Too Much Facebook Depression - While staying connected with old friends and acquaintances through social media platforms like Facebook can have its benefits, a new study has noted that it could also affect a person's mental health by triggering envy and ultimately depression.

Researchers from the University of Missouri Columbia, Bradley University and Nanyang Technological University interviewed more than 700 students before coming to this conclusion. The students, whose average age was 19, are reported to attend a Midwestern university in the country. While up to 78% of the students were Caucasian Americans, up to 68% of them were females.

The research, which has been published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, found out that many Facebook users tend to compare their lives with those of their friends based on the posts that these friends make about the positive things happening in their lives. Users, whose lives may not be as successful or happy as those of their friends, are therefore susceptible to developing feelings of envy. This can progressively lead to depression.

"Facebook can be a fun and healthy activity if users take advantage of the site to stay connected with family and old friends and to share interesting and important aspects of their lives," explains Prof. Margaret Duffy, one of the lead authors of the study and chair of strategic communications at the University of Missouri School of Journalism."However, if Facebook is used to see how well an acquaintance is doing financially or how happy an old friend is in his relationship - things that cause envy among others - use of the site can lead to feelings of depression."

This is not the first study to indicate that being hooked on social media can have negative consequences. Other studies have also hinted at some positive benefits of using social media, such as happiness.

Edson Tandoc, a Nanyang Technological University professor, who contributed to the study, has noted that "Users should be self-aware that positive self-presentation is an important motivation in suing social media, so it is to be expected that many users would only post positive things about themselves. This self-awareness, hopefully, can lessen feelings of envy."