Too much Facebook browsing at Christmas – and seeing all those “perfect” families and holiday photos – is more likely to make you miserable than festive, research suggests.
A University of Copenhagen study suggests excessive use of social media can create feelings of envy.
It particularly warns about the negative impact of “lurking” on social media without connecting with anyone.
The study suggests taking a break from using social media.
The study of more than 1,000 participants, mostly women, says that “regular use of social networking such as Facebook can negatively affect your emotional well-being and satisfaction with life”.
Researchers warn of envy and a “deterioration of mood” from spending too long looking at other people’s social media stories, induced by “unrealistic social comparisons”.