To read about the sweeter side of social networking click here.
Listen to associate psychology professor Joseph Vandello talk about balancing the use of technology and quality time, below.
by Ashley Morlote
In today’s society, it seems that everyone is connected to the cyber world in one way or another. And, this holds true for college students. Campuses are filled with students who are constantly chatting with friends through social networks, texts or emails.
But a recent study conducted by mtvU and the Jed Foundation’s “Half of Us” campaign indicates that technology affects the mental health of college students.
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| Photo by Joseph Vandello |
The study, published this year, shows that the majority of those surveyed, have experienced emotional distress as a result of using technology, especially social media sites, as a means of communication.
According to the study, 1 in 7 students surveyed said that they often feel isolated from the outside world. Also, 48 percent of college students said that they have misunderstood the meaning of an email, text message or post.
Joseph Vandello, an associate psychology professor at the University of South Florida said that society is undergoing a profound change because of technological advancements. Social media sites are increasingly replacing face-to-face contact.
“There is some evidence that people in general in the United States are less socially integrated than in the past,” Vandello said.
Social media sites are also believed to be the culprit of a mental health issues on the other side of the spectrum. Obsessive tendencies have become a concern.
According to the collaborative study, 61 percent of those surveyed admitted to tracking someone’s social network page. While some may consider their tracking harmless, there is the potential of going it too far.
Anna, a 21-year-old international studies major who asked to remain anonymous due to the nature of the story, was recently in a relationship in which her boyfriend became obsessive because of Facebook.
“When it started, he would always give me 20 questions about what was on my Facebook wall,” Anna said.
She said that her ex became increasingly jealous of who she befriended on Facebook and any conversations she had with others on the site.
“He started showing up at parties without telling me,” she said.
This raised a red flag and Anna began questioning his behavior.
“When I asked how he knew where I was, he would say he saw it on my Facebook events,” she said.
Anna’s ex became increasingly possessive and needed to know where she was at all times. She felt overwhelmed and ended their relationship out of fear that her ex may not know where to stop.
Anna says she has learned her lesson. She makes sure not to reply to event invitations on Facebook
“I would definitely say Facebook was what enabled him to have that control over me,” she said.
Despite the apparent downfalls of social media sites, there is evidence that indicates that there are some positive effects in the relationship between social media sites and mental health.
Vandello said that the most optimistic view is that social media can potentially enhance communication. The study also indicates that 87 percent of college students feel more connected via social media sites.
Vandello said that it gives people the opportunity to connect with friends from their past.
“It’s one way to reconnect with people that you might otherwise lose contact with,” he said.
He also said that the Internet enables like-minded individuals to connect easily. Something that was difficult to achieve in times before instant communication.
“Now with a wired kind of globe, you can seek out other people who are going through the same experiences for you,” he said.
Because research in this area is young, no one can predict the long-term effects with certainty.
“Researchers are really just starting to understand how that really changes people’s social relations,” Vandello said.
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