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Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

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Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#101

Post by nearbuy »

goldcd wrote: post #90
detaro wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think everyone sees it as just a "children" issue - it's not like the topic doesn't come up when it's about adults. But children is the angle laws can hit the easiest, and it does hit an extra "think of the children" emotional spot. And mental health among adults is more of a taboo topic politically. So I think it is a mix.

To disagree, I don't think the topic does come up when discussing (voting) adults. Does your politican campaign on a policy that specifically sets out reduces self-harm or suicide in their adult electorate? "Let me be judged if I don't reduce suicides by 5% in my term!" No. Because that's not what we want to hear. We want to be left alone with our guns and alcohol, but by all means help me with my teenager listening…

The U.S. did ban alcohol once. It didn't go over well.

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#102

Post by azemetre »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #65
azemetre wrote: post #52

It's very odd, I use to use Instagram and it would make me depressed. IDK how to explain, I don't even have any friends on there I follow. Just something about seeing everyone at their best 100% of the time, doing amazing things 100% of the time, never facing adversity 100% of the time. I know it's not realistic but it still gets to your head. I uninstalled it from my phone I feel better about myself after a few week…

> IDK how to explain, I don't even have any friends on there I follow. Social media is best used for keeping in touch with friends and family. If you're just browsing popular photos from people you don't know, it's basically an interactive and targeted version of watching TV. We all grew up understanding that endless TV consumption is an unhealthy activity that we should minimize, but it has taken a while for the sam…

> Being addicted to anything is a massive trigger for depression, especially when it displaces productive activities and replaces them with sedentary consumption. If you can't use something without becoming addicted, it's best to not use it at all.

I know it sounds trite but I feel like social media today (or maybe all forms of media honestly) makes the barrier to ill-will extremely easy.

If you were a young adult (at least from what I'm told) in the 50s/60s/70s it was hard to be addicted to TV because it would literally go off the air at 11 pm (or midnight?). What happens after I watch a show on Netflix? It immediately plays the next one.

You couldn't get lost in extreme opinions because in order to see those extreme opinions you've had to of met an extreme person (on a soapbox with xeroxes so I've been told), you wouldn't run into 100s of them as you do when going onto FB, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, tik tok, etc.

How can I as an individual compete with billion dollar companies that literally hire neuroscientists/psychologists to make something as addictive as possible?

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#103

Post by jVinc »

avl999 wrote: post #92

If Facebook were to just disappear tomorrow all of humanity would be better off. I am not saying it would solve all our problems but I think it gives such a boost to humanity in so many spheres that it instantly pushes us on a much more positive trajectory.

If we're talking about general good, I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would pick Facebook as "the thing" to disappear. I mean aside from the idealistic candidates like Wars or Guns, what about cigarettes, alcohol or all the other drugs that are widely used, have clear connections to depression and most of which will also literally kill you if overused? I really doubt getting rid of Facebook would do the world more good than any of those candidates. But of cause freedom of choice and let each pick their own poisen etc.

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#104

Post by f430 »

azemetre wrote: post #52

It's very odd, I use to use Instagram and it would make me depressed. IDK how to explain, I don't even have any friends on there I follow. Just something about seeing everyone at their best 100% of the time, doing amazing things 100% of the time, never facing adversity 100% of the time. I know it's not realistic but it still gets to your head. I uninstalled it from my phone I feel better about myself after a few week…

You are using it wrong. I use it to scout models and vulnerable insecure girls

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#105

Post by 6gvONxR4sf7o »

tunesmith wrote: post #26

Has there been any further detail on what about social media is linked to depression? For instance, with Facebook, is it more because of the ads? Or is it more because of the engagement algorithms? Or, would it happen even if Facebook were just a reverse-chronological feed, populated only by your chosen friends, with zero advertising?

> "Basically all of the things that would contribute to these platforms being healthier for people to use, which is basically spend less time, don't follow strangers, don't spend time passively scrolling through this random feed that's being suggested to you," Hunt says. "That completely undermines their whole business model."

From the article. Sorta gets at what you're asking.

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#106

Post by goldcd »

nearbuy wrote: post #101
goldcd wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To disagree, I don't think the topic does come up when discussing (voting) adults. Does your politican campaign on a policy that specifically sets out reduces self-harm or suicide in their adult electorate? "Let me be judged if I don't reduce suicides by 5% in my term!" No. Because that's not what we want to hear. We want to be left alone with our guns and alcohol, but by all means help me with my teenager listening…

The U.S. did ban alcohol once. It didn't go over well.

and I believe it did reduce suicide rates.

I think if I had to summarize, voters will vote to give themselves choices (however harmful) - whilst patting themselves on the back for voting to restrict others for their own protection.

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#107

Post by [deleted] »

f430 wrote: post #104
azemetre wrote: post #52

It's very odd, I use to use Instagram and it would make me depressed. IDK how to explain, I don't even have any friends on there I follow. Just something about seeing everyone at their best 100% of the time, doing amazing things 100% of the time, never facing adversity 100% of the time. I know it's not realistic but it still gets to your head. I uninstalled it from my phone I feel better about myself after a few week…

You are using it wrong. I use it to scout models and vulnerable insecure girls

[deleted]

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#108

Post by nineplay »

Possibly there's more out there, but the evidence presented in the article is frankly pretty poor. I'd call it "inconclusive" if they asked me.

A couple of studies referenced

https://news.uark.edu/articles/55480/increased-social-media-...

This one is not limited to Facebook it includes reddit on the list of "social media" sites. I think reddit's one of the most depressing places on the internet so I wouldn't be quick to point the finger at FB here.

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/...

This study looks at all screen time including playing video games and watching TV. It's not very useful for making a case against Facebook

Re: Researchers, lawmakers want Facebook's mental health research

#110

Post by goldcd »

detaro wrote: post #71
goldcd wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. It must be social media. Teenagers were previously well known for being bundles of joy. And for thanking their parents for imposing rules. Still, good to know that you were right and she knows this now.

fwiw, this comment also isn't really in the spirit of the "open discussion" you miss.

Agreed - I was being a dick.
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