Social media makes people lonely and depressed

According to research conducted at Georgetown University, social media tends to leave people lonelier and more depressed.

You're probably thinking it all sounds, well, counterintuitive.

After all, we all enjoy receiving likes and compliments on sites like Facebook, so it would seem like social media should improve one's mood and bolster self-esteem.

Likes and comments do in fact promote small rushes of dopamine.

But the study revealed that these tiny boosts don't come anywhere close to compensating for the large loss experienced by no longer spending real-world time with the person in question.

The researchers note that smartphones have a way of cultivating behavioral addictions.

People may not necessarily wish to spend so much time online, but between flashy games, humorous memes, and content posted by our buddies, we become inextricably sucked in -- often resulting in physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion.

Those who embrace what researchers have dubbed digital minimalism (another way of saying "digital decluttering") strive to limit their use of and dependence on social media.

Moreover, they avoid diminishing the sorts of things they know make for a good life. This includes face-to-face interaction that permits the brain to fully leverage its capacity to read body language for social cues, project into companions' minds, and anticipate next steps.

Denying the mind this exercise and limiting it to scrolling their News Feed, however, can leave people feeling quite disconnected. Being devoid of that human element -- from exchanging glances to shaking hands and hugging -- can take its toll.

The researchers add that a digital declutter forces us to embrace time alone with our thoughts -- something that seems quite elusive in a world that seems busier and more reliant on technology by the day.

(Imagine if brilliant thinkers like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Mark Twain had never been able to find solitary moments of thought.)

This research proves a few things.

For one, as with everything else in their lives, people should aim to use social media in moderation.

Rather than spending countless on Facebook or Twitter, people can devote some of that time to reading and/or exercising, both of which are salutary activities.

While certain things one can do on social media (e.g., word puzzles and reading news) can be mentally enriching, most people get into the habit of wandering aimlessly on these websites.

The key is to remember that we don't HAVE to use social media as much as we do. Rather than conversing with a friend on WhatsApp, why not propose chatting over dinner? Not only do you get that vital human element, but it's a way of strengthening your relationship.

So the next time you're feeling blue, try to steer clear of social media -- as paradoxical as it may seem -- as it may only exacerbate such feelings.

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