Social media often invoke mixed feelings.
Studies show they can trigger jealousy, a fear of missing out, depression even. We don’t often hear about the happy side of social media (maybe you’re wondering of there even is a happy side).
Luckily, I found some good news. A recent study from the University of California showed that posting pictures on social media can inspire happiness as well. Researchers asked students in the study to post one picture every day, but not just any picture. It had to be a picture of something that made them happy, a selfie where they smiled, or a pic of something they thought would make someone else happy (and they then sent it to that person). The study showed that posting happy pictures on social media made all students feel happier afterwards.
[Video via YouTube]
This shows that there is a happy side to social media, but we have to create it ourselves. I recognize it from my own experience, that posting happy pictures make me happy. My 9-year old son and I love to take silly selfies and then choose which ones we want to post. We make duck faces, do a cross-eyed selfie (which is harder than you think!), do fish faces, choose a pensive look (in the style of ‘Le Penseur’, google it!), or find a whole new level of crazy and silly. It makes us happy and by posting these, I share that joy with my friends and family. Judging by the many likes and comments, it makes them happy, too.
Let’s keep choosing to use social media to spread love and yes, happiness too.
Do you recognize these findings, that posting happy pictures makes you happier?
[Photo Credit: Free Images STXC, cc]
Eric Dye says
There’s a lot of negativity on social media it would seem. We could all use a little more happy me thinks…