THE FACEBOOK EFFECT: BENEFITS AND RISKS OF SOCIAL NETWORKING
fear of intimacy In the age of social media, one can
hardly finish a conversation with another individual without the other or
oneself indiscreetly checking their smartphone. This scenario has become
commonplace in everyday interactions, even in older generations, and begs the
question “Is checking your Facebook mid-conversation keeping you socially
connected or disconnecting you from relationships?” While many argue that such
actions have taken the concept of rude to whole new level, many feel that
staying constantly socially connected via Facebook and Twitter is unavoidable
and perhaps even necessary in today’s society.
As social media sites are becoming ever-prominent in
cultures around the world, studies are constantly coming out regarding the
benefits and risks of these sites. mainly Facebook. Each study reporting a
potential benefit seems to be equally matched by a study finding a liability to
staying socially connected, making it hard to determine if Facebook and other
sites are aversive or beneficial to mental health. A recent article by Ashley
Day catalogued some of the major studies surrounding Facebook and pinned the
benefits versus risks of Facebook. Researched benefits included one study by
Cornell University that correlated Facebook updating to increases in
self-esteem. Additionally, researchers at other universities found that
Facebook could be used by individuals to strengthen friendships and overcome
shyness or isolation. On the other hand, one study recently published by
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), described Facebook depression, a
condition that results when adolescents spend too much time on social media
sites. Other negative consequences listed in the article include the triggering
of eating disorders in adolescent females as well as the deterioration and
conflict in marriages.
With countless studies being published regarding the
potential benefits and risks of social media sites, it’s difficult to determine
whether using Facebook or Twitter is good or bad for your mental health, relationships,
and self-esteem. Taking all things into consideration, it’s important to
determine your individual use of social networking and decide how it affects
you personally. From there, monitor how you use social networking, when and how
often you use it, and why you use it. You may find that regulating your social
networking use makes you happier on a day-to-day basis and may even save your
friendships or possibly your marriage.