Ever since Facebook showed up in the public sphere in 2005, it has become a household name with little to no effort, capsizing previous social media giant MySpace. Right along with such a recognizable status, however, have come various emotional trends and obstacles dubbed the “Facebook Syndrome.”
Facebook is now something that consumes multiple hours in the average user’s week. It may leave you wondering, “How can I clean up my usage of Facebook?” Below are a number of moods you may resonate with while using Facebook, and our advice on how to clean it up.
Trends
Facebook has earned a coveted position as a primary news source for Generation Y, and the effects of this are simple to see. Online trends permeate across Facebook like no other, and millions of social media users can be knowledgeable of breaking news within minutes.
Wanting to clean up all of these noisy trends starts with cleaning up your friends list. Look through your list of friends and if you haven’t spoken to someone in two years or more, ask yourself what the basis of connection is.
Happiness
People are always posting statuses on Facebook, often without filtering their own thoughts. This regularly results in users sharing their emotions about an event in a way that’s far more exaggerated than reality. Due to this, it’s common to get angry or jealous over what friends have said. If you’re in disbelief over what you’ve read, consider commenting on the status and asking more about your friend’s perspective.
Obsession
Occasionally, we ourselves are the ones guilty of adding to “Facebook clutter.” The urge to take advantage of posting every major thought we have throughout the day can be overpowering. We can also feel pressure to keep tabs on our tightest social circle, our old school friends or even an ex. But if we fail to limit our posting and snooping, this turns into obsession.
Expectations
One of the worst parts about Facebook Syndrome is comparison. Many people like to write the majority of their posts about the amazing, joyful things going on in their lives. If friends only post about the bright side though, this can create toxic expectations for your own life, leading to further jealousy about not measuring up. We have to keep in mind that even when it seems like it, no one’s life is perfect.
Watch Out For Picture Maniacs
Just about every user on Facebook has one or two people who seem to have a new profile picture every day of the week. These people are “likemongers” or “picture maniacs” – individuals who update the visual side of their profile merely to attract further attention.
Sometimes, these users also push the boundaries of what’s appropriate in a profile picture in order to attract certain types of people. If you find yourself on a picture maniac’s profile, ask yourself if you’d be better off placing them through the “clean up” cycle.
Anxiety
Facebook is a social media platform that pokes and prods people’s minds to become curious about circumstances that they would otherwise rarely worry about. Before Facebook, the social world relied far more heavily on phone calls and face-to-face conversations.
Through Facebook you can stay “connected” longer, but this desire to stay connected can breed anxiety if gone unchecked. If you find yourself getting stressed out from missing updates and statuses, remind yourself of one or two positive transformations taking place in your own life. Performing digital clean up and enhancing the productivity of your own life is of more value than simply watching someone else’s life unfold.
Depression
Regular Facebook users can suffer from a sort of chronic depression. It might sound like a joke at first, but it’s true. Watching other folks soar to new levels of success all around you in the digital world can feel very intimidating. Attempting to equate someone else’s success with your own is a pointless and harmful way to live. If you can’t celebrate alongside another individual’s victories, it might be time for some Facebook clean up.
Getting rid of Facebook Syndrome
Getting rid of any aspect of Facebook Syndrome isn’t always straightforward, but it’s important to start with the biggest sector – your friend list. Sift through the people you have on your digital Rolodex, and evaluate what kind of thoughts and emotions they bring into your life. Focus on keeping the people who are encouraging, supportive sources of energy – the friends who are built to last!
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Have you found yourself in the middle of Facebook Syndrome? Are you finding it difficult to manage chronic Facebook depression? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.