FB DEPRESSION, ESPECIALLY AMONG TEENS
The recent research suggests that facebook despite having many healthy benefits and social connectedness some users especially teens are prone to the depression. The scientists in the research coined the term facebook depression, the new evolution in the psychopathology. It is referred as the potential harms caused by obsessive internet use, the most notably facebook.
Facebook depression, according to the report, is defined as “depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression. Acceptance by and contact with peers is an important element of adolescent life. The intensity of the online world is thought to be a factor that may trigger depression in some adolescents. As with offline depression, preadolescents and adolescents who suffer from Facebook depression are at risk for social isolation and sometimes turn to risky Internet sites and blogs for “help” that may promote substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, or aggressive or self-destructive behaviors.”
The social media has opened the new vista of socialization. It has expanded the horizon of virtual world. Among many goods there are some vices in the phenomenon of facebook. With the status updates, photos and videos that feature happiness, cheerfulness, partytime and extravagant lifestyle may make some users think that they are below the par of such match and cause the feeling of aloofness, isolation and depression. This encourages the users to come up with ideas such as “planking”, lying flat on any surface, to make themselves familiar in the social site. It’s like a big time popularity contest where people are in the race to get the most friend requests and their photos tagged. The facebook users especially teenagers tend to write snotty and abusive updates just to get many likes and comments. When you use facebook the new personality emerges lets say apparent one which for sometime covers your true personality because you talk to the people in such comfort and ease as you would never imagine talking face to face; you come up with judgements and creative comments which would be like impossible if you were asked to do in mundane situations. It’s like tapping up your untapped individuality.
Parents are advised to know about this abnormality in upfront and begin to monitor the online activities that their children are doing. They should encourage their children to talk with them . But with this in mind parents shouldn’t get the idea that using Facebook “is going to somehow infect their kids with depression.” The facebook users themselves can minimize this effect by limiting their current connectivity and unwanted and unnecessary facebook friends although the the benefits of using social media sites like Facebook shouldn’t be overlooked, however, such as connecting with friends and family, sharing pictures and exchanging ideas.
cited from: http://www.msnbc.com
published on 08 June, 2011 in Republica
go to link http://e.myrepublica.com/component/flippingbook/book/549-republica-08-june-2011/1-republica.html and in the gennext section to read it
Thoughts and Reminiscence 