Social media like X: poison for the soul?

Social media has become an integral part of our everyday lives. They promise to keep us connected, entertained and informed. But a recent study by the University of Toronto casts a shadow on this shiny facade. The study, published in the journal Communications Psychology, shows alarming effects of social media platform X on the well-being of its users. Although X can provide a sense of community, its use is closely linked to a decline in positive emotions and an increase in frustration, political polarization, and boredom.

An emotional roller coaster ride

The study by Victória Oldemburgo de Mello and her team documents that logging into X is an emotional roller coaster ride for many users. Contrary to the general expectation that social media increases or at least maintains positive feelings, the research team found that the opposite is true. The results paint a bleak picture: users not only feel less belonging after using X, but also significantly more unhappy and angry.

Dilemma of the digital age

The study is based on analyzing the emotions of 252 Americans comprised of various demographic groups. The consistent results across all age groups, political beliefs and ethnicities show that X negatively affects well-being regardless of personal background. What is particularly alarming is the finding that those who use social media to escape their problems are the most affected. Not only anger and dissatisfaction are increasing, but also boredom and loneliness.

The cause: endless scrolling

The core of the problem appears to be endless scrolling through feeds, an activity that users devote the majority of their time to on X. This passive consumption not only leads to increasing polarization, but also leaves users feeling empty and frustrated. Oldemburgo de Mello provides personal insights that reflect the study's findings: Using social media in moments of frustration exacerbates the problem rather than providing a solution or distraction.

Questions and answers about the influence of Platform X:

Question 1: What are the key findings of the Platform X study?
Answer 1: The study shows that the use of Platform

Question 2: Who conducted this study?
Answer 2: The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto led by Victória Oldemburgo de Mello, doctoral student in psychology.

Question 3: How was the investigation carried out?
Answer 3: Researchers tracked the emotions of 252 users in the US to determine the impact of X on their well-being.

Question 4: Who is particularly affected by the negative effects of X?
Answer 4: Users who use social media to escape their problems are particularly negatively affected as they end up angrier, unhappy, bored and lonely.

Question 5: Which activity on X is particularly harmful to well-being?
Answer 5: Endlessly scrolling through feeds is particularly harmful because it increases polarization and leaves users frustrated and dissatisfied.

Conclusion

The results of the University of Toronto study suggest that social media use, particularly Platform X, has widespread negative effects on well-being. These results highlight the need for more conscious use of social media and the promotion of strategies that protect and improve the well-being of users. Both individuals and society as a whole need to critically examine the role of social media in our lives and take steps to minimize its negative impact. A first step could be to promote a healthy digital balance that allows users to reap the benefits of social media without compromising their mental health.

To learn more about safe social media use and stay up to date with the latest findings, we recommend subscribing to https://www.mimikama.org/mimikama-newsletter/ Lectures and workshops can be attended at https://www.mimikama.education/online-vortrag-von-mimikama/ .

Source: press release

Also read:

• Legal dispute with X: Disinformation in focus
• Musk vs. SEC: Battle over Twitter takeover escalates
• Elon Musk's controversial tweets