feature
volume 25, issue 5
Many of us have jokingly said, “I am addicted to Facebook.” Or, “Don’t join Tumblr, it is so addictive.” However, new scientific evidence actually backs up these casual claims. A recent study by University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business found social networking sites may be more addictive than cigarettes or alcohol. The research team used BlackBerry devices to monitor 205 participants in Wurtzburg, Germany. Seven times a day, they were asked what their desires/impulses were at the time and to rate them from “mild” to “irresistible.” Surprisingly, stereotypical addictive desires like smoking and drinking ranked low. The number one desire, which many high school students could relate to, was taking time for leisure or sleep. Number two was the urge to check social networking sites and social emailing. The leader of the research team, Wilhelm Hofmann, explained the possible reason why the highest rate of “self-control failures” were linked to social media. “Desires for media may be comparatively harder to resist because of their high availability and also because it feels like it does not ‘cost much’ to engage in these activities, even though one wants to resist,” Hofmann said. The dangers of smoking and drinking have been widely publicized -lung cancer! drunk driving! DEATH!- but the lack of consequences of checking Facebook or Twitter allows people to succumb to these urges. Although the study’s finds seem unbelievable, sophomore Declan Savage, an unabashed Facebook addict, says he believes the results. “People can get around it with Facebook because they say it can’t affect your health. Unlike an alcohol/cigarette habit, it’s free so you can’t waste money on Facebook,” Savage said. “The main problem with Facebook is obesity.” Savage joined Facebook awhile ago because it was a popular trend at the time. “A lot of people had it and would say ‘The homework is on Facebook’ or ‘Facebook me,’” Savage said. He now enjoys Facebook for the ability to check people’s statuses, post his own statuses, check other people’s walls and “basically anything to avoid doing homework.” Like most people, Savage says he can live without Facebook although it is a big part of his life. “The truth is if I have access, I will always be on it,” Savage said.
KAILI MASAMOTO I editor STEFAN COOPER I staff writer KAYLEE PITTS I staff writer
smoking
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march 2012
Social networking accounts for
of every
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social media
alcohol
sleep
leisure
When facing temptation, what are the most problematic desires?
minutes spent online provided by comScore So yes social networking can be addictive, but why? A new study conducted by MIT and the University of Milan suggests there are chemical reasons behind the addiction. Researchers had 30 participants look at pictures of nature, solve math problems and check Facebook while they monitored blood volume, pulse, pupil dilation, etc. The study found users showed more positive responses to Facebook than the pictures or math problems. Oddly enough, the reactions users showed when logging onto Facebook were similar to those when people play a musical instrument or do other creative activities. The study said “biological signals revealed that Facebook use can evoke a psychophysiological state characterized by [positive emotions] and high arousal.” The results of the study supported the researchers hypothesis that the rise in popularity of social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook is due to the pleasurable chemical state users experience.
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Of all the time spent on social networks, 75% is spent on Facebook.
Say you are finally fed up with Facebook. It takes up too much time and is the perfect procrastination device. The relationships you have with your 1739 “friends” feel shallow. You are tired of going through your day mentally posting things to your Facebook wall. So you quit. What happens now? On the plus side, many people reported feeling more social when interacting with people and even more relaxed without endless status updates flowing through their lives. However, on the downside, if most of your friends have a Facebook, you may feel left out from Facebook jokes, or feel the urge to share or stalk. Senior Ciara Turner quit Facebook at the beginning of November and lived to tell about her experience. Lancer Express: Why did you quit Facebook? Ciara Turner: I quit because I was extremely addicted. I would spend hours online. I wanted to focus on school work and have more time for everything else. Not only that
Facebook is the 3rd largest web property online.
but people write things on there that I didn’t see a point in reading. Statuses and comments people would never say in person. It’s just so full of unneeded drama. LE: How did people react when you told them that you were going to quit Facebook? C: People actually supported the decision. Sometimes people are shocked and others say they wish they could quit but they all have some reason they are tied to it. LE: Benefits of quitting Facebook? Consequences? C: I believe I have a lot more time since I quit, and I know I have control to end bad habits. I also hear about things my friends write and the drama and think “I am so glad I don’t have to read that kind of thing daily.” However, it’s hard when doing group projects because everyone connects on Facebook. But I’ve acclimated so it’s alright. I also miss out on sharing photos and seeing my friends’ pictures for events I go to.
Facebook has over 800,000,000 active users..
Of all social networking sites, Facebook is #1 in 127 countries.
socailnetworkingwatch.com
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