The Problem with Facebook

There seems to always be an element of self-denial when it comes to listing our motivations and reasons for being so active on Facebook. It could be, “I want to form a study group and keep track of assignments,” or, “I want to use Facebook as a vehicle to raise awareness for charity organizations,” or maybe even, “I prefer to use messaging on Facebook so that my data plan does not bury me.”

Without a doubt, the litany of reasons to be on Facebook is completely rational and logical. However, and call me cynical, but to argue that your primary, your main, rationale for being on Facebook is so that you do not financially burden your parents is on the cusp of delusional. Statistically, according to a study done by the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, “results indicated that only 38 percent of people post negative experiences in their lives. It also showed that one-third of the men surveyed actually try to provoke others on Facebook, and one-quarter of those surveyed use the social media site to brag.”

The significance of this survey is obvious. In short, in terms of pure numbers, it is clear that the vast majority of users on Facebook are on it not for academic or moral reasons, but to boost their own sense of self-esteem and paint a distorted picture of their lives.

And that brings us to another point: narcissism. As the term is defined as an excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one’s physical appearance, studies have corroborated the claim that Facebook perpetuates narcissism in adolescents as well as middle-age adults by reporting a boost of ego after viewing their own profiles.

Furthermore, the phenomenon of “likes” is not to be underestimated. Researchers have confirmed that the desire to be “liked” on Facebook is a universal phenomenon. We all want to feel worthy of love and belonging. In some ways, the “likes” we get on Facebook satisfies this need in a distorted way.

Of course, there is no denying that Facebook could be a potentially life-saving tool for those suffering depression or low self-esteem. However, on the whole, it seems that the general populous uses Facebook to fill a void in their real lives.

In essence, because Facebook exists to share the highlight reels in your life, the behind-the-scenes moments are ignored and therefore untended. Such a cause-and-effect could very realistically lead to more serious, tangible problems than just the burden of trying to garner a “100 likes.”

What, then, can you do to make sure you are using Facebook in a healthy yet productive manner? Well, probably the most efficient and obvious way to do so is to spend less time on Facebook. By minimizing your time on it by just 30 minutes, it could save you a whole host of envy, grief, jealousy, and spite from status’s touting things like, “Just invited to the Letterman show!”

So, what will you do to maximize your benefits from social media but minimize its cons?