How is Facebook affecting you

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]arlier this week at the Q1 2016 earnings call, Mark Zuckerberg revealed, “Today, people around the world spend on average more than 50 minutes a day using Facebook, Instagram and Messenger…and that doesn’t count WhatsApp.”

Facebook has grown into an addiction greater than many things one can think of and it has spread around the world in a lightning pace. Sure it has many of its positives, like getting people to know many things they had no knowledge of, like helping us keep in touch with friends, whom we had last met in school and getting to see our cute nephew ‘s first day at school who lives across oceans. But science could never solve a problem without creating 10 more, and Facebook is no exception

It’s easy to resort to digital, asynchronous connection rather than having to expend the mental energy to leave the house or put down your phone and interact with people in person. As Facebook’s Oculus division has currently rolled out its virtual reality headsets, the scenario is expected to get worse as people might not find the need to ditch the cranky chair for the digital realm.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking Facebook is unaware of that. It has an entire research division that studies how memes travel through the network or how usage can impact people’s emotions. But, you know, when you’re earning about $6 billion a year off our eyeballs, it’s hard to consider otherwise.

Here are some of the common affects Facebook has on individuals.

1. Abnormal symptoms– Many teenagers have reportedly gone into depression, excessive aggression, abnormal anxiety or even normal anxiety, by long hours Facebook surfing. Facebook is the best place to showcase the ideal. Teenagers usually face emotional problems and are very conscious of their self-image, their bodies and their looks. Hence, it is natural to feel inferior that leads to avoiding social interactions.

2. Everything’s not in your hands– No one their employers to know what they were doing Saturday night in what condition, how drunk they were or what activities they indulged in. But most of the times, you just can’t help. It has been found that 40% of users mention alcohol use on their Facebook page, and 20% mention sexual activities. They make us cool, we think, and may be they do. But we cannot choose the viewers. Not only many job seekers but many employers too use social networking sites looking for potential hire. Though there are ways, it’s not full proof.

3. Make you envious– The most common thing Facebook does is help us to compare with others, Who’s bought a new car, who’s got a beautiful girl (that might be your ex), who’s got a better job in spite of being undeserving. All these observations affect us. Not only can Facebook make you feel like you aren’t sharing in your friends’ happiness, but it can also make you feel envious of their happy lives. Bonus, it might make you look like a stalker.

4. A sense of false consensus– I personally consider this to be the most dangerous effect of the social site. Facebook’s sorting function places posts higher in your ‘News Feed’ if they’re from like-minded friends. This in turn might distort your view of the world. This changes beliefs. It might make you think your favorite politician is in a pole position to win, or your favorite sport person is actually being framed by the media and he is absolutely guiltless. The truth might be completely different but it makes you blind.

5. Creating unnecessary doubts– While it is absolutely harmless to check upon your partner’s profile, it would definitely make you think the blonde who likes every picture and post of his. Things may not be that way at all, but you can’t help. It can often lead to jealousy and even unwarranted suspicion. Especially if you know your partner’s ex, every move of her would create doubts. You might lose focus from your work and it might make life difficult.