Social Anxiety Shows Up in Facebook Profiles
In a recent study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers investigated whether Facebook profiles could reveal social anxiety.
In the study, 62 Facebook profiles were examined by six coders who made note of the number of interests as well as assessed the overall profile. These ratings were compared with self-reports of social anxiety from the Facebook users. Results showed that the coders ratings were similar to the self-ratings, meaning that the coders were able to pick out which users suffered with social anxiety.
What does this mean if you suffer with social anxiety?
I guess it depends on how you use Facebook. If it is a tool to keep up with friends, then your social anxiety might be hampering your ability to interact online, just as it does in real life. If you simply like to keep tabs on the people you know then it might not affect you too much.
That brings me to this week’s poll. How do you use Facebook?
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Further Reading
- Is Facebook Good for Social Anxiety?
- Woman Travels Globe to Beat Anxiety
- Two Simple Rules to Make the Most of Facebook
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