I’m sure you’ve read about the anxiety and depression, especially among teenagers, as they dealt with humiliation and bullying on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. Also important, how their depression dramatically improved once they signed off the platforms and didn’t return.
In response to reports of ‘anger,’ ‘feeling more on edge,’ and other terms of ‘tension,’ a Harvard University psychiatrist, Ron Perlis, M.D., working with a psychologist and statistician, devised an interesting questionnaire which, thanks to the wonders of the internet, they were able to distribute to almost 50,000 people and ask them about “anger” and “posting online.”
The results of Dr. Perlis’ report appear this week in one of the Journal of the American Medical Association publications and I thought it’s worthwhile as a Health Tip because, well, being “angry,” isn’t good for you. In fact, after you finish this article and guess that you might be one 46% who write ‘angry posts’ online, go back and read this article from the American Psychological Association on the umpteen ways, from your brain to your immune system, from hair growth to your intestines, that stress affects your body.
The statisticians asked about users of four platforms: Facebook,Twitter/X, Instagram and Tik-Tok. Many used multiple platforms. Divided users by age, race, gender, income, area of U.S. Separated users into “passive” (“I read stuff or look at photos”) or “active” (“I write stuff”). And, of course, how many times a day? How many hours a day?
And asked questions about their emotions.
- The average age: 46
- Woman: 58%
- Men: 40%
- Nonbinary 1.1%
- White 66%
- Black 14%
- Hispanic 13%
- Reported use of social media several times a day 39%
- Reported use of social media most of the day 25%
The questions:
“Please indicate how often you have felt or behaved in the following ways, during the past two weeks, including today.” These 5 statements include, “I have been grumpy,” “I have been feeling like I might snap,” “Other people have been getting on my nerves,” “Things have been bothering me more than they normally do,” and “I have been feeling irritable.”
You can see where this is heading:
Social media users, regardless of platform, who were online for longer hours and posted most frequently, experienced progressively worsening irritability, anger, getting ready to snap.
Understand, these were data collectors, not therapists. No one received any advice about cutting down their time on the internet, etc.
On a personal note, I have never been on any social media platform but have certainly read enough articles about the power they’ve accumulated over the citizenry of the Planet Earth.
Read the article I referred to about the negative effects of stress. Develop a meditation practice. Listen to a Beethoven Piano Concerto. Turn off your PC.
Be well,
David Edelberg, MD