Should you quit Facebook? The pros and cons of staying connected on social media
It is a new year and for many it is a time to detox from all the festive foods and drinks of the silly season. But what about a social media detox?
By Amanda Hoh
Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have infiltrated our daily activities so much that they can lead to what is being called Facebook fatigue.
“It is a concept where we are becoming frustrated and infuriated with social media,” said children’s technology and brain researcher Dr Kristy Goodwin.
“Some people as a result are electing to disconnect or deactivate their profile, even for a short amount of time.”
Facebook fatigue was something 702 ABC Sydney listeners could relate to:
Catherine: “I deleted Facebook about two years ago. I realised I wasn’t connecting with anyone. I started to ‘hate follow’ people, like people I went to school with, and I would just follow them to get annoyed by them so I thought, I couldn’t live with this.”
Bob: “I deleted FB about two years ago, then I had to get back on — invites to parties, all these other things you don’t get invited to unless you’re on Facebook. Just limit yourself, don’t delete entirely.”
Anna: “I’m anti-Facebook. I’m in that 30 to 40-year-old demographic who aren’t on Facebook but I have young children who are starting to play sport and it’s challenging because those organisations choose to interact on Facebook like, ‘cricket is cancelled’ … but I still resist.”
Use Facebook like fertiliser
According to Dr Goodwin, a honorary associate at Macquarie University, some adults and particularly teenagers found it hard to “switch off” from Facebook.
She cited research that reported the average adult spent at least an hour a day on Facebook alone.
“Social media, in most instances, is a pleasurable experience, so our brain secretes neurotransmitter dopamine … we get that instance of feeling good,” Dr Goodwin said.
Rather than go “cold turkey” and stop social media activities altogether, Dr Goodwin advised that people use the platforms as they would use garden fertiliser.
“Use a little bit, the right type at the right time of the day,” she said.
“But use too much and the wrong type that doesn’t gel with you and it will damage the plants.”
Delay social media use with kids
Dr Goodwin said platforms like Facebook did have some positive benefits and fulfilled three “psychological human desires”:
- The need to feel connected — we like to feel like we belong;
- The need to feel competent — we only ever share our highlight reel, we don’t usually post our trials and tribulations;
- Control — we like to have a sense of control over what we’re doing and sharing.
For adolescents, Dr Goodwin said social media helped teens transition as they became more connected and expanded their social circles.
However, she recommended to parents that they delayed the introduction of social apps to children.
“If kids don’t have the skills to be able to interpret what they see on social media and recognise that it is the A-roll footage, it can undermine their anxiety levels and it can cause some social issues.
“If we’re not careful, if it’s used inappropriately, or used excessively or used without parental involvement, we can enter dangerous territory with kids.
“Excessive or inappropriate use can develop narcissistic tendencies.”
Originally published at www.abc.net.au on January 4, 2017.
