The Impact of Facebook on Social-Comparison and Happiness: Evidence from a Natural experiment

Summary

A study by Ayala Arad, Ohad Barzilay, and Maayan Perchik from Tel Aviv University's Coller School of Management reveals that Facebook use might reduce happiness. While previous research was inconclusive, the study found that Facebook users engage more in social comparison than non-users. Despite understanding that posts don't always reflect reality, users—especially younger ones—suffer from comparing their lives to others. The study provides the first empirical evidence showing a negative impact of Facebook on users' happiness, with frequent interactions like liking and commenting contributing to unhappiness.

Takeaways

• 😀 Facebook helps maintain social relationships by keeping users connected with family and friends.
• 😀 A recent study suggests that using Facebook might actually decrease a user’s happiness.
• 😀 Previous studies were inconclusive about the direction of the effect on happiness from Facebook use.
• 😀 The study conducted by Ayala Arad, Ohad Barzilay, and Maayan Perchik used a controlled sample to avoid selection bias.
• 😀 The study compared Facebook users and non-users in a security-related organization where Facebook use was restricted for some employees.
• 😀 Participants were surveyed about their social experiences, social comparison, and happiness levels.
• 😀 Facebook users engage in more social comparison compared to non-users, which negatively impacts their happiness.
• 😀 Users are aware that their friends’ posts may not always represent reality, but social comparison still affects them.
• 😀 The study found that younger Facebook users suffer more from social comparison due to higher levels of interaction (likes, comments, tags).
• 😀 This study provides the first empirical evidence linking Facebook usage to a decrease in happiness.

Q & A

What was the main purpose of the study conducted by Ayala Arad, Ohad Barzilay, and Maayan Perchik?

The main purpose of the study was to determine whether using Facebook affects users' happiness, and to establish if there is a causal relationship between Facebook usage and happiness levels.

What previous findings about Facebook users and happiness were mentioned in the study?

Previous studies indicated that Facebook users tend to be less happy than non-users, but they were inconclusive regarding whether Facebook usage causes unhappiness or if unhappy people simply use Facebook more.

How did the researchers control for selection bias in their study?

The researchers controlled for selection bias by conducting their study in a security-related organization, where some employees were forbidden from using Facebook while others could use it. This setup allowed them to compare Facebook users and non-users without participants choosing their own status.

What were the main factors surveyed among the study participants?

Participants were surveyed about the positive and negative experiences of their friends, the degree to which they engaged in social comparison, and their own happiness levels.

What key finding did the researchers discover regarding social comparison and Facebook usage?

The researchers found that Facebook users engage in social comparison more than non-users, which negatively affects their happiness. This was particularly true for younger users.

Did Facebook users have an accurate perception of others' lives on the platform?

Contrary to common belief, Facebook users did not have a biased perception of their friends' lives. They understood that the posts they saw on Facebook did not always represent reality.

How does social comparison affect Facebook users’ happiness?

While users are aware that others' posts might not represent the full reality, engaging in more social comparison still undermines their happiness, especially for younger users.

Why do younger Facebook users suffer more from social comparison?

Younger users tend to comment, tag, and like their friends' posts and photos more frequently. This increased engagement amplifies their tendency to engage in social comparison, which in turn decreases their happiness.

What was the significance of this study in the context of social media research?

This study is significant because it is the first to provide empirical evidence on the impact of Facebook usage on users' happiness, showing that Facebook usage can indeed have a negative effect on happiness.

How does this study challenge the common perception of Facebook and happiness?

The study challenges the common perception that Facebook helps users maintain happiness by connecting them with others. Instead, it shows that Facebook usage, especially through social comparison, may reduce users' overall happiness.