Morgan BellIs the Internet a Health Hazard?
February 25th 2009 19:03
Can using social networking sites make you physically or mentally ill?
Will Facebook give you ADHD or make you anti-social in the face-to-face world?
British neuroscientist and synaptic pharmacology professor Baroness Greenfield warns that social networking portals like Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are causing young people to have short attention spans and become selfish.
Greenfield described the youth's experience on social networking portals as:
"devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term significance. As a consequence, the mid 21st century mind might almost be infatilized, characterized by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathize and a shaky sense of identity."
Greenfield compared the disregard for consequence on social networking portals to the thrill of compulsive gambling or eating. Greenfield warns that social networking portals may be contributing to a lack of empathy and more self-centred children who increasingly define themselves based on what others think of them.
Greenfield expressed concern about social networking sites replacing face-to-face conversations, saying:
"They [real conversations] occur in real time, with no opportunity to think up clever or witty responses, and they require a sensitivity to voice tone, body language and perhaps even to pheromones,"
Greenfield urged for an investigation to see if there is a link between the total submersion of cultures in screen technologies over the past 10 years to a threefold hike in prescriptions for methylphenidate, the medicine for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Greenfield has previously warned of the possible link between frequent computer use among the youth and rising rates of autism.
Sarah Lacy from TechCrunch.com says Greenfield is missing a fundamental shift that has happened since the anonymous chat room days: we now use our real names and identities on social networking sites.
"We no longer go to the Internet to interact with some shadowy user name where we pretend to be someone we're not. Ok, maybe people on Second Life do. But sites like Facebook and Twitter are more about extending your real identity and relationships online. That's what makes them so addictive: The little endorphin rushes from reconnecting with an old friend, the ability to passively stay in touch with people you care about but don't have the time to call everyday."
Eliz Greene, the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, says social networking can be good for a woman's heart.
Eliz claims women who maintain positive friendships with other women are 30% less likely to develop heart disease, and that includes connecting electronically. If you are in contact with someone who is happy, your chances of becoming happy increase by 15%. In addition, if you are in contact with people who are improving their health by quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising more, or eating better, you are more likely to develop healthy habits.
However, psychologist Dr Aric Sigman has also recently expressed concerns about the adverse biological effects of social networking.
If online social networking is being used to replace face-to-face contact, people may suffer health problems associated with isolation. Increased isolation could alter the way genes work and upset immune responses, hormone levels and the function of arteries. It could impair mental performance, and it could increase the risk of problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart disease and dementia.
Sigman claims that research suggests the number of hours people spent speaking to others face-to-face had fallen dramatically since 1987 as the use of electronic media increased. He also said electronic media is undermining the ability of children and young people to learn vital social skills and read body language.
Some genes, including ones involved with the immune system and responses to stress, act differently according to how much social interaction a person had with others. Dr Sigman said 209 'socially regulated' genes had been identified, including ones involved in the immune system, cell proliferation and responses to stress. Their activity may account for higher rates of inflammatory disease and other health problems seen in socially isolated individuals.
"Levels of hormones such as the 'cuddle chemical' oxytocin, which promotes bonding, altered according to whether people were in close contact or not."
"There does seem to be a difference between "real presence" and the virtual variety,"
"Interacting 'in person' had effects on the body not seen when writing emails,"
Some studies show British teenagers spend 31 hours a week online. Other studies have shown that children taught via video broadcasts or DVDs did not learn as well as they did when given lessons by a real teacher.
"A quarter of British children have a laptop or computer in their room by the age of five and they have their own social networking sites,"
Dr Sigman also gave these statistics:
"One of the most pronounced changes in the daily habits of British citizens is a reduction in the number of minutes per day that they interact with another human being,"
"In less than two decades, the number of people saying there is no one with whom they discuss important matters nearly tripled."
But does it stand to reason that online social networking is the sole cause for this?
Is there any real link between reduced face-to-face communications and increased online communications?
Psychologist John M. Grohol says no, and debunks Dr Sigman's claims here.
"Aric Sigman’s (2009) hypothesis relies on a flimsy connection - that Internet relationships are less real and result in greater social isolation and loneliness for people who increasingly turn to them."
Grohol explains that Sigman's claims are based on just one study published over a decade ago (Kraut, 1998) showed that, in a study of 73 families who used the Internet for communication, greater use of the Internet was associated with declines in communication between family members, declines in the size of their social circle, and increases in their levels of depression and loneliness.
Grohol then goes on to cite mutiple studies of bloggers and older people (eg: Ko & Kuo, 2009, and Shapira et al., 2007) which proved using the internet improves general happiness and well-being.
Amichai-Hamburger & Ben-Artzi (2003) concluded that the internet is actually a solution for lonely people, rather than the cause of their loneliness.
This study about Facebook from a University in Louisiana, USA also disagrees with the claims of Sigman and Greenfield.
The study shows people who are more socially isolated in real life tend to be more isolated in the virtual world of social networking web sites. It claims the Internet primarily benefits extroverted individuals, and that introverts communicate online less often.
In the case of Facebook, people tend to maintain existing friendships rather than creating any new friendships or romantic relationships.
Ninety-three percent of the students who took part in the study reported having a Facebook account, with the average student spending around 45 minutes on the site each day.
Satisfaction or lack of satisfaction with face-to face communications did not predict the number of hours spent on Facebook, the number of solely virtual friends the users in the study had, or how satisfied they were with the site.
Students who expressed an unwillingness to communicate face-to-face had fewer Facebook friends than students who communicated easily.
Maybe the internet is not the behaviour-altering monster it is being made out to be by some medical experts?
Will Facebook give you ADHD or make you anti-social in the face-to-face world?
British neuroscientist and synaptic pharmacology professor Baroness Greenfield warns that social networking portals like Facebook, Twitter and Bebo are causing young people to have short attention spans and become selfish.
Greenfield described the youth's experience on social networking portals as:
"devoid of cohesive narrative and long-term significance. As a consequence, the mid 21st century mind might almost be infatilized, characterized by short attention spans, sensationalism, inability to empathize and a shaky sense of identity."
Greenfield compared the disregard for consequence on social networking portals to the thrill of compulsive gambling or eating. Greenfield warns that social networking portals may be contributing to a lack of empathy and more self-centred children who increasingly define themselves based on what others think of them.
Greenfield expressed concern about social networking sites replacing face-to-face conversations, saying:
"They [real conversations] occur in real time, with no opportunity to think up clever or witty responses, and they require a sensitivity to voice tone, body language and perhaps even to pheromones,"
Greenfield urged for an investigation to see if there is a link between the total submersion of cultures in screen technologies over the past 10 years to a threefold hike in prescriptions for methylphenidate, the medicine for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Greenfield has previously warned of the possible link between frequent computer use among the youth and rising rates of autism.
Sarah Lacy from TechCrunch.com says Greenfield is missing a fundamental shift that has happened since the anonymous chat room days: we now use our real names and identities on social networking sites.
"We no longer go to the Internet to interact with some shadowy user name where we pretend to be someone we're not. Ok, maybe people on Second Life do. But sites like Facebook and Twitter are more about extending your real identity and relationships online. That's what makes them so addictive: The little endorphin rushes from reconnecting with an old friend, the ability to passively stay in touch with people you care about but don't have the time to call everyday."
Eliz Greene, the Director of the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative, says social networking can be good for a woman's heart.
Eliz claims women who maintain positive friendships with other women are 30% less likely to develop heart disease, and that includes connecting electronically. If you are in contact with someone who is happy, your chances of becoming happy increase by 15%. In addition, if you are in contact with people who are improving their health by quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising more, or eating better, you are more likely to develop healthy habits.
However, psychologist Dr Aric Sigman has also recently expressed concerns about the adverse biological effects of social networking.
If online social networking is being used to replace face-to-face contact, people may suffer health problems associated with isolation. Increased isolation could alter the way genes work and upset immune responses, hormone levels and the function of arteries. It could impair mental performance, and it could increase the risk of problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart disease and dementia.
Sigman claims that research suggests the number of hours people spent speaking to others face-to-face had fallen dramatically since 1987 as the use of electronic media increased. He also said electronic media is undermining the ability of children and young people to learn vital social skills and read body language.
Some genes, including ones involved with the immune system and responses to stress, act differently according to how much social interaction a person had with others. Dr Sigman said 209 'socially regulated' genes had been identified, including ones involved in the immune system, cell proliferation and responses to stress. Their activity may account for higher rates of inflammatory disease and other health problems seen in socially isolated individuals.
"Levels of hormones such as the 'cuddle chemical' oxytocin, which promotes bonding, altered according to whether people were in close contact or not."
"There does seem to be a difference between "real presence" and the virtual variety,"
"Interacting 'in person' had effects on the body not seen when writing emails,"
Some studies show British teenagers spend 31 hours a week online. Other studies have shown that children taught via video broadcasts or DVDs did not learn as well as they did when given lessons by a real teacher.
"A quarter of British children have a laptop or computer in their room by the age of five and they have their own social networking sites,"
Dr Sigman also gave these statistics:
"One of the most pronounced changes in the daily habits of British citizens is a reduction in the number of minutes per day that they interact with another human being,"
"In less than two decades, the number of people saying there is no one with whom they discuss important matters nearly tripled."
But does it stand to reason that online social networking is the sole cause for this?
Is there any real link between reduced face-to-face communications and increased online communications?
Psychologist John M. Grohol says no, and debunks Dr Sigman's claims here.
"Aric Sigman’s (2009) hypothesis relies on a flimsy connection - that Internet relationships are less real and result in greater social isolation and loneliness for people who increasingly turn to them."
Grohol explains that Sigman's claims are based on just one study published over a decade ago (Kraut, 1998) showed that, in a study of 73 families who used the Internet for communication, greater use of the Internet was associated with declines in communication between family members, declines in the size of their social circle, and increases in their levels of depression and loneliness.
Grohol then goes on to cite mutiple studies of bloggers and older people (eg: Ko & Kuo, 2009, and Shapira et al., 2007) which proved using the internet improves general happiness and well-being.
Amichai-Hamburger & Ben-Artzi (2003) concluded that the internet is actually a solution for lonely people, rather than the cause of their loneliness.
This study about Facebook from a University in Louisiana, USA also disagrees with the claims of Sigman and Greenfield.
The study shows people who are more socially isolated in real life tend to be more isolated in the virtual world of social networking web sites. It claims the Internet primarily benefits extroverted individuals, and that introverts communicate online less often.
In the case of Facebook, people tend to maintain existing friendships rather than creating any new friendships or romantic relationships.
Ninety-three percent of the students who took part in the study reported having a Facebook account, with the average student spending around 45 minutes on the site each day.
Satisfaction or lack of satisfaction with face-to face communications did not predict the number of hours spent on Facebook, the number of solely virtual friends the users in the study had, or how satisfied they were with the site.
Students who expressed an unwillingness to communicate face-to-face had fewer Facebook friends than students who communicated easily.
Maybe the internet is not the behaviour-altering monster it is being made out to be by some medical experts?
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Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Isn't this just teenagers from every generation?
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
good point!
teenagers and younger children are by very definition in their formative years where their sense of identity has not been stabilised
i think there would be more cause for concern if kids ONLY communicated via the internet, but something tells me they still socialise in the school environment and with family and friends from their local neighbourhoods . . . you cant exactly go about your daily responsibilities without having some minimum of face-to-face chit chat
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I think there is some validy to that. I was talking to Kman about this very issue last night - all of us in the generation that had the internet introduced to it subconciously realized this, we went a little mad I reakon - "Wow! They cant see me! This isnt like school where I got teased - I can take forever to come back with the wittyest comment ever!" But what about the generation that just grows up with it, takes it for granted? There is a chance they could stumble, if not with their brains, then with their body language. I have seen it, and I think that the addiction might be stronger in the generation that grows up with it, rather than in us, who were like - "Whats this new fangled thing all about?"
But at this point, its not causing a significant impact, we have bigger things to worry about, so Im not worried. And its very valuable for people who CANT get out, and use social networking on the internet as their only connections. For those people it does a world of good.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Sure some valid points have been made - but so many pluses come out of the social interacting on networks.
Those who are isolated by distance or are inordinantly introverted benefit I'm sure.
Those who would like a modern day 'pen friend' to enable them to experience countries or cultures they would never normally have the opportunity to enjoy - first hand.
Like everything - there is good and bad about all mediums of media and technology - we just need to temper our extemisms - deduct the loonies from the arguement and see it for what it is.
Moderation, taking responsibility for your (and your children's) habits and a bit of common sense still goes a long way.
Nice post
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I have seen my mother retreat into her computer, using it as her social world rather than going out and seeing people, and I have seen that it feeds her depression in an endless cycle.
But I think that the isolation is a natural thing-some people do it, some people don't. Some people choose to use the internet to form relationships where they never have to see the other person's face or for whatever other reasons, and for some people it isolates them and depresses them.
It varies from person to person. I'm online all the time when I'm at home, but I have no shortage of friends.
~Dianna
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
its funny, times where ive been reclusive i have still felt like using the internet because i had more control over the situation, i could end a conversation when i wanted or delay a response or appear offline and just observe . . . i would have never gone out on the town when i was depressed, i didnt get out of bed or get dressed, but the internet was a sort of compromise or halfway house
hi MNG,
books, yes!
there is so much literature where a younger person is told to stop wasting their time reading because the fantasy and fiction isnt good for them! haha
i guess anything new and different is bound to get a bad rap!
i agree about the moderation part, the internet should not replace your face-to-face social life, it should merely supplement it
hi Dianna,
do you think it actually feeds her depression?
or is she depressed anyway and uses the internet as a tool to occupy herself when shes not up to facing people in the real world?
if your mum didnt own a computer do you think she would be out and about more, or do you think she would become emmerced in the TV or music or books etc?
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
I have never seen her without a computer, but I do know that she gets very absorbed in her computer and uses it to hide herself away from the world. She uses it to isolate herself and distract herself from the world. I know she would be isolated without the internet but she uses it to further her isolation.
~Dianna
Comment by Postmodern Critic
Postmodern Critic
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Epiphanie
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
that is an interesting real life case - thanks for sharing!
hi Epiphanie,
i couldnt get into Facebook at first, I was always a MySpace girl, but i hit some critical mass of friends where i get constant updates and interactions and it became much more enjoyable
its been a godsend while ive been in Tazzy away from all my friends, i can still keep in contact with my social groups easily and can get all my friends updates at a glance
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
There are always going to be some who are very positive about socialisng on the internet and some who aren't. It certainly can have some disadvantages but I can't see how people can say only "extroverts" will benefit from socialising on the net.
In fact, I think the reverse. In any group discussion or get together, kids or adults, some never get the chance to speak or to be heard. That is the very nature of group dynamics.
On the web, people can have their say....and sure, many others will try to dominate this as well but people less likely to speak up in a group maybe because they just aren't all that confident, can do so on the net.
Interesting post!
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
thats an interesting point you bring up!
i wonder, in any given group, if the more extroverted internet users would also be the more extroverted in real life?
these are the kind of social experiments they should have been doing in the Big Brother house instead of all the wet t-shirt comps and jelly wrestling . . .
i think in the case of Facebook it is the portal that most authentically replicates real life networks . . . if your mum or your brother or your work colleagues are on your friends list then you will usually treat people in a fashion similar to how you would face-to-face, just to keep face
in the Facebook example i can see why the people with more friends, and most active communication between friends, in real life would also be the people with more friends etc on Facebook . . . well perhaps within some generational and socio-economic parameters
i think its an interesting issue altogether
i would love to see an article you write on this, im sure its something that could be thrashed out through many different perspectives
Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Or jungle drums.
Good article, Morgy. Anyone would think you had government funding.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
haha no, im far too contentious for that!
this is all very platonic of you . . .
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
with a shotgun?
Comment by alt_ed
Alted Opinion
ArtCombat
The Inner Saintdom
Comment by Morgan Bell
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
the internet may be more dangerous than it first appears . . .