Social Comparisons

Vogel et Al 2014 makes interesting reading. I've only recently looked through this field and I'm fascinated. Social Science is very interesting and reading about how we rationalise our own decisions in the face of evidence that we are incorrect in an assumption; and that we are more likely to do this if we are well educated and middle class , has thrown me a curve ball. More around that another time.

I've followed the arguments and opinions regarding the question "Is Social Media Bad for You?" and , at last, amongst those that err on the side of-"Well kind of but only if you are already at risk of some form of deviance from the norm." Vogel et Al, for me at least have produced interesting data that suggests that indeed, social media is potentially bad for everyone- I obviously need to define 'Bad'...of detriment, in some small manner harmful to our well being. For some it will be very harmful and for others less so. Not "Bad' then like "Smoking is bad for you!" but certainly interestingly waring on a person.

The studies conducted measured FB use and Self reported Self Esteem and within their studies concluded that participants who used FB regularly reported significantly less self esteem than those who used it less frequently.

s showed correlation but not necessarily Causation thus another test was set up. The researchers exposed people to a fake facebook feed so they could play with it. What they found was that when they exposed people to fake feeds (Awesome people and less socially successful people), next they measured how participants saw themselves in comparison to the people in the news feeds they were exposed to.

When people compared themselves downwards (to the least successful) they, for example, they judged and self measured 3.8/5 in their self esteem and when people compared themselves upwards, with the successful people in the feeds, they self measured at being 3.5/5 (see the report for accurate figures). The point here is that though it doesn't seem a lot between .5 and .8, -it is significant, after all they have simply seen news feeds right?

When participants rated themselves against the targeted people in the feeds. When you're making upward social comparisons and think that the target is 'better' than you, you feel significantly worse off. "Aha" I hear you cry...

...oops...

..(Better *sigh*) .."Aha...I shall only look at other people more unsuccessful than myself and that, in turn will give me a boost in dopamine that I so rightly deserve." Well, actually no, it doesn't seem to work that way. We get a real from in self worth when comparing up but we don't feel much difference at all when we compare downwards. that sucks!

So it seems, with this very fine piece of research, that ONE immediately applicable action we can take, to make ourselves feel better about who we are and what we have in relationship to the rest of the world, would be to unplug social media...I would maybe wait though to examine any research that suggests how our FOMO may rise if we were to do that?! Agh!