The Happiness Research Institute in Denmark undertook a study of people who use social media - How does social media effect our lives? (Facebook, twitter, etc.) A study was done with 1,100 people who use Facebook. They wanted to know how it affects our perception of reality and how we feel about our lives? They were monitored for 1 week, then the group was broken into 2. One continued to use Facebook as usual, whereas the second were asked to take a break from Facebook for a week. Then after a week, the 2 groups were surveyed again. The director did not expect to find a great deal of difference, because happiness is affected by many things - where we live, our income, our friendships, genetics, who you live with, your job ... Those who went without social media reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction, but not only that, every indicator of happiness that they study was also improved. But their research also found this. Being exposed to other people's happiness can have a negative impact on our own level of happiness. If social media distorts our perception of reality what does this mean for society? We are starting to understand that social media may have a real influence on why suicide rates are increasing. Being exposed to other people's happiness makes a question as to whether life is worth living at all. Happier countries have a higher level of suicide rates than those rated lower. The World Happiness Report (published 12 months ago) reported that well-being inequality has a larger negative impact on how we feel about our lives than does economic inequality.
{}