In recent years, research has been continuously conducted on the effect that engagement with so-called "social networks" has on their users. The latest was conducted by experts in the US who claim that engagement with Facebook or Twitter has an impact on the psyche of users, and in fact, directly.
The consequences
Experts from the University of Pittsburgh and Columbia University monitored a thousand Facebook users. They found that just five minutes of Facebook use is enough to have a psychological impact on the user.
According to researchers, five minutes on the popular social network is enough to boost a user's ego and level of impulsivity. Researchers estimate that this sudden change in mood can make the user lose control on various levels. The user may display aggressive or even violent behaviors. It is possible that it makes them eat more, especially fattening foods. It can also lead them to make reckless financial decisions, resulting in losing a lot of money.
The causes
This is the first time that findings have been presented that engaging in social networks can lead to a person losing control. According to the researchers, the main reason for the rapid and drastic effect of social networks on a user's psyche is the fact that communication is impersonal. As they argue, when two people communicate face to face, there are various social and other rules that usually prevent an immediate and intense change in their mental state.
However, when communication is impersonal and takes place electronically, all these rules are "weakened", as the researchers characteristically report. Users tend to present only the positive aspects of themselves, with the degree of positivity being increased by supportive messages and the general acceptance of other users with whom they communicate. This increases the user's self-esteem to such an extent that their personal defenses are greatly reduced and they lose control, developing behaviors that are dangerous for themselves and others.
