Remember the last time you got a new friend request? Remember how good that made you feel – how validated and important? It’s a common experience for 
most people, as ‘friending’ validates our social behavior and is rewarding to us as users of Facebook
But what happens when the psychological effects of Facebook start to become more serious, and even potentially harmful? Mudra Mukesh, a doctoral candidate at the Instituto de Empresa in Madrid, has presented findings that show how the social network can actually be a hindrance to one’s mental health.
While it is not implied that Facebook causes these problems, it can certainly exacerbate the issues. For example, the very nature of Facebook and the ‘status update’ is to carefully craft and present the goings on in your life in the best possible light. For someone who is suffering from depression, this constant comparison can be maddening, as it happens all the time.
Read more at Vitals on MSNBC.com
About Ryan Almodovar
