zlacker

I don’t get why Facebook is so often singled out in these types of studies. What about other activities like dating or school or going to church? I bet those can be shown to increase anxiety and be bad for mental health

>>chango+(OP)
Most in-person social activity is good for your mental health. Studies show this includes church: https://www.npr.org/2019/11/05/776270553/hidden-brain-does-g...

Facebook is singled out because they are the largest practitioner of surveillance capitalism. The entire idea of “optimizing for engagement,” where Facebook has been a pioneer and the largest player, is increasingly being shown to be a primary driver of political polarization, anxiety, bigotry, and hate crimes.

Thus Facebook is the new Big Tobacco.

>>chango+(OP)
One of those is not like the rest.

>>chango+(OP)
https://medium.com/catholic-way-home/the-only-group-to-see-m...

Heh. The religious were the only group to see improved mental health during 2020.

Also, you are right that it should be social media. Nothing special about Facebook.

>>chango+(OP)
Probably because it is the place most likely to be where you watch your friends live their apparently perfect lives without also being able to see their failings. Facebook is not the only place that provides that type of thing, but brand recognition in the headline draws attention.

Real life isn't without its own flaws, but the research shows an increase in mental health issues when social media is a factor. That increase is interesting, and worth studying, even if it is not the only place one can develop mental health issues.

>>burles+z
It never occurred to me before, but the Roman Catholic Church, with confession[0], is surely the largest historical "surveillance capitalism" out there. I wonder if Facebook has hockey-sticked them yet.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confession_(religion)#Catholic...

>>chango+(OP)
In addition to other replies here, Facebook is also the only one of these that is deliberately trying to hurt your mental health. They have internal studies showing these results and they actually optimize for them, since angry and depressed users are known to increase their engagement with the platform.

>>chango+(OP)
> I bet those can be shown to increase anxiety and be bad for mental health

Numerous studies over a long period of time indicate the opposite.