Have you ever planned to quickly check your news feed only to find yourself two years deep into your ex-boyfriend’s current girlfriend’s best friend’s sister’s photos?
That fall down the rabbit hole isn’t just a time suck; it might also wreck your mental health.
Here are three ways that Facebook and your other social media favorites can mess with your mind.
(Boost your memory and age-proof your mind with these natural solutions.)
It can make you feel depressed
Someone you thought you were tight with just posted a photo of herself celebrating her birthday with her closest friends — and you weren’t among them. Talk about a bummer. And the more time you spend browsing Facebook, the more likely you are to feel jealous or slighted and become depressed, according to a study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology. After all, it’s hard not to feel a bit envious when you’re staring at a bunch of flawless, filtered photos. “Most of our Facebook friends tend to post about the good things in their lives, while leaving out the bad,” said researcher Mai-Ly Steers in a press release.
More: Why is everyone suddenly drinking aloe juice?
It can seriously stress you out
If you often head to Facebook to unwind after work or escape from the hassle of your day, you should know that this seemingly relaxing diversion could actually be making you more anxious — especially if you have tons of “friends,” say researchers from the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland. They examined the Facebook habits of more than 300 people and found that those with the most FB friends were more likely than those with a smaller network to feel stressed. The reason: Being virtually tethered to extended family, friends of friends, and colleagues ups the chances that you’ll offend someone with your next post or get irked by whatever one of your 500 nearest-and-dearest has to say.
More: 10 silent signals you’re way too stressed
It can fuel romantic insecurity
You thought you and your guy were getting along great, so why didn’t he “like” the last photo you posted? And who is that woman in the tiny skirt whose friend request he just accepted, anyway? If you suspect that Facebook might be fueling your jealous tendencies or tempting you by making it too easy to stay in touch with an ex, you’re probably right. According to a study published in the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, couples who spent a lot of time on Facebook were more likely than lighter users of the site to have a “negative relationship outcome” — think emotional or physical cheating or breakup/divorce.
It’s worth noting that researchers surveyed only people who had been coupled up for a max of three years, so it’s unclear whether Facebook-related squabbles would have the same impact on a decades-long marriage. But it’s a good reminder to prioritize your real-life relationships over your virtual ones. At the very least, don’t forget to “friend” your significant other: Another study found that 64 percent of Facebook users are friends with their exes on the site, while only 56 percent are friends with their current partners.