By now it's fairly accepted knowledge that interactions on Facebook and other social media networks can give users surges of happiness. But a new study, called "Threats to Belonging on Facebook: Lurking and Ostracism," has revealed that there's a flipside to that positive emotion: according to pyschology researchers from Australia's University of Queensland, being ignored on social media can trigger low self-esteem.
Here's how they explain it: "In Study 1, participants were either allowed or not allowed to share information on Facebook for 48 hours. Those who were not allowed to share information had lower levels of belonging and meaningful existence. In Study 2, participants engaged in a laboratory-based Facebook activity. Half of the profiles were set up so that participants would not receive any feedback on their status updates. Participants who did not receive feedback on their updates had lower levels of belonging, self-esteem, control, and meaningful existence."
Makes sense.
[via The New York Times]
