social media and happiness
DESCRIPTION
An examination of three traits encouraged by social networks--narcissism, insecurity, and isolation--that lead to negative behaviours among users and, ultimately, unhappiness.TRANSCRIPT
SOCIAL MEDIA and HAPPINESS
Image: Flickr user Antoine Robiez
Aashna Kumar
14 million Canadians log into Facebook every day
Two in three Canadians are active on social media websites
Social media keeps us connected, but does connectivity equal fulfillment?
One in three Canadians says they can’t go a day without checking social media
Image: Flickr user Mike Licht
Social media may lead to decreased happiness because it encourages negative
traits and behaviours
NARCISSISM INSECURITY ISOLATION
Image: Wikimedia Commons user Nedim Ardoga
NARCISSISM An inflated sense of self-importance and a deep need for admiration Correlated with reacting negatively to criticism and helping self at the expense of others
Image: The Beggar’s Blog
Users engage in narcissistic behaviour online when they over share in order to gain attention and approval from others in the form of likes, replies, reposts, etc. This approval and attention makes narcissists feel more valued. Image: Flickr user Mike Licht
Narcissists can also use social media to amass a large following of loyal friends, subscribers, connections, etc. Having lots of followers makes narcissists feel significant and special.
Image: Wikimedia Commons user Shakko
2011 study: “Facebook users have higher levels of total narcissism, exhibitionism, and leadership than Facebook nonusers. Facebook specifically gratifies the narcissistic individual’s need to engage in self-promoting and superficial behavior.” (Ryan & Xenos)
Image: Flickr user Mike Licht
INSECURITY
Lack of confidence and self-assurance Correlated with depression and uncertainty
Image: Flickr user Jason Stadnik
A lack of followers and online approval can lead to self-doubt, questioning one’s own popularity, and disapproving one’s own public portrayal
Image: Wikimedia Commons user Nedim Ardoga
“4 in 10 social network users in Canada have been cyberbullied”
Any form of bullying, abuse, and harassment leads to decreased self-value and insecurity
Image: Nina Turns 40
“A girl’s social networking profile is a persona she constructs…providing the answers to burning social
questions like, What do other people think of me? Do people like me? Am I normal? Am I popular? Am I
cool?”
“With people posting only the best parts of their lives on Facebook, it’s hard not to compare yourself
to others.”
Image: Flickr user Jason Stadnik
ISOLATION To be destitute of companionship, to lose value in relationships Can increase stress levels and blood pressure, thus decreasing quality of life
Image: Flickr user Hartwig HKD
When social media users build connections online by typing, they are only using words, which is 7% of all communication.
It is harder to develop rich relationships online than face-to-face. But social media places so much importance on online friendships.
Image: Flickr user Hartwig HKD
When users see others posting online about social events that the user did not attend, the user feels alone, left out, lacking valuable relationships, and ultimately isolated.
Image: Flickr user Hartwig HKD
2011 study: “As people invest time building…social networks online, the quality of their offline networks and relationships diminishes” (University of Maryland, College Park).
Image: Flickr user Hartwig HKD
Social media encourages self-destructive thinking and behaviours
NARCISSISM: aggressive, egotistic behaviours INSECURITY: high risk of depression, devaluing self-worth ISOLATION: high stress, loneliness
Image: Flickr user Andrew PrickeJ
When narcissists don’t receive the approval and attention they crave, they are likely to feel insecure about their perceived self. Highly insecure people are more likely to isolate themselves from their peers. “An insecure person…feels rejected by people, that may lead to antisocial behaviour.”
Image: Flickr user Ian Sane
“A longitudinal study of Swedish women demonstrated a strong link between levels of narcissism in youth and levels of loneliness in old age. The connection is fundamental. Narcissism is the flip side of loneliness, and either condition is a fighting retreat from the messy reality of other people.”
Image: Pixabay user PublicDomainPictures
On social media, users maintain constant
positive self-presentation, and
highly value happiness.
Study: “Under conditions of low (but not high) life stress, the more people valued happiness, the lower were their hedonic balance, psychological well-being, and life satisfaction, and the higher their depression symptoms” (Mauss).
Image: DeviantArt user Ph1at1ine
Stay happy and connected Set aside a time each day to unplug from social media Try to have one meaningful face-to-face conversation every day Be positive online and avoid making negative comments to others Be careful with posting to prevent over-sharing
Image: Flickr user Marcy Kellar
Social media can cause negative symptoms that lead to unhappiness. However, by effectively managing social media consumption, narcissism, insecurity, and isolation can be avoided!
“It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” – Dale Carnegie
Image: Flickr user Thomas Hawk
Works Cited Jacobs, Tom. "Study Links Facebook Use With Narcissism." Pacific Standard. Pacific
Standard, 17 Mar. 2011. Web. 19 May 2014. Lavine, Lindsay. "Want To Be Happier? Stop Comparing Yourself To What You See
On Social Media." Fast Company. N.p., 10 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 May 2014. Marche, Stephen. "Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?" The Atlantic. Atlantic Media
Company, 02 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 May 2014. Negroni, Jon. "Social Media Is Making Us More Insecure." Jon Negroni. N.p., 24 May
2013. Web. 20 May 2014. "Surprise! Narcissism Linked to Frequent Facebook and Twitter Use." Time.com. Time
Inc., 12 June 2013. Web. 21 May 2014. University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland, College Park. "Students
around the World Report Being Addicted to Media, Study Finds." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 May 2014.
Warrell, Margie. "Seduced by Social Media: Is Facebook Making You Lonely?" The
Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 08 Nov. 2013. Web. 20 May 2014.
All images are licensed under the Creative Commons agreement and sourced from Flickr, Google Images Advanced Search, and Wikimedia Commons.