Can't quit Facebook? Researchers have found the reasons why

[AF-Roger]

If you've ever tried taking a break from Facebook, or quitting the site altogether, only to find yourself logging back on just a few hours later, a newly published study by researchers from Cornell Information Science at Cornell University, USA, may have found the reasons why.

An article published on Cornell University's website describes how the team of researchers looked at more than 5,000 surveys completed by participants taking part in the Dutch project, 99 Days of Freedom. The ongoing project invites Facebook users to give up the social networking site for a period of 99 days, or longer if they wish.

Surveys were issued to participants on days 33, 66, and 99 of the project to gauge participants' moods throughout their Facebook-free period.

• Perceived addiction: participants who felt that Facebook was addictive were more likey to go back, with one individual reporting that "In the first 10 days, whenever I opened up an internet browser, my fingers would automatically go to ‘f'"
• Privacy and surveillance: Participants who felt that Facebook was monitoring their activity were less likely to return to the site. However those that used Facebook to manage others' perceptions of them were more likely to go back
• Subjective mood: If participants were feeling positive, they were less likely to return
• Other social media: Participants who used other social media outlets, such as Twitter, were also less likely to return

Read more Can't quit Facebook? Researchers have found the reasons why | CTV News

 

[Ink57]

Thanks for posting this. I used to go to art school and all my classmates would be on Facebook during the lesson and never understood why. The idea of trying to control how people perceive them makes so much sense in hindsight. I'm probably the second asterisk because I think Facebook sells your information but everyone keeps telling me to get on it for my business.