Facebook is a social networking website that allows users to
create profiles, communicate with friends and family, play games, and
participate in polls. It can also be used by professionals to market their
services. While it is an easy way to stay in touch with people, excessive use
can have negative impacts on a person's life, leading to behavioral and emotional
difficulties.
Researchers have begun to investigate the psychology of
Facebook addiction. They have developed several scales that measure a number of
factors related to Facebook. For example, one scale is the Bergen Facebook
Addiction Scale (BFAS). This 18-item questionnaire includes items for each of
the six core elements of addiction. These elements are salience, cravings,
conflict, mood modification, withdrawal, and relapse.
Other studies have found that Facebook is related to
depression, social loneliness, and insomnia. However, these results are not
definitive. In fact, some studies have shown that Facebook is not the cause of
these issues. Instead, it may be an underlying factor.
In one study, researchers looked at the relationship between
Facebook use and personality traits. The participants were 20 undergraduate
students who completed a standardized self-report scale. Gender was controlled
for, with males being coded as 0 and females as 1. A bootstrapping procedure
was used to sample the participants across 10,000 samples.
In another study, researchers examined the effect of
loneliness on Facebook usage. Loneliness was associated with higher Facebook
scores. There was a positive correlation between loneliness and depression.
Although the study does not prove cause and effect, it is a good starting point
for investigating the role of loneliness in Facebook addiction.
Researchers used an fMRI to analyze the brains of the
participants. Results showed that those who were addicted to Facebook had more
activity in the amygdala and striatum, which are areas involved in impulsive
behavior.
People who use Facebook as a form of coping with negative
emotions, like stress or anxiety, are more likely to become addicted. They
spend more time on the site, grow their friend list, and are more likely to be
irritable and restless if they are denied access to the site. Similarly, when
they attempt to cut back on their use of the site, they become more restless
and withdraw.
While the term "Facebook addiction" is not yet an
official psychiatric diagnosis, it is important to understand its implications.
It is a problem that can affect a person's entire life, and there is no
effective way to cure it. Rather, people should learn to curb their use and
learn how to minimize the boredom that it causes.