Live data from Hacker News

Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

bbc.com

1–10 of 224 posts

Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

#3

> A recent Oxford Internet Institute study also found there was “little association” between social media use and mental health in teenagers. I thought bbc used to be a credible news source. When did they stop being so?

The name of the actual study is 'There Is No Evidence That Associations Between Adolescents’ Digital Technology Engagement and Mental Health Problems Have Increased'[1].

I also personally feel like its incorrect based on my own experience, but the OII for now says that there is 'little evidence', although 'drawing firm conclusions about changes in their associations with mental health may be premature'

[1]-https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2167702621994549

Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

#4

> A recent Oxford Internet Institute study also found there was “little association” between social media use and mental health in teenagers. I thought bbc used to be a credible news source. When did they stop being so?

This seems to be some kind of mistake, yes.

Having a look at what younger relatives are doing for likes and how important recognition and appreciation by friends in social media is for them, I find it hard to believe that there's "little association" when things don't go as planned.

Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

#5

> A recent Oxford Internet Institute study also found there was “little association” between social media use and mental health in teenagers. I thought bbc used to be a credible news source. When did they stop being so?

I can’t tell if it’s the BBC or perhaps just me getting older (and wiser, or dumber depending on your perspective) but I’d say the BBC has got worse over the last 5 years or so. It’s usually not factually incorrect, but I’ve definitely noticed the story selection and emotive language choice doesn’t seem neutral to me. I can tolerate non-neutral news outlets I guess, but what I dislike is one that purports to be neutral and takes tax payer money for it.

Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

#6
post #4

> A recent Oxford Internet Institute study also found there was “little association” between social media use and mental health in teenagers. I thought bbc used to be a credible news source. When did they stop being so?

This seems to be some kind of mistake, yes. Having a look at what younger relatives are doing for likes and how important recognition and appreciation by friends in social media is for them, I find it hard to believe that there's "little association" when things don't go as planned.

Young people have pretty much always optimised for the recognition and appreciation of their friends though. It’s just more visible to adults now, which is probably a good thing.

Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

#8
post #4

> A recent Oxford Internet Institute study also found there was “little association” between social media use and mental health in teenagers. I thought bbc used to be a credible news source. When did they stop being so?

This seems to be some kind of mistake, yes. Having a look at what younger relatives are doing for likes and how important recognition and appreciation by friends in social media is for them, I find it hard to believe that there's "little association" when things don't go as planned.

> Having a look at what younger relatives are doing for likes and how important recognition and appreciation by friends in social media is for them, I find it hard to believe that there's "little association" when things don't go as planned.

But...that’s how older generations have always responded to what younger people do for social approval, and older people interpreting what they see that way as a precipitous decline since their own youth is one of the oldest clichés possibly as old as civilization.

> I find it hard to believe that there's "little association" when things don't go as planned.

Maybe, but maybe that is just as true independent of digital engagement.

Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

#9

> A recent Oxford Internet Institute study also found there was “little association” between social media use and mental health in teenagers. I thought bbc used to be a credible news source. When did they stop being so?

The title of the BBC article [1] that references the study:

> Teens, tech and mental health: Oxford study finds no link

What the study actually says, according to the same article:

> We couldn't tell the difference between social-media impact and mental health in 2010 and 2019, [..]

> [..] the connection is not getting stronger.

Hence, the title is an obvious lie. (likely to get more clicks, push a certain agenda, or both)

Having a title contradicting the contents of the article has become extremely common these days. Unfortunately, it's also very common for people to only read the headlines (does anyone know the stats on this?), and I'm sure media outlets are fully aware of that.

Hence, I would argue that articles with titles like these should be classified the same was as false information, and fought against accordingly. It's not enough to "clarify" the meaning in the article, when the title - the false claim - is all what most people take away (and disseminate further).

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56970368

Re: Instagram lets users hide likes to reduce social media pressure

#10
Even with positive intentions, I'm not convinced this will solve the problem in any meaningful way. Turning off likes might be perceived as someone being unhappy with their social media status relative to their peers (ie, not getting as many 'likes' as their friends), which signals its own stigma.

Users will be forced into a new dilemma: Enable likes and accept the 'social media pressure', or announce to everyone that they harbor some sort of insecurity about their social media status by turning them off.

Post reply on HN