Facebook Use May Undermine Subjective Well-Being in Young Adults

A new study by a team of University of Michigan researchers suggests that while Facebook may fulfill the need for connection, it may also undermine subjective well-being in the process.  The goal of the study was to examine how interacting with Facebook influences how people feel (“affective” well-being) and how satisfied they are with their lives (“cognitive” well-being)--the two components of subjective well-being.  Participants completed a set of questionnaires (Satisfaction with Life questionnaire (SWLS), Beck Depression Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale,  Social Provision Scale, and Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale) at the beginning and again at the end of the study period, and received text messages five times a day for 14 days.  The text messages occurred at random times during the day and contained a link to an online, 5-question survey: (1) How do you feel right now? (2) How worried are you right now? (3) How lonely do you feel right now? (4) How much have you used Facebook since the last time we asked? (5) How much have you interacted with other people “directly” since the last time we asked?

The results show that, unlike direct social contact, Facebook use is associated with a decline in both affective and cognitive well-being.  The precise mechanisms that underlie this relationship are unknown, but the researchers speculate that online social networking may "trigger damaging social comparisons.  [This] is particularly interesting in light of the significant interaction we observed between direct social contact and Facebook use in this study—i.e., the more people interacted with other people directly, the more strongly Facebook use predicted declines in their affective well-being. If harmful social comparisons explain how Facebook use predicts declines in affective well-being, it is possible that interacting with other people directly either enhances the frequency of such comparisons or magnifies their emotional impact."

Read more:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0069841

When Mom and Dad Become Big Brother

The Pew Internet & American Life Project released new findings on parental monitoring of teenage children's internet activity. According to Pew, "more than three-quarters (77%) of parents say that they have checked to see what websites their child has visited." Pew also found that "two-thirds of parents of online teens have checked to see what information was available online about their child."
More parents check a child's internet activity now than in 2006, when the figure stood at 65%. Pew writes: "White parents of online teens (83%) are more likely to check the websites of their browsing teens than black parents (75%) or Latino parents (64%). Parents in higher-income households and those with at least a high school diploma are also more likely than others to check up on their teen’s online travels."

Additionally, Mothers who use the internet (75%) are more likely than fathers (55%) to say they check information on their children on the internet. Further, "higher-income parents are more likely to do this than those who live in households with more modest incomes." White and black parents are more likely to report doing so than Latino parents, and parents with higher levels of education are also more likely to research their teenage child's "digital reputation." The percentage of parents of girls aged 14-17 (72%) researching their child's internet reputation far exceeds the 55% of parents who research information on younger sons' internet reputations.39% of parents are friends or connected with their children on social networking sites, but Pew found that this connection comes with an increased likelihood of parent-child conflict. "Teens whose parents report that they are friends with their child on social network sites are more likely than teens who aren’t friends with their parents to say that they had a problem with their parents because of an experience on social media (18% vs. 5%)."

Are Social Networking Sites Beneficial to Our Well-being?

Social networking sites are becoming very popular all over the world, connecting people to past friends, new acquaintances and even starting revolutions. In a survey by the Pew Research Center, they take a look at the changing face of social relationships and how they are affected by social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace. When these types of sites first came on the scene, the majority of users were pretty young. Those ages 23-35 still make up the majority of users, but the composition of these online communities is starting to shift and now includes many more people who are middle aged or older.

Another interesting finding is how social networking sites are changing the way people relate and interact with each other, including how many close friends they have, how their friends are supporting them emotionally, and how trusting they are. Those who use the Internet, mobile phones, and social networking sites are more likely to trust others than those who don't use the Internet at all. They also discovered that Facebook users have an average of 9% more close friends, and scored higher when asked how much they receive emotional support, companionship, and instrumental aid. They are also much more likely to be involved in political activities such as attending rallies and persuading others to vote.

sr cf