Is Facebook Stressing You Out?

Pensive man at laptop in home office

If you’ve found that Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites leave you feeling a little worse, a little more stressed when you’ve been looking at them for a while, you’re not alone.  Studies have found a direct correlation with the amount of time people spend on social media sites and how stressed they are, which could mean a few things. It could mean that more-stressed people spend more time on social media, it could mean that social media is causing more stress, or a combination of both. Other research, however, has connected the stress of social comparison (when we compare our lives to the lives of others–we all do it to some degree) to social media.

What’s worse, because people usually only post the best versions of their lives and experiences but we see the good, bad, and ugly truth of our own, we’re comparing our best and worst to just their best, which gives us a distorted view of how our lives are compared to others’.

There are a few things you can do about this, and they don’t all have to involve logging off. (This is especially true because some social media, such as my Facebook Page About Stress Management, can help you to relieve stress!) Also, staying connected to others, swapping jokes and recipes, and staying current on things you care about can all enrich your life.

Today I suggest that you read more about how to limit the stress of social media social comparison so you can still enjoy what you may love about social media without as much stress from what you don’t love. And while you’re at it, feel free to share my page with people who may want stress relief resources if you’re so inclined. Enjoy your day!