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Social media envy leaves people feeling down

Sibahle Malinga
By Sibahle Malinga, ITWeb senior news journalist.
Johannesburg, 25 Jan 2017
Majority of people feel down when they don't get as many 'likes' as they expect on social media, says a Kaspersky Lab report.
Majority of people feel down when they don't get as many 'likes' as they expect on social media, says a Kaspersky Lab report.

People often experience negative emotions after spending time on social media due to a variety of reasons, which overpower its positive effects.

This is according to the latest global study from Kaspersky Lab, which found although social media started as a way of staying in touch with friends and sharing happy memories, social media browsing now leaves many people feeling negative instead.

The report notes the majority of people feel down or upset when they don't get as many likes as they expect for a post, and 42% of people say they feel jealous when their friends get more likes than them. In addition, the research shows that people feel envious when they see the seemingly happier lives of their friends on social media.

The report, based on a survey of 16 750 people worldwide, further reveals most (65%) people globally use social networks to stay in touch with friends and colleagues and to see entertaining and funny posts. Respondents (61%) also said they devote a significant amount of time creating their digital profile and filling it with all kinds of positive moments, posting things that make them smile, and 43% said they spend most time telling their networks about the great time they are having during holidays and vacations.

While it is not surprising that 72% of people are annoyed by advertising that has become extremely intrusive and interrupts their online communications, Kaspersky Lab says the reasons for frustration go deeper. When people see their friends' happy posts about holidays, hobbies, and parties, they are often left with the bitter feeling that other people are enjoying life more than them. For example, 59% have felt unhappy when they have seen friends' posts from a party they were not invited to, and 45% revealed that their friends' happy holiday pictures have had a negative influence on them. Furthermore, 37% also admitted that looking at past happy posts of their own can leave them with the feeling that their own past was better than their present life.

Meanwhile, researchers from the University of Missouri found that heavy Facebook use may make certain people experience feelings of envy, which in turn could lead to depression.

The study revealed paying too much attention to your Facebook friends' updates could be bad for your mental health.

"We found that if Facebook users experience envy of the activities and lifestyles of their friends on Facebook, they are much more likely to report feelings of depression," study co-author Dr Margaret Duffy, a University of Missouri journalism professor, said. "Facebook can be a very positive resource for many people, but if it is used as a way to size up one's own accomplishments against others, it can have a negative effect."

A recent study by the University of Copenhagen reveals that regular use of social media such as Facebook can harm your emotional well-being and overall satisfaction with life. The study also presented a solution - taking a one-week break from Facebook, which can significantly improve levels of life satisfaction.

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