When two German universities joined forces to investigate social networking,

researchers discovered that one in three people surveyed felt worse ("lonely,
frustrated or angry") after spending time on Facebook, often due to perceived
inadequacies when comparing themselves to friends.

Pediatrics
April 2011, VOLUME 127 / ISSUE 4
From the American Academy of Pediatrics
Clinical Report

The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families

Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, Kathleen Clarke-Pearson, Council on
Communications and Media
Facebook Depression
Researchers have proposed a new phenomenon called Facebook depression, defined as depression that
develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then
begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression. Acceptance by and contact with peers is an important element
of adolescent life. The intensity of the online world is thought to be a factor that may trigger depression in
some adolescents. As with offline depression, preadolescents and adolescents who suffer from Facebook
depression are at risk for social isolation and sometimes turn to risky Internet sites and blogs for help that
may promote substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, or aggressive or self-destructive behaviors.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/4/800.full

Does Facebooking make us sad? Hunting relationship between Facebook use and
depression among adolescents
Datu, Jesus Alfonso De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
(jess.datu@yahoo.com) Valdez, Jana Patricia Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila,
Philippines (janapatriciavaldez@yahoo.com) Datu, Nino Colegio de San Juan de
Letran, Manila, Philippines
Conclusion With reference to the findings of the current inquiry, the frequency of
Facebook use of the adolescents who joined the study are not substantially linked to
their levels of depression. It provided additional evidences that using Facebook

alone cannot make individuals vulnerable to experience a state of negative

emotional experience which was validated recent studies done in the USA
(Jelenchick, Eickhoff, & Moreno, 2012; Feinstein, Bhatia, Hershenberg, & Davila,
2012). It also proved that the alleged Facebook depression would remain to be a
dubious hypothesis given that there is no significant path that can connect them
from one another. In effect, believing to speculations about Facebook depression
may be inappropriate given that depression is a condition that can be triggered by
multifaceted factors. As such, other technologically-relevant correlate of negative
emotional states are suggested to be tested given that social networking sites like
Facebook could not be regarded as a salient predictor of depression. It can possibly
pave the way towards using social networking sites as tools for helping the
adolescents achieve a state of psychological well-being instead of linking it with
negative emotional patterns such as depression and anxiety. In that way,
introduction of interventions that would increase psychological wellness can be
perpetuated instead of focusing on reducing depression among the intended
populace.
http://consortiacademia.org/index.php/ijrset/article/view/202/147

Facebook use and adolescents emotional states of depression,

anxiety, and stress
Labrague, Leodoro Jabien
Associate Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Samar State University,
Philippines
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11400/1481
Publication Date: 2014-01
Type: Journal article
Journal Name: Health Science Journal
Background: Facebook (FB) is becoming an increasingly salient feature in peoples lives and has
grown into a bastion in our current society with over 1 billion users worldwide the majority of which
are college students. However, recent studies conducted suggest that the use of Facebook may
impacts individuals well being. Thus, this paper aimed to explore the effects of Facebook usage on
adolescents emotional states of depression, anxiety, and stress. Method and Material: A cross sectional design was utilized in this investigation.

Conclusions: It can be inferred from this investigation that intensity of Facebook use
of among college students are not substantially linked to their levels of depression,
anxiety, and stress. Result of this investigation contrasts with the empirical
evidence suggesting linkage between Facebook use and negative emotional states.
However, time spent on FB increases the likelihood to develop depression and
anxiety. Thus, parents should monitor and supervise online activities thru active
parental involvement and constant communication. Moreover, the wide accessibility
of social networking sites would allow family members and university administrators
to identify students who would be at risk of developing negative emotional states
and in increasing awareness on it.
http://hypatia.teiath.gr/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11400/1481/817.pdf?sequence=1