Facebook: Some Positive and Negative Psycho-Social Effects Essay Example

main argument currently is that Facebook has resulted to some negative psychological effects and many of the effects are invisible. Some of psychological costs of Facebook are stipulated below;
Facebook makes one have a psychological feeling that he or she is inferior in comparison to other people. One way of one establishing whether he or she is performing well in life is through checking on the wellbeing of others. One way to easily check on that is through Facebook. Facebook allows one to check on his or her friends. If one checks on friends in Facebook and sees friend posting pictures showing their achievements like promotions in work or even the success, will feel inferior and thick that life is unfair which is a psychological health issue (Lee, 2013, pg. 42).

According to In Abraham & In Hassanien, (2012, pg. 86), one of the psychological impacts of a person passively following other people in Facebook is as a result of feeling envious. Facebook makes one to envy friends’ successes. This is especially as a result of one seeing his or her friends posting their achievements in life including promotion or even purchase of expensive cars. This can makes one feel like he or she is not sharing on the success of friends or people who are close.

In addition, Facebook has been known to create a false consensus (Aneshensel et al, 2012, pg. 113). Just like Google search in which in which two individuals can such for same information and being given different results, Facebook just like any all other social networks in which information have been personalized. Because of sorted function of Facebook, posts that are high

in an individual’s feed are from those friends who have common influences. Accessing posts from people who are like-minded may give individual false information from a reality.

Another psychological health effect of Facebook is its effect on connecting a person with people that he or she will rather forget (Anderson, 2012, pg. 28). For example, through Facebook, one is bound to connect with a person who reminds him or her of painful times of life. Through Facebook, one can access information of a person who used to cause affliction in life and this can bring back bad memories which is psychologically unhealthy.

In addition, Facebook has an effect of making partners to feel jealous of each other. Many marriages have been known to break because of stalking in which partners tries to follow their partners in Facebook. A woman can feel jealous if she sees another woman liking his husband’s photos or updates which might result to unhealthy relationship. The same applies if a man notices another man liking each and every photo and comment by his wife. This cause instances of jealous which is psychologically unhealthy (boyd, 2014, pg. 73).

Facebook has an effect of revealing information to a potential employer (boyd, 2014, Pg. 36). Some people have missed up on employment based on the posts on their Facebook account. Currently, many employers are checking on social Medias in deciding on in deciding on potential workers for their organization. For example, if one decides to update negative information about him like how he or she can be easily depressed and a potential employer accesses this information, it can negatively affect the chances of employment which can affect

one psychologically. Another psychological effect of Facebook is its addictive nature. Many people who are using Facebook have become addictive checking on the profiles from time to time. This can affect one especially in job performance. In addition, many accidents that are occurring have been associated with the addiction that people have with social Medias resulting to distraction especially while driving (OCSC 2013 et al, 2013, pg. 111).

Counter Argument

Although some argue that Facebook have resulted to some psychological health effects to users. There are those who believe that Facebook has resulted to psychological benefits health. Many argue that through Facebook people socialize, this results to mitigation of psychological depression and also anxiety. This is especially important as reduces psychological diseases including stress (Hartsell& Bernstein, 2013, pg. 23). In addition, Facebook helps people to develop social relationship which helps to mitigate issues that are relating to stress. Through Facebook, people suffering with anxiety and depression to have great satisfaction of life. In addition, there are various groups in Facebook that offers support to people who are struggling and going through difficult circumstances (Turkle, 2011, pg. 47). Indeed through Facebook, people are able to interact, create relationships that help to mitigate issues that are associated with stress which is psychologically unhealthy. These are some of the psychological benefits that are associated with Facebook.

Rebuttal for Counter Argument

Although Facebook has resulted to some health benefits as stipulated above, there are number of psychological health issues that associated with it. For example, Facebook can also result to depression especially if an individual makes a negative comparison with other others (International Conference on Informatics et al, 2015, pg. 117, Pg. 60).

These are instances for example when one compares the negative qualities he or she has with other positive qualities that other users in Facebook possess. In addition, instances such as cyber bullying may result to anxiety and depression among children. Envying that can be as result of regular Facebook using can result to depression. These among issues that includes Facebook addiction among other psychological health issues refutes the benefits that are argued to be accrued from regular Facebook use. These shows that even though Facebook helps in helping issues of anxiety and depression, it has the same effect to some group of people and hence its use not psychologically healthy (OCSC 2013 et al 2013, pg. 73).

Current Paper’s Position

Although there are some psychological issues that have been associated with Facebook use, there are a number of psychological benefits. Most of the negative psychological health issues that are associated with Facebook are due to irresponsible use of this social media. For example, instead of a user posting pictures and updating information that can impact negatively especially that can impact negatively on an individual’s chances of being employed. Indeed some people have secured jobs because of the positive information that post on Facebook. Moreover through Facebook, people who have no courage to engage in a face to face conversation and who are suffering from psychological loneliness are now having platform where they can engage freely, share their grievances and be helped.

In addition, some of the encouraging groups in Facebook have helped some individuals to go through some psychological traumas faced. In Generally, Facebook is an effective platform for individuals to engage and even explore solutions to some

of the psychological challenges faced. Some of the psychological healthy issues associated with Facebook can easily controlled through responsive utilization of Facebook.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Facebook has been associated with psychological health issues including addiction, jealousness, anxiety and creation of false consensus. Although associated with psychological health issues, there are some psychological health benefits that have been associated with Facebook. These include control of anxiety and depressions. The current paper argues that the psychological health issues associated with Facebook can be easily mitigated through responsive use of Facebook as one the most utilized social media. This is because Facebook is a very important platform of interaction that will result to psychological health solutions.

Social Perspective of Facebook

Main Argument

The introduction of internet has greatly impacted on the level of socialization in the world. One of the social media platforms that have greatly impacted on the way people communicate and interact is Facebook. Sociology has a discipline is concerned on the social changes, the level of interaction and even how people live their lives (Eisenlauer, 2013, Pg. 65). Although Facebook as come in hand especially in improving social life, many sociologist are arguing on the negative impacts that are associated with Facebook especially from the sociological perspective. Below are some of the negative sociological perspectives that are associated with Facebook;

In exploring the sociological perspective of Facebook, many sociologists explores the gender profiling, moral rule, cultural capital and Dramaturgical theory associated with the photos that are posted in Facebook (Bauerlein, 2011, pg. 10). In looking at the Dramaturgical theory, the costumes and even the role of Facebook Users are analyzed to bring out the social perspective. Some of the photos that

are posted in Facebook brings out the materialistic nature of the world that we live in. This helps to bring out people’s impressions of life, how life is perceived and even how we give in life (Jerkovic, 2010, pg. 70).This has a very great influence on the level of socialization. For example, a person in may decide post a picture in his or her Facebook profile in which he or she looks away from the camera, this can bring an impression of such a person not real caring about anything. A friend with such an impression may cut any tie with such a person which will impact negatively in the level of socialization. In addition, if person posts pictures that show his or her materialistic level other people who feel inferior may cut any association with such a person.This shows that Facebook can help bring out the socio classes which afflicting to socialization (Noor et al, 2012, Pg.60).

As already seen, Facebook as a socio media acts as platform where individuals stay connected and interact. A parent who decides to enter a world of Facebook assumesthe character of being friend to a child and not a parent. This is harmful as it can affect the imbalance of power between a child and a parent. For example, as a requirement, before a parent becomes a child’s friend, he or she need to send a friend request to a child and a child need to approve, this may make a child feel like he or she has more control. In addition both the child and parent who are active in Facebook posts all information about social life, this

can negatively affect the relationship between a child and a parent especially the respect between the two (Statsky, 2013, Pg. 586).
Another effect of Facebook that can negatively affect the level of interaction is cultural capital. Generally, there are three forms of this culture which include embodied culture, objectified and institutionalized. The kind of photo one posts can categorize him or her in any of these cultures for example if one decides to post a photo in which he or she is in a graduation gown, he depicts institutionalized capital culture which represents a sign of competence. Such differences in cultures can make one feel alienated which can affect negatively the level of socialization in addition it can help bring out the differences in classes (Nadeau &Helly, 2016, Pg. 12).

In addition sociologist argues that Facebook affects the moral of society and affects the way people live. As seen herein, the basic requirement for one to be a registered member in Facebook is to have more than 13 years. A 13 years old is teenage, such a teenage accessing information posted in Facebook and the nude pictures may affect his or her moral behavior. A person may decide copy other people’s cultures based on the information in Facebook that may result to alienation and hence impact negatively the level of socialization (Akin & Akin, 2015, pg. 348).

Counter Argument

Some sociologists argue that Facebook has helped increase the level of interaction, communication in addition to improving the way people live. There a number of factors those are cited to support this.

Through Facebook, an individual is able to connect with a lot of people; these are people from all walks

of life (McRaney, 2011, pg. 14). Through Facebook, one associates with different people some who shares same qualities of life for example recipes and even music, people share ideas and help in improving different perspectives of life. Jerkovic, (2010, pg. 45) says that most people who attain high levels of leadership are those who have social connections, Facebook is one of the platforms that can aid one to attain this level.

Through Facebook, one can easily estimate the level of intimacy (Kendall, 2014, pg. 93). The level of interaction that an individual will have with another in Facebook can help bring out how close one is with another. For example, an intense level of communication through use of Facebook, sharing of photos and ideas can be used to depict a very intense relationship. This way, one will be able to establish a person he or she can easily associate with a fact which shows importance of Facebook in socialization. Generally, those who refute the negative impacts of Facebook argue that Facebook has raised the level of interaction among people and has aided in bringing out the idea of globalization. In addition, it has aided in people in learning about other people’s cultures which has increased the level of interaction.

Rebuttal for Counter Argument

Even though Facebook has aided in increasing the level of interaction, some of its benefits can be downfalls. Park & Morton, (2015) says that one can easily confuse the idea of digital intimacy with a true intimacy. For example, many people have been exploited by people who they chat with in Facebook by thinking that they are close with them but in the real sense

such people are there to use them. A person can be easily seduced to think that connecting with a person in Facebook and being very close together through sharing of information stipulates a very intense relationship. Such a person a person can be an easy target for exploitation. In addition, Facebook relationship can result to contagion effect. For example, if a friend in Facebook is lonely, there are high chances that he or she will transmit such moods to another person. A person is susceptible to Facebook moodiness depending on the person he or she interacts with. Through socio media relationships, one easily compares himself with others in most cases, a person’s successes are diminished and failure amplified. This is dangerous as it will affect a person’s level of socialization.

Position of the Paper

The current paper stipulates that Facebook is a very vital platform of socialization as it increases the level of interaction, communication and can even help improve our lives positively. For one to access the benefits of Facebook, there are a number of adjustments that needs to be performed to mitigate the negative social effects of Facebook. This includes; limit the time spent in Facebook, this way you be less affected by such a factors like contagion effect. There is also a need for one to check his or her emotions. For example if one experiences effects of distress, there is a need log off from Facebook. There is no need for one to compare his or herself with others and one should establish a balance between offline and online life. This way, one will not be so inclined to Facebook relations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Facebook

use has both negative and positive impacts on social life of an individual. Some sociologists argue that Facebook has impacted negatively on the socio life of users including the negative effect on genders issues and the effect is has on setting out different social classes. Others argue that through Facebook, the level of interaction has escalated which has increased our own social life. The current paper suggest that Facebook can be a very important socialization platform if only some precautions are taken by users include creating a balance between offline and online life, this way, the negative social impact of Facebook will be mitigated.

Conclusion

Facebook can result to negative effects on an individual’s social life and psychology if utilized inappropriately. Facebook as a platform that enables connectivity and interaction should be used to benefit the user and not cause harm. All the negative effects that are associated to Facebook both to an individual’s psychology and social life can be easily mitigated if this social site can be used responsibly. The only way that this can be achieved is through controlling the pictures and information shared on Facebook. People need to create balance between online and offline life, spending less amount of time in Facebook is one of the strategies that can be used to solve the negativepsycho-social effects. In addition, people need to differentiate between online relationship and real life relationships, people need not to be attached to Facebook relationship for this may affect negatively both psychologically and socially.

References

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