Facebook Bad for Your Health?

Posted: February 19th, 2009 | By: Steve Mullen | Filed under: Social Media News, Social Media Tactics | No Comments

A psychologist in the U.K. says Facebook and other social networking sites are bad for your health:

Dr Aric Sigman says the amount of time we spend with each other has slumped dramatically and in turn is damaging our health.

He says our devotion to such sites could alter the way genes work, upset immune responses, hormone levels, and the function of arteries, and influence mental performance.

Levels of hormones such as the “cuddle chemical” oxytocin, which promotes bonding, altered according to whether people were in close contact or not.

This could increase the risk of health problems as serious as cancer, strokes, heart disease, and dementia.

Dr Sigman spells out his warning in the latest issue of Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology, and maintains that social networking sites have played a significant role in people becoming more isolated.

Sounds a little crazy, I think … but he’s a doctor and I’m not, so I won’t argue with him too much. It just reminds me of the doctors 10 years ago who cried that the Interwebs would lead to isolation. Instead, because of social media and social networking sites and the “meet ups” that grow out of them, I’ve met (virtually or in person) more people than I possibly could have otherwise.

Too much of anything is probably bad for you, which is I guess what Dr. Sigman was trying to say. It’s something that needs to be watched particularly closely with kids, and responsible parents do that. That’s common sense. I just hope no one overreacts to this report.

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