What Facebook Does To Your Brain

reply to post by sonnny1


I don't think you understood what I wrote.

I gathered he was saying that facebook was a dumbing-down effect and that his opinion is, because it dumbs us down, it needs to be governed because he, and it seems you aswell, value a person based on how smart they are.

I do not think we should value the lives of others based on how smart they are. That almost seems unethical to me.

I don't think facebook eats the brains out of people. So, people should be allowed to pursue happiness by way of human interaction and facebook, without governance, if that's what makes them happy.

Here's an article about a study on the deleterious effects of cell phone usage on prosocial behavior. Basically, when we get a text or a call from a friend, it hits the same reward centers that face-to-face interaction with our loved ones hits. Apparently, this artificially induced sense of social satiety has an unfortunate side-effect:

Prosocial behavior, as defined in the study, is action intended to benefit another person or society as a whole.

The researchers found that after a short period of cellphone use the subjects were less inclined to volunteer for a community service activity when asked, compared to the control-group counterparts. The cell phone users were also less persistent in solving word problems - even though they knew their answers would translate to a monetary donation to charity...

The authors cited previous research in explaining a root cause of their findings: "The cellphone directly evokes feelings of connectivity to others, thereby fulfilling the basic human need to belong." This results in reducing one's desire to connect with others or to engage in empathic and prosocial behavior.

newsdesk.umd.edu...

I'm certain this translates to social media.

I realized I neglected to cite for the neuroscience on that. ^ I'm afraid I can't find the original study I read (it's been several months), but this is nice little nutshell reference:

Recent neurological research shows that connectivity – receiving emails and text messages – triggers the same part of the brain as sex and gambling according to Taylor.

“It is not just a cognitive thing, a psychological thing, but it’s an actual neurophysiologic reaction that we can become addicted to connectivity,” he said.

This could explain Galbraith’s anxiety.

“If we’re driving for a half an hour, who knows what we’re going to miss in that half an hour if we’re not connected,” she said.

Taylor defines this as disconnectivity anxiety, a persistent and unpleasant condition characterized by worry and unease caused by periods of technological disconnection from others.

news.medill.northwestern.edu...

This was a fascinating and somewhat alarming article, Sonny.

I don't have a Facebook account and I don't engage in social media. I am, however, online most of the time. And perhaps for me, ATS plays some of the same role that social media plays for others. My shiny gold border is testament to the dedication I have for this site, for good or for ill. I generally think its for good. I have a wonderful woman in my life real-time, but besides her, I'm a fairly isolated dude these days. I contact my business associates virtually for the most part, with some exceptions. and I travel for business pretty frequently. But most days these past five years or so when I'm not traveling, I'm alone in my book-lined study with multiple screens going: News, markets...and ATS. And thanks to my iCrap, I can (and do) now take ATS with me wherever I go.

Does ATS rewire the brains of those of us who use it heavily in some similar way? Do those of us with gold and silver WATS borders dare to ask ourselves this perhaps-uncomfortable question? There is it is, I've slapped this question down on the table. Is my smug pride in avoiding Facebook and all it entails merely an ATS junkie's denial?

Originally posted by silent thunder

Does ATS rewire the brains of those of us who use it heavily in some similar way?

Bet on it.

Here's a key difference: FB and cell phone exchanges are usually trivial and brief. I wonder if the depth and quality of the conversation on this site alters the neurological effects, and how? Certainly we are getting more out of this than having our need for connectivity met.

Only superficial morons
use facebook. The biggest gov.
data mining project in history.

I wonder how difficult it is to start a 501 c3 (non-profit org)?

...nevermind...someone beat us to it, here's their ...ummm... facebook page

Facebook Anonymous

Doesn't seem like it's all that lucrative though, here's their latest post:

20 more peeps for the 1000 milestone come on ppl share the addiction

Originally posted by popsmayhem
Only superficial morons
use facebook. The biggest gov.
data mining project in history.

Nothing superficial about staying connected to friends and family..however I agree, it "morphed" into a data mining and destructive entity. lol, heck, Zuckerman created the "first" version of FB to hurt and get even with a girl that broke his heart....so was "born" from vindictive motives.

reply to post by MountainLaurel



I'm the center of the world
well my facebook world
that is the mentality of 90%
of facebook members.
The most superficial
morons have to be
stroked by a facebook thumbing
Morons.

reply to post by popsmayhem


LOL, well, I'm not as quick to call people morons that use FB, and I really enjoy seeing pics of my family and friends kids especially, my one Aunt is a great photographer, love seeing her work, and let's face it, in this busy world we would probably never be as connected without FB.

But like I stated earlier having real second thoughts about FB, and actually would give it up in a heartbeat at this point if it weren't that a big family wedding is coming up, and we are all communicating on FB about the details, have a big family, so this part works.

Originally posted by Bleeeeep
reply to post by sonnny1

 

I don't think you understood what I wrote.

I gathered he was saying that facebook was a dumbing-down effect and that his opinion is, because it dumbs us down, it needs to be governed because he, and it seems you aswell, value a person based on how smart they are.

I do not think we should value the lives of others based on how smart they are. That almost seems unethical to me.

I don't think facebook eats the brains out of people. So, people should be allowed to pursue happiness by way of human interaction and facebook, without governance, if that's what makes them happy.

In no way do a believe that Facebook needs to be regulated,based on IQ.


In essence,quit the contrary.MANY brilliant minds use it,but are not on it 24/7,and allowing their children to drown,because of Facebook games. Facebook takes away from the everyday social gathering,and voids it,by taking away from interaction,on a one on one level.Their are MANY pitfalls I could have written about Facebook,but I didn't want to add those on to the OP.

Personal regulation. That's what Ive said all along. I think your trying too hard to analyze what I said,and what he said. I also don't believe EVERYTHING he says either. I think I gave a great response,that was mine,not his. BTW, People can drink to their hearts content,but should we allow them to drive ? Should we throw the rules out for them,based on Personal freedom ? I am not saying making it a law. I am saying INDIVIDUALS need to monitor themselves. I don't understand WHY you cant see that?

Originally posted by silent thunder
This was a fascinating and somewhat alarming article, Sonny.

I don't have a Facebook account and I don't engage in social media. I am, however, online most of the time. And perhaps for me, ATS plays some of the same role that social media plays for others. My shiny gold border is testament to the dedication I have for this site, for good or for ill. I generally think its for good. I have a wonderful woman in my life real-time, but besides her, I'm a fairly isolated dude these days. I contact my business associates virtually for the most part, with some exceptions. and I travel for business pretty frequently. But most days these past five years or so when I'm not traveling, I'm alone in my book-lined study with multiple screens going: News, markets...and ATS. And thanks to my iCrap, I can (and do) now take ATS with me wherever I go.

Does ATS rewire the brains of those of us who use it heavily in some similar way?

Do those of us with gold and silver WATS borders dare to ask ourselves this perhaps-uncomfortable question? There is it is, I've slapped this question down on the table. Is my smug pride in avoiding Facebook and all it entails merely an ATS junkie's denial?

edit on 5/19/2012 by silent thunder because: (no reason given)

Excellent analogy.


I limit myself,to the time,I dont have my kids around......or they are sleeping.

Facebook,I believe is a beast of its own though.

If you are neglecting family and loved ones,For Facebook,you might want to take a step back.

Originally posted by Eidolon23
I realized I neglected to cite for the neuroscience on that. ^ I'm afraid I can't find the original study I read (it's been several months), but this is nice little nutshell reference:

Recent neurological research shows that connectivity – receiving emails and text messages – triggers the same part of the brain as sex and gambling according to Taylor.

“It is not just a cognitive thing, a psychological thing, but it’s an actual neurophysiologic reaction that we can become addicted to connectivity,” he said.

This could explain Galbraith’s anxiety.

“If we’re driving for a half an hour, who knows what we’re going to miss in that half an hour if we’re not connected,” she said.

Taylor defines this as disconnectivity anxiety, a persistent and unpleasant condition characterized by worry and unease caused by periods of technological disconnection from others.

news.medill.northwestern.edu...

Damn the science of it all !

People should do want ever they want to do,with out personal limitations,as long as they are happy........

I kid...........

I only have facebook to keep tabs on my kids really. I played around with it for a few months but meh...

Interesting discussion and read.

Very interesting but no, I don't think we need regulation on it. We have to learn to adapt on our own the same as we do with everything else.
SF for a cool discussion.

reply to post by sonnny1

Originally posted by sonnny1
In no way do a believe that Facebook needs to be regulated,based on IQ.

What led you to write that?


To reiterate, I don't think there needs to be any limitation, regardless if they're personal, governmental, or done by the network - no limitation - none. If it's not hurting them, and it makes them happy, I don't see a problem with it.

Do you think facebook has a possibility of producing an Idiocracy type of society or something? I don't understand why you have a problem with people chatting or playing games and I certainly don't understand the drinking and driving analogy you've made.

If you're worried about the Idiocracy scenario, I would say not to worry because I think the truly innovative people, who have built our society up to all its glory, are not going to be at all hindered by facebook.

Originally posted by neo96
Social media has made millions hypocrites as well they will set there and cry about how they have no privacy the government is spying on them and they turn around and put their whole lives out there for anyone to see.

Don't get that.

I don't know how I missed this reply.

EXACTLY

Look at ME, Look at ME, I'm anonymous

reply to post by sonnny1


you live in whole different world than i do..

i check my Facebook to talk to my sister who lives in Ohio...

and my best friend who lives in Cali..

no one killing themselves where i live over Facebook...

weird.. that you would post this....

what planet you on???

Originally posted by baddmove
reply to post by sonnny1

 

you live in whole different world than i do..

i check my Facebook to talk to my sister who lives in Ohio...

and my best friend who lives in Cali..

no one killing themselves where i live over Facebook...

weird.. that you would post this....

what planet you on???

I know PLENTY of people that breathe and eat Facebook. They don't kill themselves either. Second,did you read the story,or are you giving me your opinion on my take of it? All I said was people should moderate themselves,on it. Actually,another poster, posted the death first.. That has happened also with people that were bullied on Facebook.Another ATS poster said a relationship went to hell,cause of Facebook.Look,do what you want.I can care less actually. Just don't tell me that Facebook is all that. I had a Facebook account,and deleted it. I call my friends,and I hang out with my family,because its so much more personal. I didnt want to post the negative of Facebook,but since people believe that its all that,and then some,I guess I have to..... Here's some cons.......We live on the same planet,BTW.....

There are many common Facebook "Disasters" such as relationships being broken due to rumors or pictures posted, people getting in trouble at work for playing hooky, and people being stocked. Not only do statuses and too much personal information posted on Facebook get users in trouble, but so do videos and pictures. Facebook users get carried away and sometimes upload inappropriate pictures and videos and even end up tagging themselves.

Even though Facebook is a great way to communicate almost instantly, it does have its consequences. Now a day’s people aren’t communicating as they would before Facebook came around. Instead of making a phone call or meeting up with someone, people are just relying on technology and facebooking each other. In a way this makes people shy and less personal.

Individuals are now replacing real human interaction with online interaction. “Skeptics often suggest that online social networks foster introverted, anti-social behavior—that we forge virtual connections at the expense of real-life connections” (Manjoo). This can be a problem because non-verbal communication is being lost, which can be crucial for comfort and emotional support in certain situations.

FACEBOOK "disasters"! The pros (and mostly cons) of social networks

A Tennessee couple who "defriended" a woman on Facebook were murdered in their home by the jilted woman's father and another man, police said on Thursday.

Facebook "defriending" led to double murder, police say

Such seems to be the case of Simone Back, 42, found dead in her apartment in Brighton, England following her final message on the social network, posted at 10:53 p.m. on Christmas Day: "Took all my pills be dead soon bye bye everyone."

Woman announced suicide on Facebook, no one helped

A man murdered his estranged wife after becoming "enraged" when she changed her marital status on Facebook to "single"

Wife murdered for Facebook status

About 40 schoolboy victims of the female Facebook predator have now been identified and police are investigating possible grounds for charging the woman.

'I'm horrified': Facebook woman preyed on schoolboys

In November 2010, 24-year-old Ramazan Acar posted “bout 2 kill ma kid” on Facebook, then stabbed his 2-year-old daughter Yazmina Acar with a Ninja-style knife and left her to die. Three days before he murdered the toddler, Ramazan Acar posted “Yazmina + Ramzy 4 lyf” on the social network to let the world know how much he loved her.

Father posts “bout 2 kill ma kid” on Facebook, then murders daughter


All I said,was I believed in Personal moderation/regulation . Facebook is a good way to chat with your loved ones,but shouldn't be used as the primary way of doing it . Seems everyone now has the chance at 15 minutes of fame or Infamy,which ever way you look at it.MHO