Post on 04-Jul-2015
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#SocialSick
Noah Lowenthal
Digital Creative Director
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@nlowen1
Bekah Lockner
Social Media Manager
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@bekahlockner
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#SocialSick
Lots of people are talking
about social media and its
impact on health. But their
sources may not be providing
a balanced perspective
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Recent studies seem to indicate that Social Media has a negative impact on our mental health and happiness. • Increased envy, isolation
• Decreased self-control • Loneliness
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Recent studies seem to indicate that Social Media has a negative impact on our mental health and happiness. • Increased envy, isolation,
• Decreased self-control • Loneliness
#SocialSick
Envy on Facebook: A Hidden Threat to Users’ Life Satisfaction?
Hanna Krasnova*1, Helena Wenninger2, Thomas Widjaja2, and Peter Buxmann2
“Triggered by over-exposure to social information on a SNS (Social Networking Site), envy feelings can cause significant damage to users’ well-being and impact their life satisfaction [11].”
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University based studies using 18-24 year old students are not broadly representative • Age • Income • Education • Emotional maturity
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• The goal of our research was to: – Study a broader, more representative population
– Determine how, if at all, Social Media affects mental and emotional health
– Understand how Social Media is impacting real-world social interaction between individuals
• So, what we mean by “making us sick”? – Emotional health: Loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, envy
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Sample & Qualifications: - Age: 18+ years, quotas for 18-34, 35-49, 50+ - Gender, Income, Geography, Ethnicity/Race sampled at national
representative levels - Weighting: Age and gender were weighted back to national levels - All participants have used at least one of the following sites on at
least a weekly basis: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn, or other social media sites
Sample Size: - Total completed interviews = 318
Field Dates: - January 25-28, 2013 - Independent market research vendor, recruited and fielded
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Field Technique: Online Attitude and Usage Survey - Degree of agreement with attitudinal statements - Self-reported behavior and use of Social Media
Sample Statements: Respondents asked to evaluate statements on a five-point scale, from “Extremely satisfied” to “Not at all satisfied.” • Having a lot of relationships in my social media space makes me feel
accepted
• I really wish I could get away from using social media
• Causes an increase in feelings of depression
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But is it really making us sick?
No
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Q13. Considering everything, over time, do you think social media usage has…? Base: All Respondents
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The most agreed–to statements about social media are positive and extroverted in nature (top two box)
Q12. Now we would like to get a few more of your opinions regarding social media. Please base your answers on your own experience and/or what you may have observed regarding others. Base: All Respondents (N=318)
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#SocialSick Q.13a - Please describe, as fully as possible, how social media has made you feel (Better/Worse) about yourself.
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Q14. We would like to know about how your social media use has made you feel about certain situations. Base: All Respondents (N=318)
Agree that friends/family doing fun & interesting things on social media without me makes me feel lonely #SocialSick
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Agree that friends/family doing fun & interesting things on social media without me makes me feel lonely
Agree that seeing other people’s accomplishments causes anxiety
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Agree that friends/family doing fun & interesting things on social media without me makes me feel lonely
Agree that seeing other people’s accomplishments causes anxiety
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Agree fairly often that using social media turns my good mood into a bad one
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Q7. Now we would like to get some further opinions of yours regarding social media. Please base your answers on your own experience and/or what you may have seen or heard from others. Base: All Respondents (N=318)
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#SocialSick Q7. Now we would like to get some further opinions of yours regarding social media. Please base your answers on your own experience and/or what you may have seen or heard from others. Base: All Respondents (N=318)
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Number of Times Socialize In Person in an Average Week
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Q16A. In the average week during the past 12 months, how many times did you actually socialize with another person(s) in person, that is face-to-face as opposed to virtual socializing via social media networks? Base: All Respondents
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Usage is anticipated to stay the same or increase…
#SocialSick Q6A. Over the next 6 months or so, how do you expect your usage of these social media sites will compare to your current usage of them? Base: Use Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Other Social Media Sites
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Social Satisfaction
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Q15A. Considering everything, how would you rate your satisfaction with your overall social life? Q15B.Considering everything, how would you rate your satisfaction with your social media life? Base: All Respondents (N=318)
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#SocialSick Q3. Please check all of the reasons for which you use each social media site in a typical week. Base: Use Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest / Other Social Media Sites
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#SocialSick Q12. Now we would like to get a few more of your opinions regarding social media. Please base your answers on your own experience and/or what you may have observed regarding others. Base: All Respondents (N=318)
Respondents agree that social media: Respondents do not agree that social media:
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The majority of respondents don’t trust that other’s behavior is the same offline as it is in social media, or they aren’t sure.
Expectation of Others’ Behavior in Social Media (%)
#SocialSick Q11. Do you trust that people who you are in touch with via social media are the same way with you online as they are off-line/in person? Base: All Respondents
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• Overall, Social Media does not appear to be negatively impacting our emotional health or happiness • Social Media potentially makes us see ourselves as happier, more connected, friendlier, and more confident • Social Media can create avenues for connecting with distant friends, and strengthens relationships with close friends and family • Social Media use amplifies and mirrors socialization in the real world, both the positive and the negative
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• Opportunity to shadow users over time, (with a tighter segregation of younger users), observe exactly how they engage, and record their attitudinal data
• Additional research specifically with users who have a diagnosed mental or chronic health condition
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