Using lots of social media accounts linked to anxiety

http://www.futurity.org/social-media-depression-anxiety-1320622-2/

Using lots of social media accounts linked to anxiety

New research links the number of social media platforms a person uses with risk of depression and anxiety.

The analysis, published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, shows that people who report using seven to 11 social media platforms had more than three times the risk of depression and anxiety than their peers who use zero to two platforms, even after adjusting for the total time spent on social media overall.

“This association is strong enough that clinicians could consider asking their patients with depression and anxiety about multiple platform use and counseling them that this use may be related to their symptoms,” says lead author and physician Brian A. Primack, director of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health and assistant vice chancellor for health and society in Schools of the Health Sciences.

11 most popular platforms

In 2014, Primack and his colleagues sampled 1,787 US adults ages 19 through 32, using an established depression assessment tool and questionnaires to determine social media use.

The questionnaires asked about the 11 most popular social media platforms at the time: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, Vine, and LinkedIn.

Participants who used seven to 11 platforms had 3.1 times the odds of reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms than their counterparts who used zero to two platforms. Those who used the most platforms had 3.3 times the odds of high levels of anxiety symptoms than their peers who used the least number of platforms. The researchers controlled for other factors that may contribute to depression and anxiety, including race, gender, relationship status, household income, education, and total time spent on social media.

I can attest to the depressive and anxiety-producing effect of inappropriate social media.  I have had in the past several horrible experiences on not-nice messageboards which encouraged paranoia and suicidal ideation.  Thank Paul (and staff) for permies!  I've also found the craft messageboard Craftster to be a healthy and nice place.  I do not use Facebook, Twitter, etc.

I agree, and while I do not do Facebook much (once per week maybe) I am on Permies a lot.

It can be draining emotionally even on here, but honestly I am not sure that I would want it any other way. Pearl for instance was just robbed of her new tractor at her new place. I could just not post anything, but its one of the most trying times of her life, filled with fear, vulnerability, loss and anger. What kind of person would I be if I did not interact?

Maureen is having a tough time too right now, what kind of person would I be if I do not try and let her know a friend (although I know it is just an online aquaintence type of friendship) does not step forward and say, "I see you are sad and I will relate, say a kind word, or pray for you."

But equally what about enjoying Friendship with Todd who happens to be really clearing his place out and getting super soil growing from wood chips right now. There is always something good in the world too and I would be amiss to miss out on that too.

Sure I can play it safe by never getting involved, but I would not reap the rewards of knowing maybe just once they smiled at a dark time because of something I said, or something I said I would do for them.

I never played life very safe, and in the end, I feel I have lived a very fulfilling life even if I fall into despair with people and their worries. I don't live on an island, I live alongside people... who have good and bad seasons, just like I have in life.

I'm a graphic designer and marketing director by trade so using social media goes with my day-to-day life. That said, I'm an introverted extrovert. God forbid i leave the house... I'm too much of a home-body and freelance from home. So Social media is my form of socializing, sharing what i'm up to and seeing what is going on with my friends and family without having to spend time calling each one and being "tied" to my phone.

I spend more time reading the posts and messages on forums and social media than I do responding. I glean a wealth of information and sometimes manage to pass it on to a willing listener.

My life is richer for the digital tether to the real world and shared experiences I can tap into that 25 years ago was not possible.

Nich groups like this help to share knowledge and all of us win. yes, it can become stressful... if you let it. Think of it more as a tool and less as something required from you. I just mess around in forums, facebook, and Pinterest. I've dumped twitter, reddit, and google+.

Any thing that can expose your psyche to undue stresses (bullies and others of similar persuasion) is not good for the human mind or body.
While I am on facebook, it is only in a private area not out there for all to see.
Even though there are fairly good things for the human psyche in the interaction between beings, most humans I see are simply showing their idiot instead of acting like sentient beings.
For those reasons we live deep in the woods in mostly seclusion (should goldie locks find us I have weapons to encourage her quick retreat).

I stopped watching and reading about "News" many years ago since apparently only bad and horrific things are worthy of the news media's attention, and their reporting is always biased and filled with fiction.

I used to build web sites for companies but left that for my sanity meant more than money.

I agree with the study. Facebook in particular drags me down faster than anything, so I haven't been on my page since... I dunno, February?  I never even got started with twitter, Instagram, etc.  I don't have time for it.  I like things that feed my mind.  Permies is social, but its also educational.  I learn something every time I visit. And its very well moderated, thanks to Paul and the staff that work to keep it safe and friendly.  I also occasionally indulge in educational or inspirational YouTube videos.  Other than that... I think I need more interaction with living breathing people, and less internet to be mentally healthy.  But, since I am isolated here in rural Africa, I deeply appreciate that I can utilize these platforms to reach out to others too.  

I think part of the problem is people these days just never get bored. I used to take the phone into poop. I can remember the first poop I took without my phone. I know this sounds weird but its a metaphor. Boredom is a necessary thing! I dont even like to call it boredom because that makes it sound negative. People need to reflect and reconcile with themselves. If your conscious pops up and tries to tell you something but is blocked, in a millisecond, by a squareish piece of tech you never feel the weight of existence, the needs of others, the needs of yourself etc. I spend some time here and a few other places but its almost all educational or simply to feed my narcissistic personal need to get "smiley faces" that society cant anymore because I'm in the woods...lol dats truf kid!

I can see how the use of spreading information and connecting through websites like permies can lead to real life positives that outweigh the negative environmental and health effects of the "tech.". I think that if your going to use an unnatural electronic device like a computer for something it should be used as a means to an end, a last resort, or a force multiplier for good. Every time you get "online" your interacting with the unnatural electronic device in front of you. These things drain your energy and the only connection you are getting is with the screen you looking at and interacting with. If I talk to someone on the phone we are both talking to devices not each other. The device is what we are interacting with....I hope people don't forget that.

I think we need to start using this "online" world to connect more to set up ways to do it offline and in reality. I think the most natural of us all need to be looked to as role models and catered to with our businesses, ideas and interactions in the world. I find too many people these days are setting up everything to interact with the public "online" only. Most businesses are going "online" or digital in some fashion and I find a lot of businesses require you to have "smart" phones and apps and stay online for updates and keep your phone on / by you at all times. To me, there is an obvious agenda attached to all of this I will not elaborate on here. One only has to look into where the "online" wireless "tech." is going to see. For more info. research things like 5g wireless "tech.".

I think if there are enough of us with lines in the sand between the natural and unnatural world we may still be able to give all the "bandwagoners"(the hoards of people that follow tech. because they don't know better) an example of really thriving in a natural world in a natural way. They can then compare that to just existing mostly in an unnatural "online" fantasy energy draining world. The choice is clear when given all options. It parallels with organic ag. and chemical ag. most people, I think, just don't know there is another way. It will be really hard for the newer generations that haven't experienced a world without computers.

Let's get outside!

In my personal expierience.  Social media caused some very large rifts in my family.  My observation, it's pretty easy to type hurtful words. Words that would never be spoken at a dinner table. Social media basically cost me a marriage.... Cause everyone thinks they have the last word when they push the " send " button.
 Yes, it is nice to be able to keep in touch with people you love, you can't see every day. If they live near," a friend" is someone who will help you split firewood or take the fiberglass cap off your pick up truck.    My thoughts.   Larry