Why Facebook is making people unhappy

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://news.yahoo.com/feeling-sad-facebook-could-cause-180318638--abc-news.html

Facebook: Friends' Happy Pictures Make You Sad?

By Matthew Rosenbaum | ABC News – 15 hrs ago

There are plenty of reasons to feel down in today's fast-paced, hectic world, and you wouldn't think that the world's most popular social networking site would be one of them. But that's exactly what a new study by Utah Valley University has found.

According to the study, Facebook is making us sad. Why? It's all about the kinds of pictures people to post on their pages.

Facebook photos generally depict smiling, cheerful people having good times, conveying a sense of happiness. Of course everyone likes to smile for the camera, so that good cheer may be inflated or false. As others view the photos, they may believe this conveyed sense of intense happiness is real, making them think that their friends are much happier than they are.

Sociologists Hui-Tzu Grace Chou and Nicholas Edge said they interviewed 425 students, asking them whether they agreed or disagreed with such statements as "Many of my friends have a better life than me," and "Life is fair."

They also asked about the students' Facebook usage, including how many "friends" they had on the site, and how many of those friends were really people they knew.

After controlling for race, gender, religious beliefs and whether the volunteers were unattached or in a relationship, the researchers saw a pattern: The more time students spent on Facebook, the more they thought others had it better than they did.

"Those who have used Facebook longer agreed more that others were happier, and agreed less that life is fair, and those spending more time on Facebook each week agreed more that others were happier and had better lives," wrote Chou and Edge. "Furthermore, those that included more people whom they did not personally know as their Facebook "friends" agreed more that others had better lives."

The study, which was published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, also found that people who spent less time socializing with friends in cyberspace and more time socializing with them in real life were less likely to report they were unhappy.

So if you are looking for a way to cheer yourself up, the researchers say you may do well to log off Facebook. Call your best friend instead.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am happy. I do not use Facebook. It would appear that it has no affect on my happiness. If anyone allows Facebook to affect their happiness they need serious help

[Penguin_ie 5,986]

G+ FTW!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

G+ FTW!

I have Google+ but I haven't played with it enough to get all the ins and outs of it. It was difficult enough getting the older folks in the family to sign up on Myspace back in the day, and then we had to talk them into switching to Facebook. I'm afraid of what it would be like now to talk them into switching one more time.

I do like the using the Picasa photo album on Google+. Picasa has to be about the best free photo program out there. Iv'e used it for years now and it just keeps getting better with each and every update.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

I'm not on Facebook and I don't have any friends. I hate people.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I'm not on Facebook and I don't have any friends. I hate people.

Shhh! Don't give away your secrets for true happiness. Sell an App for that!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I'm not on Facebook and I don't have any friends. I hate people.

That's what happens when your a Pats fan. Don't worry it could be worse, you could be a Steelers fan. People spit on them.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

That's what happens when your a Pats fan. Don't worry it could be worse, you could be a Steelers fan. People spit on them.

Hopefully I'll be a happy Pats fan around 6:30 or so tomorrow night.

[mounir412 101]

I rarely use facebook

[Susita 175]

I use Facebook, I like keeping in touch with our friends & family in Peru, and all over the U.S./world. It's pretty cool.

However, it's common knowledge that some people go out of their way on Facebook to either: brag about how awesome their life is or complain about how sucky it is. It's all a ploy for attention.

[sachinky 464]

I use Facebook too. I was a freshman in 2005 and it was the cool thing to do in college. However, now with the inclusion of aunties and grandmothers, it has become hideous. I prefer to use my blog or twitter.

I will agree with Susita's assessment. It's one extreme or the other. Either they are posting pictures of their new car/house/baby/vacation or complaining about being on unemployment.

[Susita 175]

I will agree with Susita's assessment. It's one extreme or the other. Either they are posting pictures of their new car/house/baby/vacation or complaining about being on unemployment.

My babies are pretty cute though It's mostly for my extended family, friends who live far away, my in-laws and everybody in Peru, though. Sure beats printing pictures and mailing them. It's cheaper too!

Skype is also the coolest thing ever invented. My 2-year old got to chit chat in jibberish babytalk with her abuela over the weekend.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

My babies are pretty cute though It's mostly for my extended family, friends who live far away, my in-laws and everybody in Peru, though. Sure beats printing pictures and mailing them. It's cheaper too!

Skype is also the coolest thing ever invented. My 2-year old got to chit chat in jibberish babytalk with her abuela over the weekend.

+1 for the picture thing. Like you pointed out....instead of having to print and mail those suckers like back in the day, now you can just post them and have relatives grab them off the net.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

My babies are pretty cute though It's mostly for my extended family, friends who live far away, my in-laws and everybody in Peru, though. Sure beats printing pictures and mailing them. It's cheaper too!

Yes! Even family members who usually aren't online (grandparents) get to see the photos thanks to aunts and uncles and cousins passing them on.

[X Factor 1,110]

If happiness depends on FB then prepare to be unhappy. Happiness is from within you and not something external. Selfish people are usually not happy. Happiness comes from giving of oneself in various ways.