A recent study conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) challenges the prevalent notion that the global proliferation of Facebook is associated with widespread psychological harm.
According to BBC, the research focused on tracking changes in well-being across 72 countries as the usage of social media platforms expanded. The findings counter the common belief that social media, including Facebook, is inherently psychologically detrimental.
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Numerous countries, including the UK, have been contemplating legislative measures to safeguard social media users from online harm. This discourse gained traction, particularly due to revelations from whistle-blowers and media reports citing leaked information that indicated Facebook's internal research acknowledged negative impacts on certain users. Notably, this OII study specifically examined Facebook's effects and did not encompass other platforms owned by Meta, such as Instagram.
Prof. Andrew Przybylski, a lead researcher at OII, shared that the study's aim was to address the question, "As countries become more saturated with social media, how does the wellbeing of their populations look?"
Contrary to the prevailing belief, the amassed data and subsequent analysis did not demonstrate a decline in well-being linked to increased Facebook use.
It's important to note that the research focused on the overarching impact of Facebook usage at a national level and did not delve into the specific vulnerabilities of certain user groups. For instance, it might not have detected negative effects on smaller user subsets if they were counterbalanced by positive outcomes for other groups.
Furthermore, the study did not investigate the potential risks associated with specific types of content, such as materials promoting self-harm.
While the study has its limitations, Prof. Przybylski stressed that it highlights the necessity for more comprehensive data from tech companies to assess the true impact of social media.
The UK's Online Safety Bill (OSB), nearing the end of its parliamentary journey, aims to safeguard individuals from online harm.
However, Prof. Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics cautioned that the study's applicability to the OSB's concerns might be limited. She noted that the study's general nature makes it less relevant to current regulatory and clinical deliberations.
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Complex Findings: Not Causation, but Correlation
Although the OSB predominantly concentrates on protecting children online, the study's focus did not encompass young users as a distinct group since "by and large children are not using Facebook," according to Prof. Livingstone.
The peer-reviewed research, conducted by Prof. Przybylski and Matti Vuorre, employed a significant amount of data provided by Facebook. Notably, the researchers maintained their independence from the company, and the study received no funding from the tech giant.
Facebook provided the researchers with data indicating the growth in the number of users across different countries between 2008 and 2019, categorized by age brackets (13-34 and over 35). The OII team then compared this data with well-being indicators from the Gallup World Poll Survey, which represented nearly a million individuals.
Overall, the study found no substantial evidence linking the expansion of social media usage, particularly Facebook, to a negative impact on psychological well-being. While the study did not establish causation, it underscored the value of technology companies collaborating with researchers to gain deeper insights into the effects of their platforms.
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