Is Facebook your friend or your foe?
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Photo: AJC1
Photo: Wernerslave
Is Facebook your friend or your foe? Social networks have become an essential part of students’ day to day life. They are the perfect communication tool, and can lead to job offers, but there is a darker side to living online as Samantha Booth reports.
S
One report found that the brain scans of heavy social media users had similar brain changes that occur with alcoholics and drug users. Social media has since been labelled the ‘new’ cocaine.
The study, Different Psychological Impacts of Internet Exposure on Internet Addicts, suggested that young people have increased negative moods after they stopped surfing the net. Has Mark Zuckerberg created a site more addictive than harmful substances? Similar studies have found that Facebook and Twitter are more addictive than tobacco and alcohol.
But don’t worry: there are many good effects of Facebook as well. If used responsibly, your profile can increase your chances of getting hired. An employer browsing your Facebook profile for just 5-to-10 minutes can boost your likelihood of employment as they are more likely to trust what they see than the results of a personality survey that many companies require prospective workers to complete. The research, conducted by Northern Illinois University’s College of Business, found the five key traits employers look for online are: conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, emotional stability and openness. Facebook is also replacing cupid with its optional display of a relationship status. Research has shown that nearly 60 per cent of singles will add someone on Facebook after meeting them in person. The Lab42 survey found that if they like their Facebook profile, 25 per cent are likely to contact their new love interest via the site. Another effect of social networking is that it claims to improve users’ heart rates. Spending time on Facebook can help people relax and decrease stress levels, according to research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Milan. Contradicting previous studies, this found that Facebook’s success correlates to the specific positive mental and physical states users experience. •What are you views on the effects of Facebook on students? Email waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union. co.uk.
O you’re sitting there, about to start revision and BAM: the little (1) pops up on Facebook. Before you know it, you’re browsing through the photos of your sisters, brothers, friends, cousin, and doing what is commonly known as Facebook stalking, and chatting to numerous friends online. Facebook is known for its addictiveness. The need to be constantly up-to-date with friends’ posts, photos and likes is increasing and young people are actively aware of this. An increasing number of studies are showing that Facebook can have effects on mental health and a Facebook addiction is becoming psychologically recognised. One study from Society for Personality and Social Psychology recommended the perfect number of Facebook friends is 354. After this, users were found to become increasingly envious or depressed at the large amount of friend activity their news feed was showing. Another study by Brigham Young University suggested that those updating their Facebook status more than twice a day were more likely to be narcissists who seek out admiration and success. Studies at Swansea and Milan Universities found that young people who use the internet for an excessivelylong period can suffer similar withdrawal symptoms to substance mis-users.
Useful
Photo: OwenWBrown
The perfect number of Facebook friends is 354
Hooked
Photo: Shawn Campbell
addic ted to adding
features
Photo: AJC1
Photo: Wernerslave
Is Facebook your friend or your foe? Social networks have become an essential part of students’ day to day life. They are the perfect communication tool, and can lead to job offers, but there is a darker side to living online as Samantha Booth reports.
S
One report found that the brain scans of heavy social media users had similar brain changes that occur with alcoholics and drug users. Social media has since been labelled the ‘new’ cocaine.
The study, Different Psychological Impacts of Internet Exposure on Internet Addicts, suggested that young people have increased negative moods after they stopped surfing the net. Has Mark Zuckerberg created a site more addictive than harmful substances? Similar studies have found that Facebook and Twitter are more addictive than tobacco and alcohol.
But don’t worry: there are many good effects of Facebook as well. If used responsibly, your profile can increase your chances of getting hired. An employer browsing your Facebook profile for just 5-to-10 minutes can boost your likelihood of employment as they are more likely to trust what they see than the results of a personality survey that many companies require prospective workers to complete. The research, conducted by Northern Illinois University’s College of Business, found the five key traits employers look for online are: conscientiousness, agreeableness, extraversion, emotional stability and openness. Facebook is also replacing cupid with its optional display of a relationship status. Research has shown that nearly 60 per cent of singles will add someone on Facebook after meeting them in person. The Lab42 survey found that if they like their Facebook profile, 25 per cent are likely to contact their new love interest via the site. Another effect of social networking is that it claims to improve users’ heart rates. Spending time on Facebook can help people relax and decrease stress levels, according to research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Milan. Contradicting previous studies, this found that Facebook’s success correlates to the specific positive mental and physical states users experience. •What are you views on the effects of Facebook on students? Email waterfrontfeatures@swansea-union. co.uk.
O you’re sitting there, about to start revision and BAM: the little (1) pops up on Facebook. Before you know it, you’re browsing through the photos of your sisters, brothers, friends, cousin, and doing what is commonly known as Facebook stalking, and chatting to numerous friends online. Facebook is known for its addictiveness. The need to be constantly up-to-date with friends’ posts, photos and likes is increasing and young people are actively aware of this. An increasing number of studies are showing that Facebook can have effects on mental health and a Facebook addiction is becoming psychologically recognised. One study from Society for Personality and Social Psychology recommended the perfect number of Facebook friends is 354. After this, users were found to become increasingly envious or depressed at the large amount of friend activity their news feed was showing. Another study by Brigham Young University suggested that those updating their Facebook status more than twice a day were more likely to be narcissists who seek out admiration and success. Studies at Swansea and Milan Universities found that young people who use the internet for an excessivelylong period can suffer similar withdrawal symptoms to substance mis-users.
Useful
Photo: OwenWBrown
The perfect number of Facebook friends is 354
Hooked
Photo: Shawn Campbell
