If your biggest hobby in quarantine has been scrolling through social media for hours on end, it’s probably best you start getting into sourdough like the rest of America.Because… surprise! Social media addictions are not just bad for your time management, new research has found the more hooked you are, the more you’re likely to be “cruel” and “callous” online.
According to the study, we’re drawn to these social media platforms for rewards like admiration, sociability, and sex, and some folks just can’t stop coming back for more. The study found users that were the most obsessed with their profiles also were the most likely to use others for personal gain, and enjoy embarrassing or angering others online. The researchers only looked at Snapchat and Facebook for this research and they found people not only spend more time on Snapchat, they also used that platform more problematically. Interestingly though, they found it was Facebook that participants were trying harder to quit.
So what does this research mean to you? Well, obviously spending less time on Facebook would be a good way to stop yourself from rage-typing on your keyboard, and the authors say figuring out what drives people to use these platforms can help mental health professionals treat their addictions. Also, the next time you see an angry comment shot in your direction, it might keep you from seeing red if you remember the person that typed it could just be hooked on social media.
Source:StudyFinds