Facebook depression is it caused or is Facebook just a tool? I’ve learned a lot about Facebook Depression but I still have one source to get through. My 4th and final source is “The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families” by Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe gets straight to the point by calling Facebook Depression a new phenomenon. Facebook Depression is now according to this article something they believe to be as real as cyberbullying or sexting
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O'Keeffe even goes on to define it “as depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression” Do people just experience depression the minute they jump on Facebook? Not probable. As the article goes on O'Keeffee explains “Acceptance by and contact with peers is an important element of adolescent life… As with offline depression, preadolescents and adolescents who suffer from Facebook depression are at risk for social isolation” In one way it doesn’t make any sense that a “social network” could cause social isolation because that’s the whole point of the website to share with others, yet in another light there are people who post who may not actually have any real friends. Meaning they post to their peers to get likes but that may be all the social interaction they may get.
The article concludes by addressing that Pediatricians are to be held responsible to educate people about Facebook Depression. O'Keeffe thinks that “Pediatricians can help parents understand that what is happening online is an extension of these underlying issues and that parents can be most helpful if they understand the core issues and have strategies for dealing with them.” My audience is around college students, so, Why would we expect our parents to be held responsible for being educated? I think it’s because parents are the ones who worry the most and should be the first held responsible for noticing that their child could be experiencing Facebook Depression.
This source certainly raised some new questions: Is it possible that teens and young adults just stay clear of Facebook until they're fully grown?, Should Colorado health officials be held responsible for trying to improve youth's self-esteem?
As I said I have learned about Facebook Depression throughout this blog research project. I initially thought Facebook could only be used as a tool to put your thoughts online including the sad ones. My views have changed the more studies and articles I read because there are actually a few aspects of Facebook I honestly believe could make someone feel depressed and those might be the things that cause people to write the thoughts they have in the first place.
I still ponder though just because some people do encounter some of those feelings will it eventually happen to everyone. I would also be interested in knowing more about why we feel the need to share how we feel online in the first place. In my final argumentative essay I want to argue that people use Facebook as a tool more than they get depressed from using the site. Throughout my research it is proven that they can find evidence of actual depression from the analysis of college student’s statuses.
O'Keeffe, Gwenn Schurgin, and Kathleen Clarke-Pearson. "The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families." Pediatrics 127.4 (2011): 800-804.
First of all your topic is interesting, I didn't even know Facebook Depression was a thing. I think its interesting how Pediatricians are to be held responsible for educating this topic.
ReplyDeleteI am glad I could educate about something new.
DeleteYeah my 2nd blog post talked about how people Facebook stalk and how the envy comes into play.
ReplyDelete