Is Facebook bad for our mental health and well-being?

Social networks, including Facebook, increase the risk of being exposed to ‘offensive behaviours and hate speech’, which could have a harmful effect on users’ mental wellbeing, a new study has warned. Scientists, including those from the Sapienza University of Rome, explored survey data from 50,000 people in 24,000 Italian households which looked at internet and social network use, as well as self-reported levels of happiness and self-esteem. They found that social networks may threaten subjective well-being by eroding a user’s trust in the rest of society with exposure to homophobic, racist or misogynistic content, ‘The Telegraph’ reported.

‘In online discussions with unknown others, individuals more easily indulge in aggressive and disrespectful behaviours,’ researchers said. ‘Online networks also are a fertile ground for spreading harmful, offensive, or controversial contents often lying at the verge between free speech and hate speech,’ they said. This hateful content can reduce the reader’s trust in others, and therefore have a detrimental effect on their own wellbeing. Social trust has been shown to be one of the strongest predictors of self-reported happiness in previous studies.

How is social media affecting us? Rachel Hercman, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) is a psychotherapist specializing in sexuality, dating, and relationships wrote for us how social media doesn’t paint the complete picture: ‘In my counselling work addressing relationship and sexual issues, I often encounter the impact of social media on one’s insecurities.  For some, it seems like everyone but them is enjoying a satisfying sex life and has a blissful, loving relationship without issues.  It’s hard to imagine that that couple down the block hasn’t had sex in months because of sexual dysfunction; after all, they seem to look so perfectly happy in their Facebook pictures.  Or that beautiful co-worker goes to bed depressed every night crying that she’s single, even though she’s always blogging about her constant flow of hot dates. Relationships are complicated and people are complicated, but there’s no disclaimer in social media reminding you that you are not seeing the real feelings and the real challenges.  Consequently, you see your friends’ lives on your timeline, compare their ‘outsides’ with your ‘insides’ and fear that you’re missing out on all the fun.’ Read more about how social media is affecting our relationships…

With inputs from PTI