Should You Quit Facebook?

Did you know that the average Facebook user uses a combination of Facebook and Instagram for an average of 50 minutes per day? That’s more time than the average person spends socializing, watching sports, and almost as much time as we spend eating. So, if you are a Facebook user, now it is important to ask yourself: “Does spending your time on Facebook actually make you happier?”
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After spending the last year researching and writing my new book, Outsmart Your Smartphone: Mindful Tech Habits to Find Happiness, Balance, and Connection in Real LifeI learned that Facebook can harm ours chance.

If you’re the type of person who just watches what your friends are doing, reads articles, and scrolls through the bulletin board, it’s probably hurting your happiness.

Some studies have shown that such passive use of Facebook can lead to social comparisons. When you compare yourself to the best qualities of others on Facebook, you suddenly like yourself less. You know when you see the successes of your high school friends and wonder if you’ve done enough with your life. Or when you see your coworkers’ fancy, adventurous meals and wonder if you’re boring because, let’s face it, you never do anything cool.
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It’s human nature to compare yourself to others, but on Facebook everyone presents the best version of themselves. So you always compare upwards and in the end you feel like you’re not good enough.

Did you have this feeling? For example, when you see the wonderful beach vacation your boyfriend had with the love of his life. Or when your old classmate suddenly gets their dream job and you’re still struggling to make ends meet.

The little green monster of envy can make you feel inferior, hostile and resentful. These emotions can actually harm your social relationships instead of helping them and make you feel bad.
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But wait! Facebook can really help some people Be happier. When and why doesn’t Facebook make you unhappy?

If you’re the type of Facebook user who posts regularly, uses Messenger to chat, and shares personal information about yourself, you may be happier with Facebook in your life.
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It turns out that targeted private exchanges and posts can increase happiness. This type of Facebook use helps you turn weak social ties into stronger ones, maintain social connections that otherwise would have been lost, and strengthen the connections you already have with those around you. You may even feel connected to a larger community. It is therefore likely that you feel less alone and more well-being.

If you’re not sure how you use Facebook – or if you’re just not the type of person who wants to post and reveal intimate details about yourself on your Facebook wall – it’s probably best to limit your use of Facebook or, dare I say it, avoid Facebook altogether.

Research has shown that, on average, people feel worse when they use Facebook for 20 minutes than when they surf the Internet elsewhere. Another study suggests that a week’s break from Facebook increases well-being. I once took a break from Facebook for a year and I think it dramatically improved my quality of life.
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So if you’re looking for the easiest way to find out if Facebook is making you unhappy, take a week off. Then ask yourself if you feel better. If this is the case, you should consider giving yourself more time.