Recently on some show on TV I heard the host say that facebook is leading people into depression. This is due to comparison of ones life with that of friends and family via facebook.
Now, one can understand this scenario by observing the age old obsession of civilians with celebrities. Seeing their photographs, obsessed with the 'Kodak moments', envying their life through their pictures, believing that a photo is the reality of their life. When obviously it's not, even though many of us believe so, we do end up, comparing our lives to that of celebrities, who themselves are not the most satisfied people on earth.
I understand the facebook depression phenomenon in the same light. Pictures of friends years after school with a huge group of new friends, a new partner, a new life, all spoken through these photos very proudly displayed in their profile. It doesn't just end there, one is unconsciously forced to also regularly update their profile with pics to show that they too have a life. This also leads to obsessive photo taking, and the anxiousness to upload them before anyone else, or to update their friends asap. Then comes the comparing every small detail of life with that of others. People who're not that into photo taking are now compelled to because of facebook. In fact I'm sure many may not even touch their cams for a month if it weren't to update others on their lives.
This photo screening obsession may be the cause of depression for some for others it may just be the info, that someone they knew is now richer than they are, or seemingly happier than they are, ones hopes and once future plans not coming true etc.
As natural as it is for one to compare and judge others, it's not healthy.obviously, as fun and useful as it is, facebook is not any angel from the sky. We humans fail to understand and realise the effect of certain things on our mental health until it's too late.
Lets be happy facebooking, and use it for what it is. The reality of everyones life is known only by them, everything else is a facade.
Now, one can understand this scenario by observing the age old obsession of civilians with celebrities. Seeing their photographs, obsessed with the 'Kodak moments', envying their life through their pictures, believing that a photo is the reality of their life. When obviously it's not, even though many of us believe so, we do end up, comparing our lives to that of celebrities, who themselves are not the most satisfied people on earth.
I understand the facebook depression phenomenon in the same light. Pictures of friends years after school with a huge group of new friends, a new partner, a new life, all spoken through these photos very proudly displayed in their profile. It doesn't just end there, one is unconsciously forced to also regularly update their profile with pics to show that they too have a life. This also leads to obsessive photo taking, and the anxiousness to upload them before anyone else, or to update their friends asap. Then comes the comparing every small detail of life with that of others. People who're not that into photo taking are now compelled to because of facebook. In fact I'm sure many may not even touch their cams for a month if it weren't to update others on their lives.
This photo screening obsession may be the cause of depression for some for others it may just be the info, that someone they knew is now richer than they are, or seemingly happier than they are, ones hopes and once future plans not coming true etc.
As natural as it is for one to compare and judge others, it's not healthy.obviously, as fun and useful as it is, facebook is not any angel from the sky. We humans fail to understand and realise the effect of certain things on our mental health until it's too late.
Lets be happy facebooking, and use it for what it is. The reality of everyones life is known only by them, everything else is a facade.
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