Facebook: Does it affect our health? - 2

Social media such as Facebook (FB) and other sites defines a deal of Internet sites that allow responsible people from all over the globe to interact. And this can be through discussion, photos, video and audio. But today, fascinatingly researchers found that people who are more anxious and socially insecure are more likely to use these sites.

In 2012, 'Anxiety UK' conducted a survey on social media use. They found that 53% of participants said these sites had changed their behaviour, while 51% of these said the change had been harmful. Today FB addiction is a new ailment.

Researchers have created a psychological scale to measure FB addiction named the 'Berge Facebook Addiction Scale' (BFAS). The scale, developed at the University of Bergen in Norway, uses six criteria to measure FB addiction. These include accounts, for instance 'you spend a lot of time thinking about FB and planning how to use it' and 'you use FB to forget about personal problems'. According to the researchers, the scoring often/very often on four of the six criteria indicates 'FB- addiction'.

According to a study, many users who are addicted to FB - use the site as a way of gaining attention and boosting their self-esteem. But on the contrary, those who said their lives had been worsened by using FB also reported feeling less confident when they compared their achievements against their friends.

Although many studies point to the negative impacts of social media on our well-being, but we cannot stop it totally. In fact, it is important to restrict the amount of usage; remember, medicine in the right amount helps, but overdose kills.

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