Teens and Facebook and its Harmful Effects
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
, Posted by JED at 3:32:00 PM
Teens and Facebook could seem not a good blend in terms of its physcological effects.
According to a new study by the American Psychological Association at California State University, too much time spent on Facebook may lead people to suffer psychologically.
Among the adverse effects:
1. Teens who are heavy gamers or Facebook users have more trouble sleeping, higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stomach aches.
2. Young adults and teens who spend their days inside Facebook are more narcissistic and show more signs of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviors, mania, and aggressive tendencies.
3. Students who use more technology are likely to miss more school.
4. The more teens and adults use Facebook, the more likely they are to also use alcohol.
5. Students from junior high through college age were observed to generally check social networks or text messages every few minutes while studying, leading to lower test performance than students who focus for longer periods of time.
6. The average teen sends 2000 texts per month, which can lead to problems communicating with family and even carpal tunnel syndrome in a few cases.
According to a new study by the American Psychological Association at California State University, too much time spent on Facebook may lead people to suffer psychologically.
Among the adverse effects:
1. Teens who are heavy gamers or Facebook users have more trouble sleeping, higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stomach aches.
2. Young adults and teens who spend their days inside Facebook are more narcissistic and show more signs of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviors, mania, and aggressive tendencies.
3. Students who use more technology are likely to miss more school.
4. The more teens and adults use Facebook, the more likely they are to also use alcohol.
5. Students from junior high through college age were observed to generally check social networks or text messages every few minutes while studying, leading to lower test performance than students who focus for longer periods of time.
6. The average teen sends 2000 texts per month, which can lead to problems communicating with family and even carpal tunnel syndrome in a few cases.
can i share this on facebook?
I think what they is BS because facebook does not do that to young people or adults at all!
Go ahead!
I might be a geek, but I see none of these effects...
I have had a facebook account and there are people that are making constant commments on their page like they have nothing else in their life but facebook. That in my opinion is a bit on the mental side to want everyone to know what you are doing and thinking every minute of the day. Who cares it is your life not mine. And kids have no business on a sosial network, because they are too immature and abuse the social network concept and that is to be antisocial towards others. Unfortunately there are many adults that act as the kids do. That is my opinion on the subject and I honestly don't care if people make negative comments about what I have said because I will not be back here to read them. Even if I did I can still sleep at night because my opinions are my own.
Are people or are kids or young adults saying, "I need a drink If I am going to be on Facebook." What the hell kind of study is this? That is like saying in the 80's when we were outside playing that all we cared about was drinking and having sex. We really need to get past everything that is created being bad and wrong for you. People are more than how much sleep they get, if they talk fast and if they are irritable. Maybe the people that do these types of studies should be in one themselves.
All of these are assumptions. Perhaps the person isn't social because he or she would just rather be alone. Maybe the the teen drinker just fell into peer pressure. And if some one is sending 2000 text a month it doesn't exactly show a communicating problem. Why does it have to be computer games that give people trouble sleeping and carpal tunnel. What about the 10 page papers that they have to do for their school work that has them up all night on the computer typing. I am sure that could lead to problems as well. Just the rich politicians that control the news don't like Facebook so it gets slammed. It has happened before with other things as well.
IS there no parental accountability? Sure, these are possible effects of Facebooking---but why are parents letting it get that bad? You can't blame teens, they ARE still children. In this "my child's best friend parenting" generation, parents let their kids do whatever the hell they want. Here's an idea, if your child is not getting enough sleep because of facebook, restrict facebook...although, I think that even without facebook, teens are going to find something else to do in those late hours, and it won;t be sleeping. If your child is posting in class, set limits on their phone (Several phone companies have this capability). However, If you take away their phone, is it going to make them any less distracted in class? Is it magically going to make them focus on their studies?? As for narcissism, face it- all teens are a tad narcissistic...show them how blessed they are...have them do service. I think this is truly ridiculous. don't blame social media for this....these are social problems, and facebook isn't to blame.
Its true, its all horribly true! I've been affected myself by facebook, several of the symptoms listed have popped up in my life. I'm planning on cutting it out of my life, as time goes on humans are getting more self destructive.
It's funny not only can people be addicted to facebook and gaming. But people that read facebook comments take them the wrong way. My husband made a joke about something on his page, my brother read it... took it personal and the rest of the family did not speak to us for a year. Facebook what are you doing to us??
Well the part about it making teens less sociable is wrong. I've read another article about this and it said teens who use facebook become more social, if they're shy that is. I mean if a kid is on their phone texting 24/7 then yeah they are gonna be more anti-social, but if it's a moderate use then they're gonna learn to talk to real people, because they are already comfortable talking to them through a computer.
Well I was going to check this out more but clearly it's bogus since there aren't ANY sources or even references to sources existing.
This is exactly why I don't have a Facebook. It's a waste of time.
It's backwards. People who use facebook don't become anti-social. The anti-social people use facebook.
Teens with who play games don't become sleep deprived or aggressive. Aggressive teens use video games to let the aggression flow instead of keeping it inside (unhealthy). And the teens turn to games when they can't sleep. To pass time. Who ever did this study is either a crazy lady or a moron.
INTERNET IS A CRAZY SHIT. HARMFUL AND CAUSE BRAIN DAMAGE: IT´S A MORALESS PLACE, TWITTER, FACEBOOK. PEOPLE DO WHATEVER THEY WANT, PEOPLE UPLOAD WHATEVER THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY DO IT BAD, NOT MORAL, OR HEALTHY OR GOOD.
THAT´S IT. AND PEOPLE HERE IS STILL DEFENDING INTERNET 8SOCIAL NETWORKS, WHAT A SHIT)
I HAVE BEEN WARNING, TEENS HAVE FRYED BRAINS, THIS IS THE INTERNET ERA. AND OUR TODAYS KIDS WILL BE WORSE.
THERE IS NO EDUCATION, NO MORAL, YOU WILL SEE THE CONSECUENCES. YOU WILL SEE.
MEDIA HAS TO DO SOMETHING,
I have been WARNING, Internet is a mess and media ONLY show moraless messages all over the internet. You see violence and porn just everywhere as something cool.
And they say it´s cool, no one can see it is not cool, it´s harmful.
See the consecuances, but people can´t see it, especially teens and kids. I happily grew up without the influence of internet "liberty", so I can see the differences.
People do whatever they want to do on the internet, and that "liberty" only means Do moraless, rude, harmful, totally bad things. Besides the fact that people on the internet is totally moronic.
You will see the consecuences.
facebook's for fags.
This is a huge problem. And not one that teens grow out of. My daughter has had an addiction to facebook since 2008. She ignored everything else. Her house became filthy, yet she constantly put on make up and takes pics of herself to upload. She has no real friens, only people she met role playing on facebook. Her messages go directly to her phone and she can be conversing with several different people at one time. None of whom has she actually met. There have been cyber boyfriends, even engagements. She is 23, so I have no real authority over her at all. Please someone, if you have any ideas or info about treatment, post. I don't know where to turn.
Just look at who did the study. It's just another diease the drug companies and the psychiatric community are going to label as FDD and some ignorant people are going to believe it and start giving their Kids more Psyche Drugs.
I think it really just depends on the person. Some people really do have negative effects from facebook and others are fine. Sometimes the side effects are vague and sometimes side effects have taken their toll but people dont realize it yet. Like some of you commenting on here... haha just kidding. But seriously for some
totaly agree. My step daughter doesnt talk to me at all. I have to follower her facebook page to get an insight into who's she talking to.
She 'seems' like an outgoing person on FB but when we get with family it's the exact opposite.
Since it's the summer, she stays up most of the night with either the laptop and cellphone near by.
What's sad is she's always using the popular LMAO when talking with friends but in the real world, i never hear her laughing her a** off.
I agree some what with this article. I think its hard enough for kids to go to school and even adults to go out into the world and deal with the harsh ways people treat them. Facebook is just another way for people to mean and take everything out of context. What you think you might be saying someone else is taking it in a whole other way. I have lost friendships because of facebook and also seen it cause family problems. Do I still have a facebook yes but ever since then I have never posted anything and its become more or an email to me.
Everyone knows this already. I wonder if there are more teen Facebook accounts than accounts of people between the ages of 45-64.
I completely agree with this article.
However...just like fast-food restaurants, facebook isn't going to go away anytime soon.
what's facebook?
Facebook is NOT harmful it fine for ppl to use even kids. Although, kids are not supposed to be on it i believe there is a age u have to be...... oh well i use it and its great!:P
this is a lie im always on there i have the most amazing social life and my grades are great.!
Oh shit.
Facebook is open in another tab.
Let me go get a drink?
PFFT..YEAH? xD
dudes in cali? Do you have any idea how much time you wasted on this research?
YOU THINK US TEENS ARE STUPID?
You coulda been doing something..gee..i dunno.. PRODUCTIVE instead?
For your information. I happen to be a 14 year old girl starting my o levels (like high school) and let me tell you this:
I socialize in real life AND facebook.
In the summer..some us go off for vacations while others..well..you just dont wanna meet honestly speaking.
via facebook we can keep in touch and maintain only.in.school friendships. this lead to popularity. which is the exact OPPOSITE of what you people are saying.
Im sorry you geniuses, not to hurt your ego or anything.. but before putting us under microscope..why not start using common sense?
P.S i find adults who use facebook pretty weird.. i mean you people dont know what an emoticon is and call your selves fb users? FOR SHAME! xD
I don't agree with this study at all. Drinking has no connection whatsoever to someones consumption of alcohol. The two aren't even related. Facebook can be as distracting as you make it.
I don't care whether facebook is good or bad for you. I will never make one as long as I live. Completely unnecessary and really can control your life. It also sucks now. Instead of asking for your number people and girls I go out with the first thing they say after we met is "add me on facebook". I mean seriously? This world is so messed up now when its comes to actually having your life with other people personally.
Honestly, I think this is bull. It's just a bunch of bloggers with no life. I know that Facebook gets addicting. I recently deactivated my account now that school is about to start. Let teens do what they want. If you don't like what people post, there is a block/delete button at the bottom of their page. Parents should monitor what their kids say and do on their Facebooks. Parents should know that you can hide statuses and pictures from certain people. But sometimes you need to just let off and let your kids be kids. Facebook is nothing special. I know that I had poor grades this year because my life revolved around my social life. It's not worth it. School, then play. But, this article was a waste of my time. Glad you media jerks are making money off a joke. This theory hasn't been proven. It's just assumptions.
i think kids who text ALL the time do have trouble communicating in the real world. but i dont think facebook is the direct cause, facebook helps me reconnect and actually build relashonships with people i dont normally see or talk to around school or at the mall/movies ect.
if your really worried about your kid using technology too much and not having a life sign them up for a sports team so they meet friends and go outside
WOW. Wow people, go get a hobby. Is this what people said in the early 1900s about cars too? "It's DESTRUCTIVE!!" Wow, people are so arrogant.
Basically, this is a report of bad parenting. If ALL of these kids are showing these signs, then ALL of these parents are doing a sucky job...
If spending time with parents is more fun than Facebook, the kids would do that. For the parents to be fun, they have to be good parents...
If you don't get it by now, you're either a lost cause or a bad parent.
crap
You cannot blame Facebook. Parents let kids get away with almost anything; instead of forcing them to do something constructive with their time. All day long, kids are doing nothing but staring at a screen...the tv, the computer and their precious phone that never leaves their hands.
Did anybody ever think to check that maybe some of these adverse behaviors are not actually caused by Facebook? Maybe a lot of the people who are drawn to using social networking sites are those who are already predisposed to depression and drinking problems.
It might help if the basis of this article i.e "psychological effects" was spelled correctly...
First of all, you can't just assume that this is going to happen to all teens, some of them do have their head on straight, to each's own! maybe they should start thinking about what to do about hunger and homelessness and stop doing meaningless studies because at the end of the day people are gonna do what they wanna do!
This "test" couldn't be more worthless.
1) The same could be said about TV... tests... bullying... hell you could say this about ANYTHING.
2) Totally bogus. I think half the girls on Facebook are compassionate religious nuts. "antisocial"? "mania"? "aggressive tendencies"? Wtf are these ppl smoking? People either are or aren't, but they certainly aren't "because" of Facebook IF they are.
3) This one is true... but wtf does it have to do with FB? "Technology" includes a hell of lot more than "just" facebook...
4) LOL. Now this one really sounds made up(Even more than 2). What Anti Alcohol speech person paid you to put this on here? This couldn't be a more worthless, ignorant statement. Teens drink... but not because FB told them too... nice try.
5) True, but like 3... it's totally irrelevant to facebook because it's a general statement with all technology itself. Kids don't want to pay attention, period. That isn't Facebook's fault. Even without FB they'd still text 5 million times a day.
6) Again, this has NOTHING... NOTHING... to do with Facebook! Even without FB, kids are going to text! You can't put that in here as if it's the ONLY WAY a person can/would text... WHEN IT IS NOT.
In conclusion this "study" is totally worthless. Anyone with common sense would know that most, if not all, of these things are completely false; especially if you've actually used Facebook yourself. 3 and 6 are the only meaningful/correct bullets, but they are irrelevant to the point of the study itself!
This "test" couldn't be more worthless.
1) The same could be said about TV... tests... bullying... hell you could say this about ANYTHING.
2) Totally bogus. I think half the girls on Facebook are compassionate religious nuts. "antisocial"? "mania"? "aggressive tendencies"? Wtf are these ppl smoking? People either are or aren't, but they certainly aren't "because" of Facebook IF they are.
3) This one is true... but wtf does it have to do with FB? "Technology" includes a hell of lot more than "just" facebook...
4) LOL. Now this one really sounds made up(Even more than 2). What Anti Alcohol speech person paid you to put this on here? This couldn't be a more worthless, ignorant statement. Teens drink... but not because FB told them too... nice try.
5) True, but like 3... it's totally irrelevant to facebook because it's a general statement with all technology itself. Kids don't want to pay attention, period. That isn't Facebook's fault. Even without FB they'd still text 5 million times a day.
6) Again, this has NOTHING... NOTHING... to do with Facebook! Even without FB, kids are going to text! You can't put that in here as if it's the ONLY WAY a person can/would text... WHEN IT IS NOT.
In conclusion this "study" is totally worthless. Anyone with common sense would know that most, if not all, of these things are completely false; especially if you've actually used Facebook yourself. 3 and 6 are the only meaningful/correct bullets, but they are irrelevant to the point of the study itself!
Facebook is only good for pawn stars!
im a teen and im on facebook almost all day and im pretty sure i dont pull out a bottle of alcohol because im on it LOL but honestly if kids are doing that its because they have other things goin on in their life that they just cant figure out and cant do nuthing about because they have nobody to really open up to..honestly yea some people constantly put statuses up every 5 minutes but its because they wanna let out what they feel and most of those status are songs they like..take it from a teen like me whos always on gets a's and b's occational c's..drinking and being not social and all that drama has nuthing to do with facebook because with facebook you become more sociable not only with friends you have =nt spoken to in years but reletives you havent spoken or seen in like 10 yrs lol so honestly people who do the things they do its because of other things deffinatly not because their on facebook!shake my head at this bs LOL
'I think what they is BS because facebook does not do that to young people or adults at all!' You have just proved 'them' correct with this uninformed outburst.
Facebook is for lame folks. That is all. Yes, I have more real friends than you :D
This such BS I'm always on facebook either on my computer or i use my cell phone, yet i find the time to go to school, go out with my friends, and continue my life ...
this is what i just posted on fb along with this craziness.
I have been a gamer for many many yrs. and facebook user for afew.and im fine lol. i dont have high anxiety.everything just bothers me me. no deprssion i can always kill someone on a game.no stomach ache a pill takes acre of that.didnt miss school one bit when i didnt go.there was no facebook when i first started drinking.i have took many test last cpl mths and i had some the highest scores in class.the avg teen sucks at txting then cause one time in 2 weeks i had sent over 12000 texts.
ok to sum all this up they spent alot of money to study craziness im proof its wrong roflmao
Maybe most of them are true for some people but the alcohol seriously? I play facebook games and Im not boozing it up every night....then I would not be able to focus on my games LMAO.
Oh please, they're just looking for excuses as to why this generation isn't able to cram the huge amount of modern information into their brains. Facebook has nothing to do with it.