Monday, March 28, 2011

Diagnosed with Facebook depression?

As Facebook seems to be taking over the world it was only a matter of time before Facebook Depression was diagnosed.


Researchers disagree on whether it's simply an extension of depression some kids feel in other circumstances, or a distinct condition linked with using the online site, MSNBC.com reports.

But apparently there are unique aspects of Facebook that can make it a particularly tough social landscape to navigate for kids already dealing with poor self-esteem, according Dr. Gwenn O'Keeffe, a Boston-area pediatrician.

One of the main causes of Facebook Depression it seems, are those smiley, happy updates.

With in-your-face friends' tallies, status updates and photos of happy-looking people having great times, Facebook pages can make some kids feel even worse if they think they don't measure up.

It can be more painful than sitting alone in a school cafeteria or other real-life encounters that can make kids feel down, O'Keeffe said, because Facebook provides a skewed view of what's really going on. Online, there's no way to see facial expressions or read body language that provide context.

I’m not sure why this study only concentrates on kids. What about adults for Facebook’s sake? I can bet my last moldy tea bag that on a cold wet day I’ll log onto Facebook to see somebody’s pictures of themselves lying on a beach on Hawaii.

They’ll be some comment added about how the Martinis were not quite as satisfying as hoped for.

This is usually a cue to go downstairs and do something almost, but not quite as satisfying, as sipping Martins in the sun. Cleaning up cat sick, for example.

And it’s not just holiday snaps from people wealthier than me, in other words everyone, that has the ability to frustrate and depress. Here’s some recent status updates for example....

Face facts.The lame duck England manager does not give two hoots. That's why he never talks to players, despite being criticised for it. He should be speaking face to face to players like Rio about the captaincy, but can't even phone. That's what he gets paid for. "I hope in the next weeks, I will meet Rio," he's just said. What is he doing? Now Gareth Barry is captain! Capello should just go.

OK but do we really give a rats, Martin…

is about to start "The Woman in White" and is hoping she'll be pleasantly surprised by it

You won’t Sally. It’s tedious. You’ll get more satisfaction from listening to Phil Collins. Well errr.

Changing brake pads...


A useful thing to do I’m sure, Rob. But do we really want to know about it?

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

Oh I actually like this one Tamara. Even if you are a Republican.

Good turnout at the Appraisal Fair...saw some great antiques!

Antiques at an appraisal? And I thought you’d gone there to see a duck billed platypus in heat.

crap day. we're all sick, a batch of leaky nappies mean i have to totally change j&o's clothes every hour or so & now our tyres have been slashed for 3rd time in residents-only garage after we complained to building company again about damp


Well thanks. At least this one doesn’t make me feel depressed about my own life in comparison.

OK, I am going to sleepnow. Been baning my head against my homework and the head really does hurt. But I go to sleep tonight knowing that my Rams (I graduated i q9-something) have done it. I go to sleep that the world knows where Richmond is. God love ya VCU and the Spiders. And let us NOT forget the women's games...The march from Richmond is once again upon the 'league' ...


Thanks Joe. I’m going to sleep a lot more soundly knowing you are asleep and not roaming the streets with your Spiders. And I knew where Richmond was anyhow.

Melting tapered candles in my wine bottles the day after makes my drinking trophies more classy and makes me look like less of an alcoholic.


I like this one. OK I have to say that because she’s likely to read this blog. But it’s definitely an upper, not least because it makes me feel less like an alcoholic.

17 comments:

  1. I dropped off FB and Twitter for just that reason. I usually ended up annoyed and/or bored. A friend sent me a cartoon showing a solitary man at a funeral holding up a sign; "he had 1200 friends on Facebook!"

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  2. You mean I have to take time out of my real depression for Facebook depression? I don't have time....

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  3. Joe's status reminded me of this:
    Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

    I've said it before and I'll say it again. Facebook is the devil.

    And can I guess that the status update you liked was Pearl's?

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  4. It is interesting that facebook, the twatter and all those other social networking sites are meant to share information / connect people but in reality, countless hours are lost with people sitting in front of their computer screens instead of them being out there in the real world living their lives.

    On another note, thanks for helping me make it through to the next round in the blogging tournamnet. Today is the last day to vote for Round 2. I appreciate your support!!

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  5. Facebook Depression is not just for kids!! I swear I get it too. It seems whenever I'm in a bad mood or feeling lonely, facebook makes it worse because I see all my friends posting pics of themselves looking gorgeous and having a good time and commenting with each other and I'm ignored and fat and ugly and alone. Lol. It really does drag my self-esteem down pretty low sometimes. I know that sounds stupid, but...sigh. :(

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  6. Apparently fb is not as good as twitter for separating the happy from the unhappy--another study says tweeters tend to divide themselves into two camps that don't interact. As for me, I've been guilty of comments like this: "Enough of the Hawaii pics already!"

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  7. It surprises me quite often what people will post on Facebook. Some update every ten minutes (or so it seems). Others give very private information that no one really wants to read. And others post the most boring, inane statuses that no one could possibly care about. I hadn't thought about Facebook causing depression, but I suppose that is possible.

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  8. The too much information people drive me crazy, but I'm not sure facebook would be as fun without them?

    Looks like you got the picture thing figured out. What was the deal?

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  9. muahahaha David ~ I wondered if you were going to post my update and there it was ~ the last one... yup I am a lush and if I lived in your town you know I would be your #1 Roadie/groupie as you do wine tastings around the town.

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  10. ha Li - the sign is funny. Really it's an artificial world. I have like 300 fb friends but can count the number of real friends on one hand. Indeed Oilfield - we all need some fb depression. Really Mollie - it was Lidia's actually. I don't think Pearl is on fb. she might be though as I have sort of lost track. I think they breed isolation Empress; I have voted, tho. Well cheer up Jennifer. You know they're having a crappy time really. For sure JoLynne. I once questioned in an update why I found myself browsing through wedding pics of people I didn't even know. I know Daisy, some people post for the hell of it... mind you I have been guilty myself. I know Leah. and if nobody comments on your status you feel like a leper, thanx for stopping by. For sure Tim. It was weird pics weren't posting yesterday.I cleared a few things and it seems OK today. Yeah I save the best til last Lidia. Thanx - you might not be a groupie if you tried it, tho...

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  11. FB is an attention whore's dream. I got one of those in my friend list and had to hide all her comments as they were put up solely with the aim of getting sympathetic responses. I'm generally at my least sympathetic when under obligation. The temptation to come out with some flippant comment is almost too much. :)

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  12. Great post. I can see this offered in Psychology 101 next year.

    Cheers!
    Julie
    Julie Magers Soulen Photography

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  13. I keep pennies in my old bottles of Bombay Sapphire. I have this theory that if I can ever manage to fill one up it will be the exact amount to purchase another bottle. But by the time I'm done drinking it I'm usually to snockered to count well...

    Oh and FB is lame.

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  14. for sure Sarah, there are a lot of people just wanting fb sympathy. Thanks Julie - I'll look out for it. Nice theory Anna, and thanks for dropping by. It's kind of lame, for sure.

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  15. Facebook depression? Never heard of it. That's probably because I don't go near Facebook.

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  16. People being nosey depresses me and that's all facebook really is. A way to be nosey from the comfort of your home.

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  17. I hardly go there...making friends with total strangers and then have them throw their happy/miserable life on your face every half an hour or so isn't my cup of tea....I use it for quick chats with old friends who hate emailing. I prefer Twitter where the strangers are less personal and more topical...and there is always blogs to fill my rapidly emptying brain cells.

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On Blog PTSD

Now then. What the heck. It seems I had forgotten about my blog completely rather than just neglecting it this time. To return after so long...