Is Facebook making you depressed? Recent study finds link between Facebook and depression

The amount of time spent on Facebook could increase your chances of depression.

Researchers have discovered that Facebook users who spend more time in social media tend to compare their own lives from their friends', resulting into occurrence of depressive symptoms, according to a new study from the University of Houston. The danger lies in the time spent by users, looking at how their friends are doing, usually related to their achievements, resulting in feelings of being alone and isolated. However, the study does not say Facebook directly causes depression.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "It doesn't mean Facebook causes depression, but that depressed feelings and lots of time on Facebook and comparing oneself to others tend to go hand in hand," said Mai-Ly Steers, the lead researcher for the study.

"Seeing Everyone Else's Highlight Reels: How Facebook Usage is Linked to Depressive Symptoms" was published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology and talks of two studies made by Steers resulting with the same findings. Both investigations link the amount of time spent on Facebook to the symptoms through the concept of social comparison.

"Although social comparison processes have been examined at length in traditional contexts, the literature is only beginning to explore social comparisons in online social networking settings," said Steers.

Facebook enables people to share their lives online which also allows users to see information about their friends that they don't normally have access to. These posts are usually the highlights of their lives that makes others socially compare themselves and feel bad about their own lives, without realizing that most posts leave out the bad information.

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Steers explained that people already suffering from emotional difficulties who still spend more time on social media are particularly more vulnerable to displaying depressive symptoms. Social comparison via Facebook leads distressed people to feel alone and isolated, feeling more distant from their friends whom are seen as "living better."

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