Facebook Anxiety

Social networking is driving us crazy, oftentimes literally. I asked ten people about whether or not they experience stress or anxiety from Facebook. Opinions varied, but many admitted to feeling stressed about missing out, messing up, and misbehaving.

A study conducted in 2009 determined that Facebook is the most widely used networking site and as of May 2012 the site has over 900 million active users. Critics of the site feel that having all of your content so public can lead to problems with friendships, self esteem, and even damage relationships.


According to an Anxiety UK study, 51% of the users polled said that Facebook and Twitter has had a negative effect on their lives. They said they were experiencing trouble sleeping and feeling insecure and overwhelmed about the amount of information they get from constantly checking their news feeds. 


Among those I surveyed, most said that the main cause of stress comes from missing out on events with friends.


"Its uncomfortable when I see my friends did something and they didn't invite me," says Ethan Miller, a 16-year-old student from Los Angeles. "It doesn't happen much but when it does I feel weird about it, like my friends don't want to hang out with me."


Another main cause for stress was reconnecting with old friends.


"Its just awkward sometimes," says Jack Curtin. The 17-year-old student from South Carolina says he has received friend requests from people he used to know but doesn't necessarily want to keep in touch with. "I'll get a message from a kid I went to middle school with and it's just weird because we don't have anything in common anymore." Curtin goes on to say that he has over 600 friends on Facebook, so you can be sure more than a few were awkward reacquainting.


The last issue people seemed to have with social networking is portraying themselves in a more positive and responsible way than they would in real life.

"I am calculated when I post since it is visible by family, friends, and business associates," Wayne Allred, a 47-year-old engineer from Orlando Florida says. "Each group may take what is said in a different way."

This is also an issue for Sierra Roberts, 17, of Rantoul Illinois. When asked if she has to monitor what she posts, she said, "Yeah, because bosses will see it." This issue has grown to be a problem, especially for teens and young adults looking for jobs and trying to get into college.

Emiliano Rojas, a 17-year-old Mexican student, has a more laid back attitude about the topic. When asked if he ever worries about how he portrays himself on the Internet, he simply responded, "Nah man, I am who I am."


For better or worse, it seems that Facebook has affected the lives of many. We've made our lives public and it seems there's no going back. If Facebook is causing stress, which it seems to be, we need to start backing off and trying to reclaim our lives from the Internet.


For more statistics, check out this cool infographic from Online Dating University.