The latest issue of Pediatrics Journal warns that teens who spend significant amount of time on the social-networking site Facebook may suffer from a condition known as Facebook Depression Syndrome. With about 72% of teen (American teens) on FB, this cause for potential concern and counseling.
The problem, researchers found, was that the popular website’s constant feed of status, picture and message updates gave users a skewed view of reality, which could make vulnerable kids feel like they aren’t good enough.
The team from the American Academy of Pediatrics also argues that being shunned on a social networking website can be more harmful than if a child is ignored by their friends in real-life. This could be followed by deep psycho-social consequence, including suicide.
According to the study, Facebook, creates an artificial reality because people normally post the best sides of themselves and hide what they want to hide. The consequence is that visitors see the perfect friend and may think they aren’t as good.
A similar study led by Dr. Joanne Davila at Stony Brook University found that texting, email and time spent on social networking sites can worsen teens’ moods and make them obsess over issues instead of moving past them.
“One of the things we are finding is that there are people who are at a greater risk to the negative interactions in social networking and consequently feeling depressed or sad afterwards,” Dr. Davila told CBS Miami.
