Do you suffer from Facebook Addiction Disorder? If so, you can thank Mark Zuckerberg, whose social media brainchild turned ten this week. Jimmy Kimmel congratulates the 29-year-old zillionaire, and walks through some of the effects Facebook has had on our lives in the past ten years.
While there are a whole lotta ‘likes,’ grandchild and cat pictures on Facebook, there is also ample opportunity to wreck your marriage, with one third of divorces in the U.S. being attributed to Facebook. Maybe it isn’t such a great idea to look up your old 3rd grade boyfriend? Jimmy’s report touches upon FAD or ‘Facebook Addiction Disorder.’
While it only adds to their misery, some people can’t seem to break the connection.
In many cases people detail their daily minutiae to an extent that leaves no challenge to a self respecting burglar. Helpful updates detail when they are leaving, how long they will be gone – and you already know if they have a guard dog, as you’ll have seen him wearing his Halloween and/or Christmas costume.
Of course a more serious complication of Facebook is depression. If one spends enough time at the site, at some point it will appear that ‘everyone I know is going fantastic places, doing exciting things, and sharing photos of their wonderful families. I’m sitting here in my dull, boring unfulfilled life, wasting time and envying them on Facebook!’ It’s easy to see why someone might turn to burglary for a little payback and excitement!
While Jimmy’s report touched upon the regrettable impact of posting one’s spring break photos and slogans, when one is trying to enter the job market; it didn’t mention another serious factor in depression and suicide among the young everywhere – bullying.
A study reveals Facebook is the worst social networking site for internet trolling, and bullying is now more prevalent online than anywhere else, with the most bullied group being 19-year-old boys. According to the report, 49 per cent of those targeted by bullies were victimised off-line, while 65 per cent of teenagers were subjected to abuse in cyberspace. Only 37 per cent of those who had experienced trolling ever reported it to the social network where it took place, the report found
While there has always been bullying I cannot believe that it took place to this extent. What can possibly account for this major rise in bullying? Is social media to blame, or is it only part of the problem? What is wrong with our kids…With us?