Does Facebook affect our self-esteem?

With 1.11 billion users per month on average, Facebook has become a global phenomenon offering continual and direct communication with friends and family. Research into how social media websites define us socially and the influence that social media has on our personal welfare suggests that a lack of social participation on Facebook leads to people feeling less meaningful.

New research looked at how Facebook communication impacts on feelings of social belonging which in turn affects outlook on life; loneliness and self-worth. Researchers, led by Dr Stephanie Tobin, conducted two studies centred on passive Facebook participation, aiming to analyze how participants would feel when deliberately ‘snubbed’.

The first study looked at a group who frequently posted on Facebook. During the study half were actively posting participants and the other half passively observing friends’ statuses. The study revealed that not posting for two days had a negative impact on personal well-being.

In the second study, a group used anonymous bespoke accounts in a controlled space where participants were urged to post and to comment on others’ Facebook posts. Half of the group were unwittingly set up to receive no feedback. In both cases, participants were interviewed on their feelings of belonging, meaningful existence, self-esteem and control after the exercise. Both passive and shunned users experienced feelings of exclusion and felt ‘invisible’ and less important as individuals. Shunned users also experienced lower self-esteem and control.

Source: Science daily

N.H.Kh

 

You might also like
Latest news
Syria reaffirms its firm stance in support of the Palestinian people Exhibition of “Hungarian Orientalists in the East” at the National Museum in Damascus   Significant damage to bridges due to the Israeli aggression on the border crossings in the countrysi... With Syria's participation, the Sixth Arab Water Conference and the Arab Ministerial Water Council k... Iran calls for investigation into Zionist entity's crimes in Lebanon and Palestine Czech Green Party condemns Israeli heinous crimes against Palestinians in Gaza Strip Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister: "We call on the Israeli enemy to abide by the ceasefire deal" Arab Countries Welcome Ceasefire in Lebanon Palestinians injured in the occupation forces attack in a village east of Nablus Russian Coordination Center Provides Medical Aid to the National Hospital in Lattakia Activities of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Women, Peace and Security begin at the Arab Leagu... Berri: Lebanese people's awareness and solidarity enabled them to thwart the impacts of the Israeli ... 42 Martyrs and dozens of wounded as a result of the occupation's bombing of areas in Gaza Strip War war and more war War war and more war Al-Aghbani handicraft ... a Damascene story that toured the world and conveyed images of Syrian heri... Egypt and China welcome the announcement of ceasefire in Lebanon Beginning of rehabilitation works on the international road between Jdeidet Yabous crossing and the ... UNRWA warns: Hunger has reached critical levels in Gaza Strip and a ceasefire must be reached Media Office in Gaza: Number of martyred journalists in Gaza Strip has risen to 190