Want To Be Happier? Get Off Facebook And Social Media
One of the downsides of social media is that it can be a bit addicting. It’s like getting a 24 hour filtered news feed delivered straight to your computer and smartphone. But at some point, it’s hard to put down and go out and enjoy life. But whether you like it or not, social media might actually be preventing you from being happier.
Researchers seem to agree.
A group of researchers carried out a research study with a sample of 1,095 people in Denmark. The groups were divided into two, with one group using Facebook while the second group stopped using it.
After a week, the researchers surveyed the group. It was found out that the group which hadn’t been on Facebook, said that they were more satisfied with their lives, with 88 percent describing themselves as happy compared with 81 percent from the other group.
At the end of the experiment, the group which had abstained from using Facebook, reported to having a richer social life and fewer difficulties in concentrating, while the others reported no such change.
Whether you agree with the experiment or not, you can actually see this occurring in your own life or even the lives of your family and friends.
Think about it, when’s the last time you didn’t go a full day with checking at least ONE of your social network platforms? Don’t worry, I’ll wait……
Social network platforms have been so embedded in our lives that we’re neglecting our real social life with family and friend.
Facebook recently reported that for one day, they had a BILLION active users on their site. A BILLION with a large “B”. We all can’t help but log in to Facebook and check in our what our friends are doing or taking a selfie and uploading it online. People get a “high” when they get a notification on their phones that someone “liked” their content.
Social media is a great tool, don’t get me wrong. It helps to keep in touch with loved ones in different countries and stay on top of news events from around the world.
But it’s also something that might be harmful to your happiness.
So give it a try. For a week, just log off social media. Go to your smartphone and delete that Twitter/Facebook/Snapchat/Kik app. Stay off for a week and enjoy yourself.
Trust me, you’ll feel happier.
Joseph Kuuire, Tech & Social Editor
Joseph Kuuire is a co-founder of BrutallyUncensored.Com, a writer and an IT Consultant based in Accra, Ghana---where the weather is always beautiful. When he wants to hide, he writes under the pseudonym name; Joe Phoenix. He went to high school at Akosombo International School and finished in Kenny Lake, Alaska. And then continued to University of Houston where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Management in Information Systems.
