The Social Networking Sickness: Studies Suggest Social Networking Sites May Lead to Feelings of Loneliness, Depression, or even Lack of Self Worth

New studies introduce the idea that young adults who frequently use friend networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can correlate with feelings of depression, loneliness, and lack of self worth. Although it is not a proven fact that over consuming social networking sites does cause depression, there is evidence that social networking usage can result in teens showing signs of depression.

According to an article in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, the first social networking site originated in 1997. Although it did take time for social networking sites to grow, it did reach it's peaking point around 2003 (Myspace) and accelerated even more rapidly with the release of Facebook in 2006. As these sites expanded, so did the concerns. Could such a frequent immersion into friend networking sites be beneficial or harmful to today's youth mental health?

• Researchers have found that with increased usage Facebook can lead to declining levels of life satisfaction due to self comparison with others; otherwise known as "Facebook Depression" 

Facebook depression has been defined as a depression that develops when a person spends an excessive amount of time on social media sites and starts to develop signs of depression. The study found that "The more people used Facebook at one time point, the worse they felt the next time we text-messaged them; the more they used Facebook over two-weeks, the more their life satisfaction levels declined over time. Interacting with other people “directly” did not predict these negative outcomes. They were also not moderated by the size of people's Facebook networks, their perceived supportiveness, motivation for using Facebook, gender, loneliness, self-esteem, or depression. On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection. Rather than enhancing well-being, however, these findings suggest that Facebook may undermine it." The more frequently people found themselves using Facebook, the more discontent they came. 

The problem with users that frequently use Facebook is the consistent exposure to other peoples lives and most of the time not even consciously knowing one is comparing oneself with another. A survey conducted between 32 University of Maryland students only enhanced the reason to believe that people mostly use social media too see what others are doing. Out of 32 students, 28 percent of the students claimed they use social media to follow up on what others are doing. Zero students reported to use it just for communication, while 72 percent of the group said they use it for both. Another 63 percent of the students admitted to comparing themselves with others when using social networks. Multiple students also responded with the answer "hurting self confidence" and "self comparison" when asked what are the risks that partake in engaging yourself with social networking.   

According to Professor Julia Felton, Ph.D Director, Master's in Clinical Psychological Science at the University of Maryland, depression is associated with self comparison with others; she also find that depression is an increasing common case within youth today because many changes personal changes happen within a adolescent's life. 

• Cyber bulling, and Sexting on social networks have played a huge part in causing depression and lack of self worth due to harassment and cruel words by users 

Cyber bullying has also been an additional issue found within social networking usage today. According to the PEW Research Center, "95% of social media-using teens who have witnessed cruel behavior on social networking sites say they have seen others ignoring the mean behavior; 55% witness this frequently." Hundreds and thousands young adults are tormented and even lead to suicide due to this issue. According to Dr. Stephanie Sarkis, a psychologist and contributor to Psychology Today’s blog. Cyber bullying is particularly damaging, “rumors can be spread within seconds via text, email, chat, and social media updates.These type of rumors never go away.  Anything posted online stays there forever, even if it is deleted. Online harassment is conducted swiftly and anonymously”. Fear of getting caught or facing any consequences is greatly reduced when a person anonymously posting cruel and mean things all over these networks instead of in person. Even in cases where the person is not anonymous the sense of still being "hidden" behind one's computer leads to this same sense of fearlessness. 

The problem of sexing also arouses when using social networking sites. Sexting is when one person sends an explicit or proactive picture though the internet or a cell phone and in many cases, they end up on these social networking sites. Dr. Liwei Hua, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan tells of a story of a girl named Tess, who posted a “sext” that a boy had sent her as her Myspace profile picture. The boy was completely humiliated even to the extent where he wanted to take his own life. With that being said, he ended up reporting the situation to his school and Tess ended up being convicted of child pornography. This predicament was harmful to both parties; these types of concerning cases occur far too often, which adds to the bad reputation already perceived by social networking sites.

Other researchers suggest social networking isn't all bad and in contrast argue that it could be a confidence booster

Although social networking has been cast in a negative light by some, researchers such as Ashwini Nadkarni, beg to differ.  In a recent study, Nadkarni suggests why media users use the site Facebook and why it is used. He found a positive correlation between the use of Facebook and narcissism or self promotion. Whether it's putting up a good photo, receiving like, or having someone write on your wall, the study shows of how higher self esteem is very highly correlated with feelings of life satisfaction. 

The argument of positive correlation between life satisfaction and spending time on Facebook, of course, varies. It also showed how Facebook use intensity had reduced the students perceived levels of loneliness, though it may not be anywhere else but online. Facebook and many other types of social media are a way for people to stay sane almost, for people to feel some type of belonging or interaction with others and maybe even a little bit of an ego boost.

All in all social networking has its positive and negative attributes depending on how you use and rely on it. Depending on the person and the interactions you face within networking, one could either end up having a bad experience or an uplifting one.