the greatest man/woman in the whole wide world and am SO lucky!!!<3 <3 <3", nor is it wrong to share that picture of you and your group of friends having dinner at Macaroni Grill, but if you find a time where you're more of the viewer rather than the one posting, be assured that what people share on Facebook is just a limited view into their lives and that everything posted should be taken at face value (pun intended), more specifically - a small blue and white window into their lives...unless they have timeline and a cover photo.
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