Study finds that Facebook, Twitter escalate anxiety

Social network is no longer just a means to stay connected. It's become an essential part of our lives and a rather large one at that. While such networks ensure a more connected world and have eased communication, various drawbacks have also come to light. Several studies carried out in the past have disclosed how these sites have been impacting us negatively. The Salford Business School, University of Salford conducted a poll recently for the charity Anxiety UK. It found that more than half of the participants surveyed felt that the social sites had changed their behaviour. Out of the participants who felt so, about 50 percent said that their lives had been altered for the worse. The ones who disclosed that social media has had a negative impact on them, believed that their confidence dropped after comparing their achievements with that of their friends online. Two-third of these found it hard to relax completely or to sleep after spending time on the sites, while one quarter of the polled participants said they had been left facing difficulties in their relationships or workplace after becoming confrontational online.

Facebook, Twitter fuel anxiety...

The research also showed some addiction that these social sites bring along. About 55 percent of the people said they felt ‘worried or uncomfortable’, when they could not access their Facebook or e-mail accounts. On the other hand, more than 60 percent of people said they felt compelled to turn off electronic gadgets in order to get a break.

Reportedly, Nicky Lidbetter, the charity's chief executive said: "If you are predisposed to anxiety it seems that the pressures from technology act as a tipping point, making people feel more insecure and more overwhelmed." She expressed surprise at the high proportion of people who found that the only way to ensure a break from the demands of their devices was to switch them off, as they were not capable of simply ignoring their mobile phones, BlackBerry devices and computers.

However, only 298 people were polled by Salford Business School, so it is difficult to take that as the general consensus. The findings about behaviour changes came from a smaller in-depth research carried out by the charity Anxiety UK. Earlier this month, another study had revealed the negative impact of social networks on young girls. The fad of social networks is believed to be changing the way young people speak, especially girls. Experts pointed out that Facebook and Twitter are changing the way girls speak, making them more aggressive. These social networks are said to promote terser sentences, which can make youngsters appear rude and disrespectful. One of the experts had pointed out that there is a fine line between being curt or aggressive and being straightforward. Moreover, this is seen largely among girls, as it is believed that girls communicate more than boys. There are also debates over modern pop songs influencing girls’ voices. Researchers at Long Island University have identified use of a speech pattern known as ‘vocal fry’ - a ‘creaky’, guttural sound that pop stars like Kesha and Britney Spears add to lower notes to convey soulfulness.