The Sydney University of Technology found several reasons to reflect on the use of social media in our lives.
Photo: Tracy Le Blanc / Pexels
The University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, conducted an investigation in which found 46 harmful effects linked to the use of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Damages include anxiety, guilt, and incitement to suicide, among many others.
The author of the study, Layla Boroon, commented that beyond mental health, the use of social networks causes effects that can be grouped into six themes: “cost of social sharing”, “annoying content”, “privacy issues”, “Security threats”, “cyberbullying” and “poor performance”.
Among the most important problems related to the use of these social networks, the scientists listed the anxiety, depression, bullying, incitement to suicide, cyberbullying, crime, jealousy and overexposure to information.
The study also found that the use of these platforms leads to bankruptcyor economic, as it is a way for cyber fraud, social engineering for fraudulent purposes, poor job performance, incitement to financial risk and poor academic performance.
The study reviewed more than 50 research articles published between 2003 and 2018, with the aim of analyzing the findings that occurred from the birth of Facebook, to the present day, where it and other networks such as Instagram or Twitter enjoy great popularity.
Until now, most of the academic research on social media had focused on its benefits and positive potential, leaving aside the negative effects.
For this reason, Australian researchers decided to analyze the “dark side” of social networks, to balance the information on the subject.
According to studies, some people live social networks more intensely than others, but many came to suffer severe problems from its use.
Following, the 46 negative effects found by researchers at the Sydney University of Technology:
- Publish private information
- Misrepresentation of our words
- Cheated
- Misuse of information
- Waste of time
- Waste of energy
- Panic
- Irritation
- Stress
- Depression
- Guilty feeling
- Jealousy
- Loneliness
- Adding to distraction
- Deterioration of mood
- Reduced self-esteem / confidence.
- Addiction to the use of social networks
- Information overload
- Waste of money
- Work overload
- Willingness and possibility of taking financial risks
- Inappropriate posts
- Aggressive behaviors
- Anxiety
- Self-dissatisfaction
- Low quality content
- Silly jokes
- Being exposed to sexual images / messages
- Offensive content
- Lack of privacy
- Privacy violation
- Lack of online security
- Unsolicited messages
- Identity fraud
- Theft of personal data
- Cyber bullying behavior
- Malicious software
- Social engineering
- Phishing risks
- Feeling of abuse
- Being harassed
- Conflict with others
- Incitement to suicide
- Minor offences
- Low academic performance
- Low work performance
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Source-eldiariony.com