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Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

english.tau.ac.il

11–20 of 263 posts

Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#11
post #4

From all my digital addictions, FB is the one I have most under control. I have to do a lot of blocking but the reality is that I can now say I do enjoy Facebook. My timeline is filled with content I meticulously have curated:Woodworking, Baking, Canoeing, Startups, Beekeeping, Jeeps. But... it shouldn't take all this work to enjoy it.

I use FB in that same way. Nearly all of my "friends" are muted and most of the content is from pages and groups I have chosen. But it does feel like I'm fighting the platform to make it work in a way that works for me. God forbid they should empower the user instead of perpetually trying to squeeze more blood from the stone.

>But it does feel like I'm fighting the platform

I couldn't agree more.

Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#12
post #5

Facebook was just the beginning. It feels crude almost in comparison to the new generation of designer drugs (TikTok et. al).

I fear to imagine what the next iteration will be. Probably someone, somewhere is already working on it.

Maybe the AI will also generate personalized content instead of only recommending it?

Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#13
I'd like to see similar study about the original gateway drug: "24-hour News Channels", which was followed by "24-hour Outrage-News Channels". Seems like we've been building toward this, the interactivity of the internet was the paradigm shift (to use a 90's term). EDIT: I realize it isn't news messing with youths' self-esteem (well, in some cases it is), but it is related in that the media is custom-made to drive engagement at all costs.

Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#15

I don’t get why Facebook is so often singled out in these types of studies. What about other activities like dating or school or going to church? I bet those can be shown to increase anxiety and be bad for mental health

One of those is not like the rest.

Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#16

I don’t get why Facebook is so often singled out in these types of studies. What about other activities like dating or school or going to church? I bet those can be shown to increase anxiety and be bad for mental health

https://medium.com/catholic-way-home/the-only-group-to-see-m...

Heh. The religious were the only group to see improved mental health during 2020.

Also, you are right that it should be social media. Nothing special about Facebook.

Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#18

I don’t get why Facebook is so often singled out in these types of studies. What about other activities like dating or school or going to church? I bet those can be shown to increase anxiety and be bad for mental health

Most in-person social activity is good for your mental health. Studies show this includes church: https://www.npr.org/2019/11/05/776270553/hidden-brain-does-g... Facebook is singled out because they are the largest practitioner of surveillance capitalism. The entire idea of “optimizing for engagement,” where Facebook has been a pioneer and the largest player, is increasingly being shown to be a primary driver of poli…

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Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#19

I don’t get why Facebook is so often singled out in these types of studies. What about other activities like dating or school or going to church? I bet those can be shown to increase anxiety and be bad for mental health

Probably because it is the place most likely to be where you watch your friends live their apparently perfect lives without also being able to see their failings. Facebook is not the only place that provides that type of thing, but brand recognition in the headline draws attention.

Real life isn't without its own flaws, but the research shows an increase in mental health issues when social media is a factor. That increase is interesting, and worth studying, even if it is not the only place one can develop mental health issues.

Re: Facebook proven to negatively impact mental health

#20
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most in-person social activity is good for your mental health. Studies show this includes church: https://www.npr.org/2019/11/05/776270553/hidden-brain-does-g... Facebook is singled out because they are the largest practitioner of surveillance capitalism. The entire idea of “optimizing for engagement,” where Facebook has been a pioneer and the largest player, is increasingly being shown to be a primary driver of poli…

Quoted post unavailable.

Have you actually been to a church? The options are wide and vast.
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