Do you think that the rise in social media has a direct effect on a persons happiness?

Question

NB: depends* on the person (if you pick this please explain what you mean, what type of person and why) 
I am currently watching a show in which 4 party goers with *bad habits* are invited to a convent in an attempt to change their lives for the better. I have not been watching this series (my SO won’t let me 😂) but I have just tuned in. 
The party goers are your average 20+ year olds but extreme in partying, make up, dress sense. 
One explained that it’s harder in this era to be happy, with social media, if you post selfies or updates you are looking for likes and when you don’t get them it makes you upset as you feel like you are worthless. I thought this was very interesting and so decided to bring it here. 
Think about being back in the day where there was no social media, no internet, no phones, was happiness easier to achieve? 
I hope this leads to a nice discussion!

Answer

I’m more depressed that my life isn’t as cool as the kids’ on Stranger Things tbh.

Answer

Studies show that social media has caused higher rise in cases of anxiety, depression and low self-esteem which i absolutely believe.

Answer

I think it depends on how you use and view social media. If you're using it to compare your life to your high school acquaintances then, yes it will have some sort of impact on your happiness. If you use it to stay in touch with others, then it shouldn't have any negative effects.

Answer

While I do think social media can be a wonderful thing (my family lives out of state and that is how they see a lot of photos and updates on my son) I do think it contributes to general unhappiness. Between the events, the likes, the ability to more or less stalk EVERYONE, the filtered pictures... It's just a lot. I've read a few articles talking about how unhealthy how much time we spend on social media can be.

Answer

Depends entirely on who you are and how you use it. It makes me happier and part of the reason I’m still alive today

Answer

Here's some information regarding this subject:
Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that Facebook use can lead to symptoms of depression if the social networking site triggers feelings of envy among its users. Margaret Duffy, a professor and chair of strategic communication at the MU School of Journalism, says that how Facebook users use the site makes a difference in how they respond to it.
Based on our study, as well as on what others have previously found, using Facebook can exert positive effects on well-being. But when it triggers envy among users, that’s a different story. Users should be self-aware that positive self-presentation is an important motivation in using social media, so it is to be expected that many users would only post positive things about themselves. This self-awareness, hopefully, can lessen feelings of envy.”
This was based on a survey of about 700 college students.

Answer

Oh yeah! I think it has a negative impact for the person, especially in regard to how much of their actual life gets shown, or the life they want people to 'believe' they live gets shown. I've noticed this trend with a few friends sadly who always make excuses when asked to hang out (or maybe I just stink), but are posing next to their new Beemer that no one from our circle has seen.

Answer

I think internet and social media is such an awesome thing but at the same time it's horrible because people literally live off of likes and comments and others let it consume them because they think every social media star is actually realistic

Answer

So this is now the only social media I have. I feel a bit happier. Before deactivating my facebook, Instagram, and snapchat, I felt the need to post everything and spent way too much time on there. It became a habit. I would always be following other people's lives and lowkey trying to catch up to them or even one-up them. I cared too much about "likes" and tried put my best self out there instead of truly enjoying things and experiencing life as it comes.

Answer

I started feeling very depressed so one thing I did was delete all my social media apps. It made me feel better not having to care about what people.from high school were doing. Idk why but I feel calmer.

Do you think that the rise in social media has a direct effect on a persons happiness?

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