Is Facebook Bad for Your Health?
February 23rd, 2009
According to Dr. Aric Sigman, a psychologist and biologist, social networking websites like Facebook pose a serious risk to your health.
Dr. Sigman claims that the use of social networking websites reduce face to face interaction, and in turn, has biological effects that can harm our health. In fact, these effects can be serious enough to alter gene function, impair immunity, alter hormone balance, affect mental clarity, and even increase the risk of cancer and heart disease. That’s quite a claim, but does it really apply to everyone?
The Effects of Human Interaction
Anyone who’s been in a long distance relationship or separated from their family will surely testify to the importance of direct interaction. Spending time with friends and family face to face can provide a sense of enjoyment and fulfillment that is difficult, if not impossible, to replicate. In her book, Molecules Of Emotion, Dr. Candace Pert uses her scientific background to explain how these emotions can significantly influence your health.
Based on the premise that positive emotions promote happiness and health, and that face to face interaction has a stronger influence on emotions, it follows that less direct forms of interaction can deprive us of these benefits. According to Dr. Sigman, we’ve likely evolved to depend on certain aspects of face to face interaction that can’t be experienced any other way.
In this regard, I believe Dr. Sigman’s claim, but there’s another perspective that also needs to be considered. Let’s start by taking a closer look at the benefits of social networking websites.
Reconnect with Old Friends
Like many people, I originally thought websites like MySpace and Facebook were a fad, a waste of time, and nothing more than another opportunity to promote yourself. That began to change when I got a Facebook email request from a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years. For various reasons, we’ve all lost touch with old friends. Reconnecting can not only be enjoyable, but it may also inspire you to catch up and share new experiences in person.
Make New Friends
Social networking websites like Facebook also provide opportunities to become friends with people that you’d never have met otherwise. In a way, it makes the world a closer community. Some people have even met their spouse on social networking websites and this is something important to consider. The direct interactions associated with a happy marriage can have an amazing impact, and for some people, social networking websites have made the difference in being able to discover this.
Stay in Touch
In addition to the ease of reconnecting with old friends, social networking websites also make it easier to stay in touch. Most of us can barely manage to keep up with the most important people in our lives and completely lose touch with the more distant friends and acquaintances that we also care about. Although websites like Facebook don’t replace the value of an in person visit, they certainly help you stay connected when more personal forms of interaction aren’t convenient.
A Different Perspective
Strong relationships with friends and family promote happiness, and happiness promotes good health. If social networking websites provide the opportunity to create and enrich these relationships, then they also have the potential to benefit your health.
The impact that social networking websites will have on your health greatly depends on how you use them. When given the option, choosing the internet over face to face interaction is usually not a good idea. Additionally, because it’s so easy to interact on the internet and because it’s so public, indecent intentions can quickly turn into damaged relationships or even divorce. However, used judiciously, social networking websites can benefit your life in ways that may not be possible otherwise.
Our health is a direct result of the daily lifestyle choices we make. How we choose to use the internet is no different. After all, even vitamins can be considered a health risk if used inappropriately!
If you’re already using Facebook, or plan to give it a try, I’d be happy to be your friend!
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Is Dr. Sigman off his rocker? I would agree that if the ONLY human interaction someone has is through a computer your health (and eyesight) can be compromised. But limited daily use seems fine (I’m not too concerned that catching up with old friends is going to increase my risk of heart disease).
I think your arguments about the enjoyment and entertainment that comes along with reconnecting with old friends and meeting new people are on target – healthy people are happy people! This is a little off topic, but I recently watched a news segment about longevity in remote villages where there were a disproportionate number of people who lived well in to their 100s. In all 3 of the cultures studied in this report, close personal and familial ties, among other factors (presumably diet and exercise) were cited as a key to living longer. Sorry I don’t have the source.
Hi Jenny,
I’m not at all surprised by what you saw regarding longevity in remote villages. In addition to the familial ties, these people tend to live lifestyles that are much closer to what nature intended.