Social Media: The Good and the Bad

by Michael Fruchtman, CEO/CFO

If there is a silver lining to the current COVID-19 crisis it is that people are online and using the Internet to connect and share. It is the basis of what Facebook was founded on. But did you know that how you consume social media can be good or bad? First, let’s start with the fact that there are actually Social Media Research Scientists and they say that it’s better to actively participate when you’re online versus passively consuming it. For example, if you actively use social media by sending messages, leaving comments, or talking in your group chats, you will be happier than people who simply scroll through their feeds and look at some videos and content. According to them, if you are looking to find solace on the Internet, simply cruising on it won’t do it – you have to contribute to find that level of satisfaction and yes, happiness. Think of it as socializing at a party or in a crowd. Are you talking and having a good time? Or are you simply observing and staying to yourself? Makes sense. When people spend a lot of time being passive on social media and not interacting, it’s reported that they feel worse afterward. In one experiment at the University of Michigan, students were randomly asked to read Facebook for 10 minutes and they were in a considerably worse mood at the end of the day than students assigned to post or talk to friends on Facebook. Interesting stuff, and you can read more about it here.