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Is Gaming having an effect on mental health?

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Is Gaming having an effect on mental health?

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Gaming disorder is soon to be classified as a mental health condition for the very first time.

The International Classification of Diseases is a diagnostic manual that's published by the World Health Organisation. It was last updated 27 years ago, in 1990.

The eleventh edition of the manual is due to be published in 2018, and will include gaming disorder as a serious health condition to be monitored.

The wording of the gaming disorder hasn't been revealed yet. However, as the New Scientist reports, the draft outlines the criteria needed to determine whether someone can be classed as having a gaming disorder.

Vladimir Poznyak, a member of the WHO's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, spoke about the importance of recognising gaming disorder as an important issue.

"Health professionals need to recognise that gaming disorder may have serious health consequences," he said.

"Most people who play video games don't have a disorder, just like most people who drink alcohol don't have a disorder either. However, in certain circumstances overuse can lead to adverse effects."

Grand Theft Auto has racked up over $1billion in combined lawsuits. pic.twitter.com/bcOn6LeIcl
- VS Gaming (@VSGamingWorld) December 21, 2017

Last year, researchers from the University of Oxford's Internet Institute undertook a study to investigate the percentage of gamers who are addicted to video games.

The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, found that only 2 to 3 per cent of the 19,000 men and women surveyed from the UK, the US, Canada and Germany admitted that they experienced five or more of the symptoms from the American Psychiatric Association checklist of health symptoms.

A few years ago, the APA created a list of nine standard symptoms that could determine "internet gaming disorder". These symptoms include anxiety, withdrawal symptoms and antisocial behaviour.

Dr Andrew Przybylski, lead author from the University of Oxford study, discussed their findings.

"To our knowledge, these are the first findings from a large-scale project to produce robust evidence on the potential new problem of 'internet gaming disorder,'" he said.

"Contrary to what was predicted, the study did not find a clear link between potential addiction and negative effects on health; however, more research grounded in open and robust scientific practices is needed to learn if games are truly as addictive as many fear."

While some may debate whether gaming does pose a threat to mental health, the amount of time many people spend playing video games is astounding.

When researchers from ESET polled 500 gamers, they discovered that 10 per cent admitted to spending between 12 and 24 hours glued to their video game screens.

"Gaming is highly addictive, and it is no wonder so many respondents from our study admit to playing them for so long," said Mark James, a security specialist at ESET.

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Gaming disorder is going to be named a mental health condition for the first time

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Gaming disorder is soon to be classified as a mental health condition for the very first time. The International Classification of Diseases is a diagnostic manual that's published by the World Health Organisation. It was last updated 27 years ago, in 1990.

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The music industry has grown through new apps increasing listening behaviour.

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The music industry has grown through new apps increasing listening behaviour.

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It's clear to see that in 2017, the music industry continues to be intensely competitive. More music is being streamed for free or at a low-cost and everyday, thousands of podcasts, online radio shows and songs are uploaded to the internet.

In 2016 alone, for every minute of the day, around 38,052 hours of music was listened to on Spotify. Over the course of the year, this totals up to over 20 billion hours of music being listened on Spotify alone.

For music fans, access to great albums has never been easier. Listeners now have more choice than ever to stream audio using a range of 'all-you-can-eat' services such as Spotify, Bandcamp & SoundCloud.

Due to the increased connectivity of the internet and rise in content distribution options for musicians, there has been a shift in the industry from large mainstream record conglomerates, to smaller, independent record labels.

WHAT HAS ENABLED THIS FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE? SOCIAL MEDIA AND MASS MUSIC STREAMING PLATFORMS

Social Media platforms have given musicians more control over the distribution of their music and through the use of services such as Bandcamp, many artists now have the option to bypass the industry conventions completely.

This phenomenon of small-scale indie publishing and the increased bargaining power for music listeners has ultimately led to a saturated and highly competitive environment for music artists.

In today's digital music environment, the threat of substitution is high. Artists must not only compete with other contemporary musicians but also with the recorded archives of popular bands such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson or Adele, whose complete back catalogues are easily available to stream online for free.

Furthermore, due to the rise in digital music production software such as FL Studio or Ableton music creation is now more accessible than it ever has been before. Because of this, there are now millions of artists, which ultimately leads to more variety and choice listeners.

Not only has the sales of musical equipment risen again to new all-time highs, but retro formats of music storage such as vinyl and even cassettes have begun to make a comeback.

We recently published an article detailing some of our favourite examples of music marketing. The fact is however, that none of the mentioned methods would have been possible without the creative usage of social media.

"TRIBES" ENABLE ARTISTS TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS WITHOUT MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS

Seth Godin did a TED talk (for more great talks, check out our top 10) on the idea of tribes, a social unit from the distant past of human society, and how this mentality is being revived. Seth of course, explains the concept in a much better way than we can, but the general idea is that "ordinary" people can influence a smaller and more niche set of followers.

Social media has played a massive role in rekindling this tribal group mindset. Artists in all industries no longer need to appeal to millions of people to succeed and make their mark. Instead, a group of even a few hundred loyal followers can enable the artist in question to pursue their dreams.

The results of this drastic change are phenomenal. Instead of artists having to adhere to certain genre's or change themselves to appeal to more people, they can remain true to their essence and create whatever they want (well, within reason!).

It doesn't just benefit the musicians though. Listeners now have more choice than ever before and the various and previously mentioned mass music streaming platforms have empowered them with the ability to discover content that they otherwise would have missed!

TIPS FOR MUSICIANS TO SUCCEED ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS

FACEBOOK

Keep an active, on brand profile showcasing your latest releases

Create a list of relevant groups to post your content in - update this list at least once a month

Harness the power of Facebook Livestream to transform your local gig to a global event

TWITTER

Create a list of relevant hashtags to post your content in for example #140bmp, #UKMusic or #Acoustic. Update this list as frequently as you can for best results

Use a social scheduling tool such as Buffer to create a playlist of your music which will be automatically posted to your followers as well as new audiences with the utilisation of targeted and relevant hashtags

Read our guide on how to increase your Twitter following

INSTAGRAM

Create interesting behind-the-scenes content to share with your following - for example, if you are planning to release new music soon, you can tease your audience with short videos taken from the studio

popular influencers on Instagram who can promote your brand to new audiences

SNAPCHAT

Create a Snapchat Geofilter to support your live shows and encourage social sharing

Like Instagram, promote upcoming music by sharing small pieces from the studio with your following

SOUNDCLOUD

Upload tracks that listeners can download for free

Harness the power of tags to enhance your reach

Syndicate your content across the rest of your social network profiles

Embed your content on your website page or blog and encourage others in your community to do so too

Add the SoundCloud icon, along with the rest of your social icons to the footer of your website

Harness the power of 'Artists Union' to get free replays and follows when users download your content

TIPS TO PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC ONLINE

Give your music away for free to capture leads on Bandcamp or your own channels

Put your music up for streaming on Youtube, Spotify, and iTunes

Provide your music stems online for free and encourage other artists to remix your tracks

Consider licensing your music for advertising

The music industry is constantly evolving and social media has proven to be a major influence in that during the last decade. No doubt, the various strategies that musicians can utilise to stay relevant will keep changing again and again.

If you're an artist, a big piece of advice that we can offer you is to stay on your toes and don't neglect any of the social media platforms due to your personal opinion of them. If your audience there, then you should be taking advantage of that!
Finally, if you found this article to be helpful, we'd really appreciate you sharing it with your audience! Thanks for reading!
Also published on Medium.

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How Social Media has affected the Music Industry

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It's clear to see that in 2017, the music industry continues to be intensely competitive. More music is being streamed for free or at a low-cost and everyday, thousands of podcasts, online radio shows and songs are uploaded to the internet.

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Friends can be found through playing games online.

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Friends can be found through playing games online.

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The social side of gaming: How playing online computer games creates online and offline social support

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Online gaming has gained millions of users around the globe, which have been shown to virtually connect, to befriend, and to accumulate online social ...

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More games are being released which some argue are making younger generations more violent.

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More games are being released which some argue are making younger generations more violent.

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The findings were released by the American Psychological Association.

It set up a taskforce that reviewed hundreds of studies and papers published between 2005 and 2013.

The American Psychological Association concluded while there was "no single risk factor" to blame for aggression, violent video games did contribute.

"The research demonstrates a consistent relation between violent video game use and increases in aggressive behaviour, aggressive cognitions and aggressive affect, and decreases in pro-social behaviour, empathy and sensitivity to aggression," said the report.

"It is the accumulation of risk factors that tends to lead to aggressive or violent behaviour. The research reviewed here demonstrates that violent video game use is one such risk factor."

However, a large group of academics said they felt the methodology of the research was deeply flawed as a significant part of material included in the study had not been subjected to peer review.

"I fully acknowledge that exposure to repeated violence may have short-term effects - you would be a fool to deny that - but the long-term consequences of crime and actual violent behaviour, there is just no evidence linking violent video games with that," Dr Mark Coulson, associate professor of psychology at Middlesex University and one of the signatories of the letter told the BBC.

"If you play three hours of Call of Duty you might feel a little bit pumped, but you are not going to go out and mug someone."

The question about whether violent games inspire violent behaviour "in real life" is a subject that strongly divides opinion.

Why is it so controversial?

The playing of violent video games is often cited as a factor in motivating shockingly violent youth crimes such as high school shootings in the US.

One of the students who carried out the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 used a gun he called "Arlene" - allegedly after a character in a novel inspired by the computer game Doom.

However, most people who played graphically violent games (such as Call of Duty, Hitman, Mortal Kombat) did not resort to violence - and most video games were not violent, said Dr Richard Wilson from trade body Tiga.

"I wouldn't rubbish the [APA] report, but think it is important to look beyond the headline," he said.

"Although there are adult games, there are also adult films, books, TV shows... the content should be, and is, regulated to ensure children and minors do not play inappropriate material."

The taskforce said more research was now needed to establish whether violent games did lead to violent criminal behaviour.

However, the group of 230 academics from universities around the world wrote in its open letter to the APA youth violence in the US and around the world was currently "at a 40-year low".

"This decline in societal violence is in conflict with claims that violent video games and interactive media are important public health concerns," they wrote.

"The statistical data are simply not bearing out this concern and should not be ignored."

A study released by the Oxford Internet Institute last year suggested frustration at being unable to play a game was more likely to bring out aggressive behaviour than the content of the game itself.

"We focused on the motives of people who play electronic games and found players have a psychological need to come out on top when playing," said Dr Andrew Przybylski at the time.

"If players feel thwarted by the controls or the design of the game, they can wind up feeling aggressive.

"This need to master the game was far more significant than whether the game contained violent material."

In Europe, games are given age-related ratings in accordance with the Pan-European Game Information (Pegi) system.

There are five age ratings - three, seven, 12, 16 and 18.

The problem is that violence is hard to classify.

A Pegi 18 certificate may contain scenes of "gross violence", says the website.

"Gross violence is the most difficult to define since it can be very subjective in many cases, but in general terms it can be classed as the depictions of violence that would make the viewer feel a sense of revulsion," it says.

The APA is calling for extra in-game controls in addition to the current ratings.

"This is censorship by another route," said Dr Coulson.

"The worry I have is that any soft-coded censorship will be immediately subverted.

"The people playing these games are more competent than the people acting as gatekeepers.

"It's kind of putting forward a solution to a problem I don't think exists."

The APA taskforce used meta-analysis - combining the results of lots of studies in order to look for patterns and correlations, rather than carrying out any new research itself.

It conducted a comprehensive review of academic work around the subject, some of which dated back to 2005.

"While there is some variation among the individual studies, a strong and consistent general pattern has emerged from many years of research that provides confidence in our general conclusions," said task force chairman Mark Appelbaum.

However, this approach was criticised by the group of experts, which said such correlations sometimes had other explanations.

For example, boys were more likely to play video games than girls but they were also more likely to be aggressive in general.

Dr Coulson also cautioned about work included in the study that may not have been subject to peer review, where it is critiqued by the wider academic community.

"Obviously there is a lot of stuff out there that doesn't get into peer review journals," he said.

"If you look at all the literature in this area you are bound to get a sensationalist conclusion."

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The findings were released by the American Psychological Association. It set up a taskforce that reviewed hundreds of studies and papers published between 2005 and 2013. The American Psychological Association concluded while there was "no single risk factor" to blame for aggression, violent video games did contribute.

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Whether it's out of revenge, loneliness, curiosity or boredom, an emerging class of Internet predators cite dozens of reasons for scamming their way into romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims seeking love online.

By creating fake profiles on social networking sites, these predators trick people into thinking that they are someone else entirely. The fabricated life stories and photographs that they cobble together online often contain the experiences, friends, resumes and job titles that they wish were their own, providing a complete window into how these scammers want the world to see them - and how far they fall from those ideals.

The emergence of such elaborate social schemes online was brought to light in a shocking way in the 2010 documentary 'Catfish,' in which 28-year-old Nev Schulman fell in love with a gorgeous young woman's Facebook profile and her voice over the phone - both of which turned out to belong to a middle-aged wife and mother.

Schulman later turned the documentary into a show, where he helps others solve the mysteries of their online relationships.

The potential victims always come to Schulman with a similar list of questions for their online lovers: 'Why does he refuse to chat via web cam?'; 'Why is she never able to meet in person?'; and finally, 'Why does it just seem too good to be true?'

The documentary and the show has intrigued and shocked the nation, and its title has since been unofficially canonized into the English language.

Most recently, Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick used the term 'catfish' to describe a hoax that one of his football players apparently fell for.

'I would refer all of you, if you're not already familiar with it, with both the documentary called "Catfish," the MTV show which is a derivative of that documentary, and the sort of associated things you'll find online and otherwise about catfish, or catfishing,' Swarbrick told reporters Wednesday in describing the incident involving his star linebacker, Manti Te'o.

(MTV defines the term 'catfish' as a verb: 'Cat·fish [kat-fish]: To pretend to be someone you're not online by posting false information, such as someone else's pictures, on social media sites, usually with the intention of getting someone to fall in love with you.')

Swarbrick's comments were in reaction to reports that a heartbreaking story about the death of Te'o's girlfriend was all a lie.

The Hawaiian said during the 2012 season that Lennay Kekua, his girlfriend, died of leukemia in September on the same day Te'o's grandmother died.

The story of how Te'o and his girlfriend met had previously been chronicled in various news outlets and photographs of the girl were plastered all over the internet and in newspapers across the country.

Football fans were stunned and heartbroken, then, when they learned that the girl had died. The news triggered an outpouring of support for Te'o at Notre Dame and in the media.

But Lennay Kekua never actually existed, according to reporting by Dead Spin. In fact, Dead Spin's reports indicate that 'she' was actually a 'he' - and also a friend of Te'o's.

Amid claims that Te'o was in on the scam to get publicity, Te'o insists he was duped.

'This is incredibly embarrassing to talk about, but over an extended period of time, I developed an emotional relationship with a woman I met online,' Te'o said. 'We maintained what I thought to be an authentic relationship by communicating frequently online and on the phone, and I grew to care deeply about her. To realize that I was the victim of what was apparently someone's sick joke and constant lies was, and is, painful and humiliating.'

In 'Catfish' creator Nev Schulman's case, he fell in love with a girl named Megan, a gorgeous blonde from Michigan.

He spent hours on the phone with Megan and even sent racy texts and messages to her about kissing her and having sex.

But months into the relationship, he began to grow suspicious about her identity.

He discovered that a song she had sent him, which she claimed to have written, was in fact a single released by another artist.

When a few other details didn't add up, he decided to surprise 'Megan' with a visit to her home in Michigan.

The person who met him at the door was Angela Wesselman, a middle-aged overweight mother who admitted to creating the profile for Megan - as well as orchestrating an entire network of friends and family members to make Megan seem more authentic. Angela said she was lonely and enjoyed the personal connection that the scam provided her.

She later said that she was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Schulman was shocked and humiliated, but he also described feeling sad for Wesselman. He spent several days with her and her family trying to understand what drove her to concoct the elaborate scheme.

In his MTV show, Schulman continues searching for answers from 'catfishers' that he unites with victims of their schemes.

In the first episode, Sunny, a 21-year-old nursing student from Arkansas, has fallen in love online with a man named Jamison King. She has talked to him for months on Facebook and on the phone and she considers him to be her boyfriend.

The cameras are rolling as she shows up to Jamison's house in Alabama teeming with excitement about finally meeting the man of her dreams. But 'Jamison' turns out to be Chelsea, a young woman seeking female companionship.

Sunny is first crestfallen and then angry. She threatens to physically hurt Chelsea - a scene that is played out repeatedly in the show between scammers and their victims.

In another 'Catfish' episode, a young woman has created a fake online boyfriend for another woman whom she saw as competition for her own love interest.

The scammer said she created the profile out of spite and as she explained herself, the two women almost got into a fist fight before Schulman intervened.

A third episode reveals a man who didn't fabricate many facts about his life, but only misrepresented his appearance. He is severely overweight and said he didn't think his victim would give him a chance at a romantic relationship if he revealed his true appearance.

The circumstances that drive various 'catfishers' to fabricate entire lives and social circles differ greatly, but what ties them together in each episode is the satisfaction they claim to get out of having total control over the way that others perceive them.

It is a joy that typically springs from their inability to achieve the depth of human connection in reality that they can achieve online, according to their personal accounts.

When Chelsea was asked whether she would have continued posing as 'Jamison' had Schulman not intervened, she admitted she would.

'To be totally honest with you, I think I would have to say yes,' Chelsea said. 'It's different - going from basically talking to whoever you want to talk to, to whoever really just wants to talk to you.'

Catfish's Angela Wesselman speaks out

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'Catfishing:' The phenomenon of Internet scammers who fabricate online identities and entire social circles to trick people into romantic relationships

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Whether it's out of revenge, loneliness, curiosity or boredom, an emerging class of Internet predators cite dozens of reasons for scamming their way into romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims seeking love online. By creating fake profiles on social networking sites, these predators trick people into thinking that they are someone else entirely.

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Rosie Niven

acebook users can claim to have hundreds of friends in their network, yet sometimes find it difficult to name half a dozen people that they have actually met in their local neighbourhood. While social networks have helped people to meet like-minded contacts online, they have had a more limited role in developing face-to-face contact in communities.

But gradually, social networks are beginning to have a bigger role in building community and catalysing neighbourhood co-operation and social action. The recent post-riot clean-up Twitter campaign was one example of how social media can be used to inspire people to get involved in community life.

This was just one of the examples discussed at a round table event last week exploring the crossover of local communities and social media. Organised by RightmovePlaces and Civic Voice, it brought together some of the leading lights in hyperlocal online communities to discuss what role social media can play in supporting and mobilising communities.

One national organisation that has used social media to encourage community action is Keep Britain Tidy. The organisation's partnerships support director Fran Hayes told participants how it uses existing social networks such as Twitter and Facebook to help change people's habits nationally and organise local litter pickups.

Keep Britain Tidy now has almost 9,000 followers on Twitter and 2,000 on Facebook. The organisation has encouraged its Twitter followers to take photos of litter in their areas and share them as a Twitpic. It has also launched a closed Ning forum where people can turn conversation and debates into action.

Hayes said that the organisation considers that social media provides a safe environment for "mobilising people who are upset about litter". He said that the momentum provided by litter picks could snowball and benefit the community further by encouraging locals to collaborate on future projects.

Paul Twivy, of Your Square Mile, an organisation that is building communities both on and offline in 16 UK locations, has worked with some heavy users of Facebook who have failed to realise its potential for community action. "It hadn't occurred to them that they could set up a Google or Facebook Group for their street," he noted.

But it is not just social media that can be used to mobilise communities, online blogs and forums can have a similar effect. Hugh Flouch, the founder of Network Neighbourhoods, presented survey data from a 2010 study of the social impact of online communities carried out by his organisation.

The study explored the ways in which people communicate online using citizen-run websites, the impact of that communication, and the implications for local service providers. It focused on three well-established sites around London: Brockley Central, East Dulwich Forum and Harringay Online.

It found that 42% of respondents say they have met someone in their neighbourhood as a direct consequence of using the website. Three quarters of respondents felt that participation on the local site had a positive effect on whether or not people pull together to make improvements to their area, while 69% felt that participation on the local site had strengthened their sense of belonging.

The research concluded that neighbourhood sites appear to be playing a consolidating role, building a stronger attachment on already-sound foundations. They help to raise and debate local issues transparently and provide a channel and encouragement for people to get involved in civic and community issues.

But the research also suggested that there is a limited crossover of activity from online to physical communities. Overall, only 13% of respondents said they have been involved in formal groups or organisations locally in the past year. "It seems likely that local websites can both stimulate and reflect a latent demand for informal opportunities for collective involvement, very much on a dip-in dip-out basis," said the document.

Flouch told participants at the event that online platforms were good to encourage the habit of communicating with other community members. He added that people do not necessarily have to have any other motivation than wanting to chat. "Logging into a website for half an hour creates a habit of people communicating with their neighbours."

The participants did briefly discuss the fact that too much of an emphasis on online communities can exclude those not online. Most agreed that online communities are not a panacea - indeed Twivy's work with Your Square Mile emphasises the need for community development to take place both online and off.

The discussion has highlighted how social networks and online forums are fast becoming recognised as an important tool in community development and the range of tools available to practitioners.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To join the voluntary sector network, click here. Topics

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The role of social media in community building and development

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Rosie Niven acebook users can claim to have hundreds of friends in their network, yet sometimes find it difficult to name half a dozen people that they have actually met in their local neighbourhood. While social networks have helped people to meet like-minded contacts online, they have had a more limited role in developing face-to-face contact in communities.

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Social media is a big part of people's lives but it could be detrimental

FEMAIL has spoken to two psychologists about how it can affect our health

They say sleep and body image can both be impacted by logging on too much

Social media has woven itself into the fabric of many people's lives and although many people enjoy it, some aspects can be detrimental to our mental health.

FEMAIL spoke with developmental psychologist Stephanie Lau and psychologist and clinical director of MindMovers Psychology Jaimie Bloch.

They have shared the four main ways that social media is affecting our health.

Unfortunately many of us are guilty of choosing to wind down before bed with our phone in hand, scrolling through social media posts from the day that has been and gone.

Stephanie Lau explained that many of us are using technology far too close to bed time, which is affecting how well we sleep.

'Being potentially addicted or using these devices too much will make you stay up late as well and stop you from getting quality sleep,' she said.

She recommends that people set limits on how often during the day they use social media, particularly before bed time.

Ms Lau explained that people should stop using them at least an hour before they hit the hay.

A new Canadian study has warned that just one hour of social media use per day could be enough to destroy your sleeping patterns.

'The main problem that occurs with taking your electronics to bed is the blue light they emit,' Ms Bloch said.

'The blue lights of electronics sends signals to our brain telling us it is daytime. Our brains then release cortisol hormones, which then keep us in an alert, wakeful state.'

Ms Bloch also said that scrolling through social media while you're lying in bed can increase the length and frequency of sleep disturbances.

'The combination of heightened emotions, getting distracted from the time and the blue light all work together to create disrupt sleep that can enable dullness and sluggishness in the morning,' she said.

HOW TO MANAGE SOCIAL MEDIA USE

'Being bombarded with images of perfection, perfect bodies, perfect make up, perfect faces can leave people feeling quite down about themselves because you're mislead to believe that this is reality,' Ms Lau explained.

She said that this is coming to light more now as social media ''influencers'' are becoming more open and honest about how much time and energy it takes to produce their content.

'With age comes perspective and wisdom... young people are more vulnerable so they need guidance from adults and monitor their use of technology.'

Ms Bloch explained that the effects of social media on body image and self-esteem have been well documented through research studies in recent years and agreed with Ms Lau about the vulnerability of young people.

'This type of research has uncovered that adolescent girls and young women are the most vulnerable and affected by social media, specifically when it comes to body dissatisfaction.

'Research into constant exposure to images that portray "thin-ideals" and cosmetically-altered bodies, found that girls and women who were exposed to these types of images rated significantly high levels of displeasure in their own body.'

She said that platforms like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram, create an environment that is based on rating people and earning approval through likes, reposts and comments.

'This creates a hyper focus and link between body image, self-esteem and social belonging,' she said.

SOCIAL INTERACTION

Ms Lau said that the increased amount of time that people are spending on social media is impacting social interactions.

'We're always staring at a screen and not mindful of the people that we're with and we're too attached to our gadgets,' she explained.

'Even a phone in a room can take away your attention from what's going on in the room.

'We're always on standby for the next notification and alert and it takes time away from the people who are with us.'

CONSTANT CONNECTIVITY

Ms Bloch explained that wanting to connect with other people is a human need and the invention of social media has helped people connect, even from afar.

'However an excess of constant connectivity can be negative to our mental health and our lives,' she said.

'The pressure of having to be always available or responsive can create overwhelming feelings of anxiety and can make you feel like you are constantly switched on, allowing no room or space to switch off and relax.'

Ms Bloch also said that many people feel like they need to live their entire lives on social platforms.

'We are constantly walking the tight rope to deliver content, respond to others, be responded too, but also to monitor and manage what we are sharing,' she said.

'This near impossible balancing act can create intense stress, anxiety and depression in many social media users.'

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Billie Schwab Dunn For Daily Mail Australia

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Social media ruining our lives? Psychologists explain why it could be

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Social media is a big part of people's lives but it could be detrimental FEMAIL has spoken to two psychologists about how it can affect our health They say sleep and body image can both be impacted by logging on too much Social media has woven itself into the fabric of many people's lives and although many people enjoy it, some aspects can be detrimental to our mental health.

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Facebook uses an advertising strategy called the 'Audience Network'

This lets brands target advertisements even when users move off the site

Users can limit Facebook's ad tracking via their smartphone or web browser

It has also emerged that thousands of plugin apps were siphoning user data

Users have to delete each app manually to ensure their future data security

Facebook's latest scandal has caused many users to question whether they should pull the plug and delete their account in order to protect their private data.

But this may not be enough to keep Facebook, its advertisers, and so-called 'vampire apps', from tracking you across the web.

Facebook uses pieces of code - which include tags, pixels and cookies - to collect information and build up a profile of your digital self - even if you don't have an account.

It also allows thousands of third-party 'vampire apps' to plug in to its social network and siphon off data from its users.

In response, many are choosing to manually remove permissions previously granted to individual apps - a time consuming process.

However, it remains unclear whether this will allow them to claw back data already shared via third-parties.

This means third-party apps may still have enough data to build up a digital profile of you, even if you have stopped using them.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has since admitted Facebook 'made mistakes' leading up to Cambridge Analytica privacy breach, which has led to accusations the firm mismanaged user data.

Scroll down for video

Facebook Audience Network

Facebook uses an advertising strategy called the 'Facebook Audience Network' to promote ads targeted to your browsing tastes.

It means brands can direct marketing messages to you based on your interests, even when you're not on the site, via other company's apps and mobile websites.

They can collect information ranging from your IP address to the websites you have visited, the length of time you spent on a website and in what sequence pages were accessed.

Facebook can use this information to track your activities across different websites, gaining insights into things like your location, age group, gender, and interests.

Facebook marketed its Audience Network as the 'power of Facebook ads, off Facebook' at the time of its launch in 2014.

The company is not alone in using targeted advertising and the many who do engage in it - including Google and Apple - say they do so to ensure that the commercial messages you are exposed to online are relevant to you.

Vampire Apps

By connecting your Facebook profile to third party plugin apps found on the social network, many of which are from the same firms paying for targeted advertising, you're also typically granting them permission to access your data.

That includes your name, profile picture, cover photo, gender, networks, username and user ID.

Some fear this may also include details like your IP address and other identifying information which can be used to track your online activities.

Facebook has since amended a policy which allowed third-party apps to access your friends' data as well.

Some of the better known apps that may be connected to your profile include those of popular sites like Amazon, Buzzfeed, Expedia, Etsy, and Tinder.

You can check which apps your Facebook account is sharing data with by clicking here.

HOW CAN YOU STOP FACEBOOK'S ADVERTISING NETWORK TRACKING YOU ONLINE?

Part of what makes companies like Facebook and Google so valuable, is that they oversee vast treasure troves of user data which can be of huge benefit to brands.

For advertisers, it means they're more likely to get a higher click-through rate on their advertisements, boosting the effectiveness of their campaigns.

For users, it means forfeiting personal information to a variety of unknown sources.

Thankfully, there are a number of steps that can be taken to prevent Facebook's ad partners from following you as you browse the internet on your phone or desktop computer.

Changing your settings on your smartphone or tablet

If you own an iPhone or iPad, the steps to block targeted adverts are relatively simple.

Go to Settings, tap Privacy and then scroll down to click on Advertising.

From there, swipe the 'Limit Ad Tracking' button.

If you choose to leave the 'Limit Ad Tracking' feature off, that means that advertisers can track your browsing behavior by assigning your device a unique ID number, or a Identifier For Advertising.

In turn, it will be harder for ad technology companies to track your browsing behavior.

If you own an Android phone or tablet, the process is very similar.

Open up Settings, navigate to Accounts and Sync, select Google, then Ads and finally, select 'Opt Out of Interest Based Ads.'

Changing your browser settings

If you're browsing the internet on Google Chrome, go to 'Settings' in the right-hand dropdown menu.

From there, click on 'Show advanced settings,' then select Privacy.

Finally, click on 'Send a do not track request with your browsing traffic.'

A popup on Chrome further explains what this means: 'Enabling Do Not Track means that a request will be included with your browsing traffic.

'Any effect depends on whether a website responds to the request, and how the request is interpreted.'

'For example, some websites may respond to this request by showing you ads that aren't based on other websites you've visited.'

'Many websites will still collect and use your browsing data-- for example, to improve security, to provide content, services, ads, and recommendations on their websites, and to generate reporting statistics.'

What this means is that not all websites necessarily have to honor 'Do Not Track' requests.

Contacting your local data privacy alliance

Google, Facebook and Twitter are just a few of the major corporations that are part of a number of privacy alliances that have agreed to honor requests to stop tracking.

These are the Digital Advertising Alliance in the US, the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada and the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance.

The websites of each of these organizations contain instructions on how to add your details to their 'do not track' schemes.

Change your tacking settings in Facebook

Facebook has given users of its social network the option to opt out of ad tracking via the site.

First, log in to Facebook, go to Settings, then click on 'Ads' in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

Under Ad Settings, click on the button that says 'Ads on apps and websites off of the Facebook Companies.'

Then scroll down to the bottom and select 'No.'

Facebook says that if you select that option, it means that you'll still see ads, but 'they won't be as relevant to you.'

Additionally, you may still see ads related to your age, gender or location.

How you can stop Facebook tracking you online

Part of what makes Facebook and Google so valuable is that they oversee vast treasure troves of user data, which can be of huge benefit to brands.

For advertisers, it means they're more likely to get a higher click-through rate on their advertisements, boosting the effectiveness of their campaigns.

For users, it means forfeiting personal information to a variety of unknown sources.

Thankfully, there are a number of steps that can be taken to prevent Facebook's ad partners from following you as you browse the internet on your phone or desktop computer.

This can be achieved through software settings on your device, or by contacting a number of non-governmental organisations who enforce responsible privacy practices.

When it comes to vampire apps, removing permissions is the most effective route of ensuring they are no longer able to gather information, although this is time consuming.

If you have left Facebook, there are still options for finding out what data, if any, third parties still hold on you and to request that they delete it.

This may also be time consuming, as you will need to contact these third parties

WHO ARE THE DATA VAMPIRES MINING FOR INFO ON FACEBOOK?

Facebook's latest scandal involving communications firm Cambridge Analytica has served as a startling wake-up call for many users on the countless companies mining our social data.

Through a feature that meant apps could ask for permission not only to your data, but that of your Facebook friends as well, the firm was able to mine the information of million of users.

And, only 270,000 had given them permission to do so.

In 2014, Facebook changed its rules so that apps could no longer obtain data about a person's friends unless those users had also authorized the app.

Still, Cambridge Analytica is far from the only firm to have access to Facebook users' data.

By connecting your Facebook profile to a third-party app, you're typically also granting that app permission to access your data.

You can check which apps your Facebook account is sharing data with by clicking here.

That includes your name, profile picture, cover photo, gender, networks, username and user ID. These apps can also access your friends list, and any other public data.

Once the outside parties have access to your data, they can then use it to track different types of activity.

Many popular apps such as Instagram, Spotify, Airbnb, and Tinder can be connected to your Facebook account.

Just weeks ago, for example, MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe bragged that the company stores 'an enormous amount of information' about users, and even tracks where they go after the movies.

MoviePass is also among the many apps that can be connected to your Facebook.

And, it doesn't stop there.

Taking Facebook quizzes from third-party services, or doing image generators (such as the ever-popular 'What Would Your Baby Look Like, or What Would You Look Like As The Opposite Sex), also often gives outside firms access to your data.

While these are usually preceded by a pop-up asking permission to access certain parts of your profile, many users have taken to clicking through without thoroughly reading what they've just agreed to.

Some users are now expressing their horror upon realizing they've granted permission to hundreds of third-party apps.

Other apps that have experienced viral popularity over the last few years, such as Facetune and Meitu, can access your Facebook data as well.

Changing your settings on your smartphone or tablet

If you own an iPhone or iPad, the steps to block targeted adverts are relatively simple.

Go to Settings, tap Privacy and then scroll down to click on Advertising.

From there, swipe the 'Limit Ad Tracking' button.

If you choose to leave the 'Limit Ad Tracking' feature off, that means that advertisers can track your browsing behaviour by assigning your device a unique ID number, or a Identifier For Advertising.

When you the option on, your device will be represented as '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000.'

In turn, it will be harder for ad technology companies to track your browsing behaviour.

If you own an Android phone or tablet, the process is very similar.

Open up Settings, navigate to Accounts and Sync, select Google, then Ads and finally, select 'Opt Out of Interest Based Ads.'

HOW CAN YOU STOP FACEBOOK 'VAMPIRE' APPS FROM HARVESTING YOUR DATA?

One way to try to ensure that your data stays private is to request that your Facebook account be deleted, but that doesn't necessarily protect information you have already supplied.

Many users are willing to trade off the risk of supplying their data for the convenience of staying connected to friends and others on the social network.

So what can you do to protect your data if you want to stay on Facebook?

To begin, visit the settings area of Facebook found via the drop-down arrow in the top right-hand corner of your profile page on the desktop version of the site.

Then click on the apps tab on the left of the page and click 'show all' at the bottom, then you can see, edit, and remove all the apps you've 'consented' to track your account.

Now, a likely vast list of all apps that can access and view your own personal data will be revealed.

To edit or remove these apps from your list of permitted platforms, simply hover the mouse over one of the options.

Clicking the pencil icon will bring up the edit options and clicking the 'X' will bring up the option to remove it.

For each app that has access to the data, users can go in and customise what permissions are granted to each app.

For example, many apps use friends list information, profile information and sometimes even work and educational history.

Most will already know your email and have access to any information on your profile.

To restrict access, there is a blue tick option on the right-hand side of different permissions such as email, profile picture, education etc.

Apps can make some permissions compulsory and these cannot be unchecked and appear as a faded out blue.

If this makes you uncomfortable then the only way to restrict this data reaching that specific company is to click the 'X' and remove the app.

Users can make a judgement call on the optional pieces of information too and customise the data that is shared.

To change the data permissions for all of the apps is time consuming, but it is the only way to gain control over the free distribution of personal data.

By scrolling further down the Settings>Apps window there are other options to further customise who can view personal data.

At this point, it is important to remember that all previous apps were, at some point, granted permission by the user to access their data.

Under the 'Apps Others Use' tab, this gets taken out of the user's hands.

Here, it shows all the data available for Facebook friends to see.

Whilst there may be no issue with this being shared with friends and acquaintances on the social media platform, that data is also being seen by the apps your friends use.

These will include apps that a user did not individually grant permission to.

Here, a checklist of options will appear when selected, and users can customise and restrict what non-authorised third-party apps can view.

Changing your browser settings

If you're browsing the internet on Google Chrome, go to 'Settings' in the right-hand dropdown menu.

From there, click on 'Show advanced settings,' then select Privacy.

Finally, click on 'Send a do not track request with your browsing traffic.'

A popup on Chrome further explains what this means: 'Enabling Do Not Track means that a request will be included with your browsing traffic.

'Any effect depends on whether a website responds to the request, and how the request is interpreted.'

'For example, some websites may respond to this request by showing you ads that aren't based on other websites you've visited.'

'Many websites will still collect and use your browsing data-- for example, to improve security, to provide content, services, ads, and recommendations on their websites, and to generate reporting statistics.'

What this means is that not all websites necessarily have to honour 'Do Not Track' requests.

WHAT ARE COOKIES AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

A cookie's content is determined by the specific website that created it and vary from site to site.

As a general rule, cookies are text files containing random alphanumeric text characters.

They are intended to help you access a site faster and more efficiently.

For example, cookies can store information to help you enter a site without having to login.

When the user visits a website's login page, the web server typically sends the client a cookie containing a unique session identifier.

When the user successfully logs in, the server remembers that that particular session identifier has been authenticated, and grants the user access to its services.

Tracking cookies, especially those used by third-parties, are commonly used as ways to compile long-term records of individuals' browsing histories.

They can collect information including IP address, length of visit, pages visited, length of time spent on a page, in what sequence pages were accessed.

Advertisers can use this information collected to build up a digital profile of a user.

This might not be linked to your real world identity, using a user ID rather than your name, although some websites may link this to your account name.

By adding tags to a page, advertisers can track a user or their device across different websites.

That helps build a profile of them based on their habits, so messages can be better targeted to their interests.

Similar options are available in other browsers, including Apple's Safari.

To access this, pull down the Safari menu and open Preferences

Click the 'Privacy' tab and find the 'Website tracking' section. Checking the box next to 'Ask websites not to track me' sends out a 'Do Not Track' request.

Contacting your local data privacy alliance

Websites and apps that are part of a number of privacy alliances have agreed to honour requests to stop tracking.

Google, Facebook and Twitter are just a few of the major corporations that have signed onto the Digital Advertising Alliance in the US, the Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada and the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance.

The websites of each of these organisations contain instructions on how to add your details to their 'do not track' schemes.

HOW DO YOU DELETE FACEBOOK?

Click on the 'help' button on the top right hand corner of your Facebook page.

There is a search bar that says 'How can we help?'. Type in 'delete account'.

This will link you to Facebook's Delete Account page, where you will need to select 'Delete My Account' and enter your login credentials.

'If you do not think you will use Facebook again and would like your account deleted, we can take care of this for you', the message reads.

'Keep in mind that you will not be able to reactivate your account or retrieve any of the content or information you have added.'

After two weeks, Facebook will begin the process of deleting all your data from the site, which may take up to 90 days.

If you want to keep your personal data you need to download it before deleting your account.

To download your archive go to 'Settings' and click 'Download a copy of your Facebook data' at the General Account Settings tap.

Then click 'Start My Archive'.

Change your tracking settings in Facebook

Facebook has given users of its social network the option to opt out of ad tracking via the site.

First, log in to Facebook, go to Settings, then click on 'Ads' in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

Under Ad Settings, click on the button that says 'Ads on apps and websites off of the Facebook Companies.'

Then scroll down to the bottom and select 'No.'

Facebook says that if you select that option, it means that you'll still see ads, but 'they won't be as relevant to you.'

Additionally, you may still see ads related to your age, gender or location.

Deleting your Facebook profile

Some users have decided they want to take the final plunge and shut down their Facebook profile entirely.

To do so, click on the 'help' button on the top right hand corner of your Facebook page. There is a search bar that says 'How can we help?'. Type in 'delete account'.

This will link you to Facebook's Delete Account page, where you will need to select 'Delete My Account' and enter your login credentials.

'If you do not think you will use Facebook again and would like your account deleted, we can take care of this for you', the message reads.

'Keep in mind that you will not be able to reactivate your account or retrieve any of the content or information you have added.'

After two weeks, Facebook will begin the process of deleting all your data from the site, which may take up to 90 days.

If you want to keep your personal data you need to download it before deleting your account.

To download your archive go to 'Settings' and click 'Download a copy of your Facebook data' at the General Account Settings tap. Then click 'Start My Archive'.

Using data protection laws to check your data

Facebook users in Europe who want to check what data the firm, and third-party apps, have on them have the legal means to do so.

Under existing data protection laws, the Data Protection Act 1998, you have the right to know what data a company or organisation holds on you.

Most large organisation will have a privacy notice which states what it intends to do with your information and if it intends to share it. If this is unclear, you are entitled to ask for clarification.

In the case of smaller businesses or individuals, you may need to contact them directly.

WHAT IS THE EU'S GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION?

The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new data protection law that will enter into force on May 25, 2018.

It aims to strengthen and unify data protection for all individuals within the European Union (EU).

This means cracking down on how companies like Google and Facebook use and sell the data they collect on their users.

The law will mark the biggest overhaul of personal data privacy rules since the birth of the internet.

Under GDPR, companies will be required to report data breaches within 72 hours, as well as to allow customers to export their data and delete it.

Part of the expanded rights of data subjects outlined by the GDPR is the right for data subjects to obtain from the data controller confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning them is being processed, where and for what purpose.

Further, the controller must provide a copy of the personal data, free of charge, in an electronic format. This change is a dramatic shift to data transparency and empowerment of data subjects.

Under the right to be forgotten, also known as Data Erasure, are entitled to have the data controller erase their personal data, cease further dissemination of the data, and potentially have third parties halt processing of the data.

The conditions for erasure include the data no longer being relevant to original purposes for processing, or a data subject withdrawing their consent.

This right requires controllers to compare the subjects' rights to 'the public interest in the availability of the data' when considering such requests.

You can make a 'subject access request' to any organisation you think may hold information about you. It is then legally required to send you the details in 'intelligible form', although there may be a small charge for this.

You are also within your rights to request that an organisation to stop using your details.

If they ignore your request you can take the firm to court or complain to a regulatory body. In the UK, this is the Information Commissioner's Office.

These laws are due to be bolstered with the introduction of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, a new data protection law that will enter into force on May 25.

Rules in the US are covered by a wide array of legislation, which varies from state to state and across different industries.

The main national act that impacts Facebook's data is the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act.

The FTC has brought many enforcement actions against companies failing to comply with posted privacy policies and for the unauthorised disclosure of personal data.

The FTC's Behavioural Advertising Principles suggest that website operators disclose their data collection practices tied to online behavioural advertising.

They also suggest that company's disclose that consumers can opt out of these practices, providing an opt-out mechanism.

WHAT IS THE CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SCANDAL?

Communications firms Cambridge Analytica has offices in London, New York, Washington, as well as Brazil and Malaysia.

The company boasts it can 'find your voters and move them to action' through data-driven campaigns and a team that includes data scientists and behavioural psychologists.

'Within the United States alone, we have played a pivotal role in winning presidential races as well as congressional and state elections,' with data on more than 230 million American voters, Cambridge Analytica claims on its website.

The company profited from a feature that meant apps could ask for permission to access your own data as well as the data of all your Facebook friends.

This meant the company was able to mine the information of 55 million Facebook users even though just 270,000 people gave them permission to do so.

This was designed to help them create software that can predict and influence voters' choices at the ballot box.

The data firm suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix, after recordings emerged of him making a series of controversial claims, including boasts that Cambridge Analytica had a pivotal role in the election of Donald Trump.

This information is said to have been used to help the Brexit campaign in the UK.

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Facebook can track you after you delete your account: How to stop it

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Facebook uses an advertising strategy called the 'Audience Network' This lets brands target advertisements even when users move off the site Users can limit Facebook's ad tracking via their smartphone or web browser It has also emerged that thousands of plugin apps were siphoning user data Users have to delete each app manually to ensure their future data security Facebook's latest scandal has caused many users to question whether they should pull the plug and delete their account in order to protect their private data.

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"Facebook Depression" - A new term to describe the over use of social media apps and the draining effects it causes to individuals wellbeing.

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"Facebook Depression" - A new term to describe the over use of social media apps and the draining effects it causes to individuals wellbeing.

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This Christmas season, many of us will find ourselves scrolling through social media feeds filled with countless pictures of holiday cheer. Does this window into the festivities of friends and acquaintances help us to share in the joy of the season or make us feel left out in the cold? Like any technology, it depends on how we use it.

In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics introduced the term "Facebook depression," described as "depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook." In a new study from Lancaster University, researchers delved deeper into the emotional effects of social media, studying 35,000 participants from 14 countries. Among the negative behavior researchers detected were accepting friend requests from ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends or former friends. David Baker, one of the lead researchers, said, "We found that comparing yourself with people on social media was more likely to make you feel depressed than comparing yourself offline."

Comparing yourself with other people is never a good idea, and unfortunately social media make it all too easy. But it also allows people to discover and receive support from virtual communities. Someone who is clinically depressed or who is a survivor of sexual assault can find support groups on platforms like Twitter or Tumblr. Friends and family can connect across countries and oceans with the click of a button. While we should continue to study the effects of social media, it is important to remember that we can also use sites like Facebook for building relationships to support and strengthen each other.

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Social media: How social media helps us connect

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This Christmas season, many of us will find ourselves scrolling through social media feeds filled with countless pictures of holiday cheer. Does this window into the festivities of friends and acquaintances help us to share in the joy of the season or make us feel left out in the cold?

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Internet is an incredible tool sustaining new trends and technological advancements with each passing day. And here, the highest point, undoubtedly and widely accepted, seems to be the social networking sites which are to stay for eternity. The name suggests; it is a place that associates diverse communities irrespective of any discrimination. The tremendous range of societal addicts conceives this arena as a platform to stay connected anytime and every time. But these social guardians tend to forget the home-hearth bond for no warranted reason.

Undoubtedly, these social networking sites like. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn to name a few, portray a larger-than-life attitude and prove beneficial in all walks of life, be it for a student, a professional, a retired personnel as well. But more often than not, the social mob calls for a safe reminder. Having all things considered, you better cherish or else simply perish!!!!The choice is yours. -Ankita Dalwani, Class IX, St Xavier's High School, Borivali (E)

Social networking sites is a true blessing for today's generation. It certainly has proved to be very useful for us. But have we ever thought about its disadvantages. Here are some advantages as well as some disadvantages of using social networking sites.

Advantages: Worldwide connectivity. Social sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc are the fastest and the most convenient ways to be connected to our loved ones no matter how far they are from us. These connections can help one with a variety of things like seeking a new job, locating assistance, making or receiving advice etc. Free advertising. Whether you are non-profit organization who needs to get the word out about your upcoming fundraiser or a business owner marketing a new product or service, there's no better way to get your message in front of millions of people by posting it online.

Disadvantages: Cyber bullying. Use of social networks can expose individuals to harassment or inappropriate contact from others. Risks of fraud or identity theft. Whether you like it or not, the information you post on the Internet is available to almost anyone who is clever enough to access it. This leads to a number of cyber fraud or identity theft case. Time waster. Use of internet has proved to be a time waster in 60% of kids. -Anushka Ashok Pandit, Class VIII, St Lawrence High School, Borivali (W)

Whether it is Facebook or Twitter, almost every social networking sites have millions of users involved and indulged in networking. Social networking sites have been a boon in terms of connectivity all over the world. It has brought about a revolutionary change in real time sharing of information. Also people's interest has taken a new direction leading to technological development in every field. Also advertising has taken a new step.

However the other side of the coin states that crime rate has increased tremendously with social networking sites. Fraud users create a lot of nuisance and some cases show that netizens get mentally stressed, leaving no exception for children who are badly affected due to mental stress.

All in all social networking sites are a miracle for business and also provide vast opportunity to learners. But, fake account users create lot of crisis in daily activities. -Arnav Chavan, Class IX , St Xavier's High School, Borivali (E)

In the last five years, various social networking sites have taken the virtual world by storm. Now we have more friends on these sites than in real life. Facebook, Twitter and Orkut have reshaped our lives like never before. Advantages of such sites are that the world has shrunk. We can have friends all over the world. Sitting at our homes, we can share ideas, feelings, pictures and details of our lives with people living in another continents and get instant feedback. This has indeed enriched our lives. Through tweets we are getting awareness about the current happenings across the world. It is no doubt that the advantages of social networking sites have outnumbered the disadvantages, but we still have to consider the downside of these sites too. In this new age world, nothing is private anymore. We have invaded everyone's privacy and this is not a nice thing. -Arnav Shah, Class VIII, Ryan Global School, Andheri

Social networking sites are very important need in our day to day life for students, parents, people in common, avail themselves for information, chatting or talk, study various maps. It has become a part of our life. These sites are available, in computers, laptops, smart phones, mobile phones. In earlier days students were reading novels, story books, encyclopedia, general knowledge books to collect information and now, in this generation students are diverting themselves to social networking. Even our parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives are messaging each other by Facebook, E-mails, etc rather than giving/posting letters by couriers. It was the most beautiful and enjoyable movements in our life when we were waiting for letters. More disadvantages are lack of emotional connection, people's instigation, humiliation, personal meet-ups, communication skills, make you disconnected. Facilitates laziness, create a skewed self-image, reduces family closeness and causes distractions in life. -Gayatri Ware, Class VIII, St Joseph's High School, New Panvel

Social networking sites are popular amongst student. Some of the popular social networking websites are Face book, Twitter, Google, etc. Almost all the students would definitely have a profile in those sites. Facebook like sites will be taken up by students as for fun but some may start using it as fun and gets addicted to it. The main advantage of social networking site is that it helps in establishing connection with people, friends and relatives. It helps in sharing one's view, share pictures and lots of other stuffs. It helps students interacting with one another and share ideas. This helps in improving student's creativity. The major disadvantages of using social networking websites are the students get addicted to it. They used to spend hours in those social networking sites which can obviously degrade the student's academic performance. -Jay Monpra, Class IX, St Francis High School, Vasai

When we are thinking about trying online networking, we probably have some questions about its merit and demerit. We have many convincing advantages of social networking sites such as worldwide connectivity, people are just a click away! We can seek new job, advertise, share pictures, audio, video, documents etc. There is also a stroke of right to information and right of speech or expression in these sites as citizen can know more about country's welfare by following the pages of media channels, famous personalities, etc. The world comes closer. As all say everything has its darker side, there are severe demerits of online networking like cyber bullying and crime against children. Minors get a bad influence from such sites. It increases the risk of fraud and identity theft by fake accounts and more often a time waster. Since social networking is relatively young online trend, we should know its terms and be sure about its privacy and safety and take responsibility of our own integrity. -Kavni Mashruwala, IX, St Lawrence High School, Borivli (W)

Social Networking Sites connect people from over the world. This is one of its main advantages. Down the lane maybe after 10 years when you want to search your classmate you can easily get in contact with them on Facebook , Whatsapp and other Social Networking Sites. The disadvantages of social networking sites are that they hamper the creativity of the children. Teenagers, adults all addicted to these sites. Spending hours updating the status, photos, profile pictures. Accounts are hacked leading to misuse of personal information led to dangerous consequences. Students lose interest in their studies. However social networking sites help you connect with people having similar likes as yours. It connects you with family members in any corner of the world. In my opinion social networking sites have more benefits if their usage is appropriate .There should be parental control on the accounts of the kids. -Misbah Gilani, X-D, St.Joseph's High School, New Panvel [Ssc]

Social Networking sites are allow us to communicate, share ideas, activities, events, play games, listen music thus helping us to create our own virtual social space where we identify ourselves as one unique among the others. It is undeniably a great source of entertainment, news and global awareness.

Nevertheless, their essentiality cannot be neglected but one must brood over the thought that it is here to stay. So let us submit our moral self to continue its improvement and enhancement for our social lives. -Yesha Sanghvi, Class VIII D, St Xavier's High School, Borivali (E)

Social media sites are increasing day by day. The users of social media sites are also increasing. Through social media, users can communicate to each other. At the same time, they can communicate with sharing pictures or images or voice messages.

These social networking sites are used in the whole world because of their benefits. Communication is the main advantage of it. Users can also express their views and feelings. Users may also take out their talent by participating in various different contests or activities.

At the other side, people may make fake accounts of users, because its not hard at all to do so. Security on personal data is also lacking behind in these social networking sites.. Users also waste their time on these sites when they are addicted to it. They also can be upset by something or the other in these sites.

So overall, social networking sites have a great impact on the whole world today and all age groups. -Raunak Singh, Grade 7, Ryan Global School, Andheri

For all the latest Mumbai News, download Indian Express App

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'Social media sites help to connect to people worldwide'

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Internet is an incredible tool sustaining new trends and technological advancements with each passing day. And here, the highest point, undoubtedly and widely accepted, seems to be the social networking sites which are to stay for eternity. The name suggests; it is a place that associates diverse communities irrespective of any discrimination.

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An interesting article on a friendship which was tarnished by the discovery of their social media profile.

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An interesting article on a friendship which was tarnished by the discovery of their social media profile.

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When You Love Your Friend But Hate Her Social-Media Presence

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The struggle to navigate a real-life friendship with someone who has a social-media alter ego.

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(Image: Getty)

A survey of secondary school pupils in the UK has revealed the impact that phone-checking parents are having on family life .

As it turns out, more than one third of British teenagers have asked their parents to STOP checking their mobile phones.

The biggest sticking point came over meal times, with 82% of the 2,000 youngsters polled believing it should be device free.

Although 14% of the kids said their parents were online during dinner, a whopping 95% of adults (interviewed separately) denied it.

The poll was carried out by Digital Awareness UK and the Headmasters and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).

Those kids that did ask their parents to stop checking social media or responding to email during family time reported the pleas fell on deaf ears.

Nearly half (46%) said their parents just ignored them while 44% said they were left feeling upset at having to ask.

Parents themselves seem to be suffering confusion over their usage. Only 10% admitted their phone use was an issue for their kids but 43% reckoned they spent too much time online.

One way of dealing with the issue is perhaps to instate a household ban on technology during dinner times.

It's a position that some experts have recommended.

"It's a shame that technology is taking over our lives, to the extent that we can't even talk to our own family at dinner time - the one time of the day we are usually all together - to chat about our days," George Charles, a spokesperson for VoucherCodesPro.co.uk , told Mirror Tech.

"Families should consider banning technology from the dinner table; they'd find that they talk more, probably get on better and know more about what's going on in each other's lives."

Mike Buchanan, headmaster of Ashford School in Kent and chairman of the HMC, said: "Our poll shows that children are aware of many of the risks associated with overuse of technology but they need the adults in their lives to set clear boundaries and role model sensible behaviour.

"To achieve this, we need to join up the dots between school and home to give consistent advice," he told the BBC.

Earlier this year, a separate poll found that families enjoy just 36 minutes of quality time a day, but stare at screens for almost four times longer.

The study of 2,000 parents was commissioned by Discover Ferries, the body representing ferry operators.

On average, families spend just three weeks of real quality time together each year - and just 36 minutes on the average weekday.

In comparison, adults spend almost four times as long - one hour and 55 minutes per day - watching TV or playing on their gadgets.

Children are also staring at a screen of some kind for around two hours and 22 minutes a day.

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Mobile phones are destroying family life, but it's the PARENTS that are to blame

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A survey of secondary school pupils in the UK has revealed the impact that phone-checking parents are having on family life . As it turns out, more than one third of British teenagers have asked their parents to STOP checking their mobile phones.

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Giving your child a smartphone is like "giving them a gram of cocaine", a top addiction therapist has warned.

Time spent messaging friends on Snapchat and Instagram can be just as dangerously addictive for teenagers as drugs and alcohol, and should be treated as such, school leaders and teachers were told at an education conference in London.

Speaking alongside experts in technology addiction and adolescent development, Harley Street rehab clinic specialist Mandy Saligari said screen time was too often overlooked as a potential vehicle for addiction in young people.

"I always say to people, when you're giving your kid a tablet or a phone, you're really giving them a bottle of wine or a gram of coke," she said.

"Are you really going to leave them to knock the whole thing out on their own behind closed doors?

"Why do we pay so much less attention to those things than we do to drugs and alcohol when they work on the same brain impulses?"

Her comments follow news that children as young as 13 are being treated for digital technology - with a third of British children aged 12-15 admitting they do not have a good balance between screen time and other activities.

"When people tend to look at addiction, their eyes tend to be on the substance or thing - but really it's a pattern of behaviour that can manifest itself in a number of different ways," Ms Saligari said, naming food obsessions, self-harm and sexting as examples.

Concern has grown recently over the number of young people seen to be sending or receiving pornographic images, or accessing age inappropriate content online through their devices.

Ms Saligari, who heads the Harley Street Charter clinic in London, said around two thirds of her patients were 16-20 year-olds seeking treatment for addiction - a "dramatic increase" on ten years ago - but many of her patients were even younger.

In a recent survey of more than 1,500 teachers, around two-thirds said they were aware of pupils sharing sexual content, with as many as one in six of those involved of primary school age.

More than 2,000 children have been reported to police for crimes linked to indecent images in the past three years.

"So many of my clients are 13 and 14 year-old-girls who are involved in sexting, and describe sexting as 'completely normal'," said Ms Saligari

Many young girls in particular believe that sending a picture of themselves naked to someone on their mobile phone is "normal", and that it only becomes "wrong" when a parent or adult finds out, she added.

"If children are taught self-respect they are less likely to exploit themselves in that way," said Ms Saligari. "It's an issue of self-respect and it's an issue of identity."

Speaking alongside Ms Saligari at the Highgate Junior School conference on teenage development, Dr Richard Graham, a Consultant Psychiatrist at the Nightingale Hospital Technology Addiction Lead, said the issue was a growing area of interest for researchers, as parents report struggling to find the correct balance for their children.

Ofcom figures suggest more than four in ten parents of 12-15 year-olds find it hard to control their children's screen time.

Even three and four year olds consume an average of six and half hours of internet time per week, according to the broadcasting regulators.

Greater emphasis was needed on sleep and digital curfews at home, the experts suggested, as well as a systematic approach within schools, for example by introducing a smartphone amnesty at the beginning of the school day.

"With sixth formers and teenagers, you're going to get resistance, because to them it's like a third hand," said Ms Saligari, "but I don't think it's impossible to intervene. Schools asking pupils to spend some time away from their phone I think is great.

"If you catch [addiction] early enough, you can teach children how to self-regulate, so we're not policing them and telling them exactly what to do," she added.

"What we're saying is, here's the quiet carriage time, here's the free time - now you must learn to self-regulate. It's possible to enjoy periods of both."

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Giving your child a smartphone is like giving them a gram of cocaine, says top addiction expert

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Giving your child a smartphone is like "giving them a gram of cocaine", a top addiction therapist has warned. Time spent messaging friends on Snapchat and Instagram can be just as dangerously addictive for teenagers as drugs and alcohol, and should be treated as such, school leaders and teachers were told at an education conference in London.

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Business' discussing the importance of maintaining both an online and offline relationship with customers.

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Once upon a time, selling involved going from door-to-door. While door-to-door sales still happen on occasion, most business is now conducted online.

It's all about digital connectivity. We find our soulmates online, finalize our dream homes through websites, buy furniture online, even adopt pets from Facebook groups. We have such vast networks of friends and family whom we will rarely meet-but there they are on social media, as real as they can get in a world run by binaries and codes.

Despite this digital revolution, we still believe it is worth a business owner's time and energy to cultivate offline relationships. In fact, real world connections and activities often translate into digital success and stronger online networks.

Offline relationships enhance credibility

A business' first customers are often people they know or those referred to them by the ones they know. It's natural for it to be this way, and it's a good thing.

Despite the ubiquity of the internet, some people continue to be wary of businesses in the digital space, especially new ones that haven't yet established their credibility.

Think about it: How often do you download apps with no reviews? Or chosen a brand new restaurant for dinner, which has only a couple of ambivalent reviews?

New businesses are a gamble-not just for the owners, but also for prospects. It's much easier to convince someone you know to check out your services.

Offline networks can be a great source of leads

When your first customers are happy with you, they will become your advocates. At this level, you really need any publicity you can get, and as it turns out, this is free of cost. Word-of-mouth is still one of the most effective ways for a business to get advertised.

Online reviews are important, too, but when someone we know recommends a restaurant or a hotel to us, based on their own experience, we tend to take it more seriously.

When really impressed by a service or a product, people like to talk about it even when no specific questions have been asked. Aim to deliver an experience that impresses your customers enough to turn them into your cheerleaders.

Offline connections will boost your online presence

It takes time for an online presence to materialize, and often businesses pour hundreds of dollars and work hours into building strong social media.

Again, if you can get your first customers - found offline - to like or follow you on the internet, as well as share their positive experiences, your marketing efforts will receive the boost you desire. Your existing customers' friends and social circle will see their reviews and engagement, and thus help you gain a larger base of followers and customers relatively faster.

Real world relationships are relevant even later on

While a lot of business takes place entirely through the internet, there continue to be benefits to cultivating relationships with clients in the real world.

For example, a digital marketing agency benefits from meeting their client at a physical location from time to time. Not everything is properly understood over email. Sometimes the chain of messages gets too complicated. As more people are added to a project, things can start to feel slippery. Video conferencing might not help either.

A face-to-face meeting with clients can help put things back on track. There is something reassuring about the physical presence of the one dealing with your projects. One can also put to rest any misunderstandings.

People can be different in real life

How often have you heard this?

He's nothing like he sounds on the internet!
She's not cool at all; in fact, quite shy and awkward.

It's not news that people's online and offline personas often differ. Now we know we aren't talking about dating here, but the same applies to business relationships. If you met a client of yours in real life, you might find they are not as rigid and inflexible as they seemed over email. And your client might discover you have a sense of humor, rather than being all-business. In short, it strengthens your trust in each other.

Sometimes the text in emails and Skype chats isn't able to bring out the nuances which can be crucial to understanding someone's point.

Strengthen your offline relationships with the aid of online tools

Physical meetings can keep things real. Ever feel like you live inside a video game? Where every person you meet is a character you must win over? Spending too much time online can make one lose a little sense of reality. Remember, as strong as your digital presence is, there are always real life people behind it.

That feeling of being grounded can be of great help to a business owner. As you meet more business prospects in real life, you will get better at building those relationships, regardless of the medium.

Remember, a digital marketing specialist may be able to help you connect your real-world successes and relationships to your digital realm. For example, if you just met a local restaurant-owner at a networking meeting, be sure to tag them in a Facebook post, to give them a little boost and celebrate your new connection. Are you coaching a soccer team? Share that snapshot of your real life self with your digital followers. Show the human side of your digital business.

Who knows? It may even lead to a fostering of community feeling and you might find new friends to keep forever.
Learn the latest trends, insights and best practices from the brightest minds in media and technology. Sign up for SMW Insider to watch full-length sessions from official Social Media Week conferences live and on-demand.

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The Importance of Offline Relationships in an Online World

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Once upon a time, selling involved going from door-to-door. While door-to-door sales still happen on occasion, most business is now conducted online. It's all about digital connectivity. We find our soulmates online, finalize our dream homes through websites, buy furniture online, even adopt pets from Facebook groups.

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Phubbing is when we snub someone mid conversation by going on our phones

Study reveals 46 per cent of people have been 'phubbed' by their partner

Scientists say phubbing makes you seem as if you're losing interest in a partner

People who spend their free time swiping through social media could be causing upset in their relationship, scientists warn.

Research has revealed that 'phubbing' - snubbing someone mid conversation by checking your phone - is on the rise.

The study also reveals we check our devices up to 150 times a day.

Almost half of relationships have been negatively impacted by the craze, research has shown.

Phubbing causes problems in relationships by reducing the amount of quality time spent together and making it appear as if the guilty part is losing interests.

WHAT IS PHUBBING?

'The presence and use of cell phones is ever-increasing causing the boundaries that separate our work and other interests from our romantic relationships to become more and more blurred,' said Dr James Roberts and Dr Meredith David from Baylor University in Texas.

'As a result, the occurrence of phubbing is nearly inevitable.

'In fact, from a sample of 143 individuals involved in romantic relationships, seventy per cent responded that cell phones 'sometimes,' 'often,' 'very often,' or 'all the time' interfered in their interactions with their partners.'

The researchers surveyed 450 people and found 46 per cent reported being 'phubbed' by their partner and 22 per cent had argued as a direct result.

They said phubbing is on the rise because we are more likely to be addicted to our phones than ever before.

People in the UK and US check their phones every four to six minutes, which roughly translates as 150 times a day.

Phubbing undermines relationships by making it appear as if you're losing interest or that you don't value your partners time, the researchers said.

SIGNS THAT YOU ARE A PHUBBER

Source: Julie Hart, The Hart Centre

'There are three important connection factors that will give us a sense of satisfaction in our relationships,' Julie Hart, a relationship expert from The Hart Centre in Australia, told Whimn.

'The first one is accessibility, that you're both open and listening to one another.

'The second is responsiveness, as in you both empathise and try to understand how the other feels, as in 'get' each other, and the third is engagement, so you're both making the time to be fully attentive to each other.

'Phubbing interferes with all three of these important factors so it's no surprise to me that people are feeling less satisfied with their relationships because they're just not having quality time, and they're not feeling their partner 'gets' them or is there for them because there's always this constant distraction away.'

Dr Hart added there are a number of common signs that could indicated that you are a phubber.

These include checking your phone in the advert breaks while watching TV with your partner and taking non-urgent calls when the two of you are spending quality time together.

Those guilty of phubbing can save their relationship by introducing some simple boundaries, she said.

'Sit down together and set out some rules about phone-free time, where you basically put your phone away somewhere where you can't hear it, for a full hour every night while you and your partner spend some quality time together,' she told Whimn.

'Most people would be amazed at what a dedicated hour a day of phone-free time can do for their relationship over time.'

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Phubbing may ruin relationships as we check our phones 150 times a day

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Phubbing is when we snub someone mid conversation by going on our phones Study reveals 46 per cent of people have been 'phubbed' by their partner Scientists say phubbing makes you seem as if you're losing interest in a partner People who spend their free time swiping through social media could be causing upset in their relationship, scientists warn.

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It was love at first "like".

When Arte Vann, of New York, and Erica Harris, of California, connected on Instagram last winter, they clicked immediately. They quickly fell in love while dating long-distance, and finally met face-to-face for the first time on Friday night at the LA Ontario international airport.

Within an instant, Vann proposed and the two got married in the unlikely confines of the southern California airport terminal.

By Tuesday morning, the newlyweds were moving into a house together and enjoying their new celebrity status as the unlikely Insta-marriage couple.

"We're still amazed," said a giddy Harris, 36. "We'll sit and stare into each other's eyes, and we're still in shock that we have each other."

"It was the best moment of my life," added Vann, 40, recounting when they hugged for the first time after he got off his flight - for which he had purchased a one-way ticket. "I was so happy. It was such a long road without having her ... I waited for a very long time."

In February of 2015, Harris (@beauty_deride) stumbled on the Instagram account of Vann (@inkflow_prodigy), who often posts images of his original writing on the photo-sharing site. She "liked" one of his posts - a poem - and started following him.

He immediately followed back, and soon the two were rapidly exchanging messages and flirting in the comment sections of each other's photos. "She was just really funny and really spontaneous," said Vann, recalling his first impression of her. "She just made me smile. I could tell she was such a good person and a great mother and that she cared about people."

After it got too tiring to type messages on their smartphones, they decided to talk on the phone. "Our words were flying at each other, and we just talked for five hours straight," Harris said. Vann, who was working as a chef at a resort, said he didn't get any sleep the night of their first phone call.

We want to share with other broken people out there that there's hope. We've found healing through this love.

Erica Harris

After that conversation, any doubts they had about each other and the authenticity of their Instagram personas quickly began to vanish. They started talking daily - often for hours on end, at times even falling asleep together while they were still on the line, Vann said.

Within a week, Vann told her that he loved her - and although Harris was at first scared to admit it out loud, she soon told him that she had also fallen in love with him.

Harris said she had been very skeptical of men after a difficult marriage had fallen apart. Although she had dabbled in online dating, she never thought she would meet someone special on the internet, especially on a random site like Instagram.

But she couldn't ignore their instant connection. "We feel so blessed that we have each other."

At one point during their relationship, the two even temporarily deleted their Instagram accounts so they would stop wasting time on the site and getting distracted by anonymous commenters. They've since rejoined the site and now have hundreds of fans liking their photos and congratulating them on their marriage.

They both said they were anxious to meet in real life, but never worried that it would be awkward or that their love would not be equally powerful in person.

"It was magical," Harris said of the moment they finally met.

Because Vann's mother was not able to attend the airport ceremony, Harris invited a CBS Los Angeles reporter to film the rapid proposal and wedding so that they would have video footage to share. Within a day, the Insta-couple's story spread across social media, with reporters from across the country trying to reach the lovebirds.

Harris never anticipated their story would go viral, but she said they were happy to use the 15 minutes of fame to remind people that it's possible to find love in the most unexpected places.

"We were both so broken. We want to share with other broken people out there that there's hope," she said. "We've found healing through this love."
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Love at first 'like': we met on Instagram and now we're married

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It was love at first "like". When Arte Vann, of New York, and Erica Harris, of California, connected on Instagram last winter, they clicked immediately. They quickly fell in love while dating long-distance, and finally met face-to-face for the first time on Friday night at the LA Ontario international airport.

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Students are more aroused by someone after having stalked their Facebook profile rather than meeting them first as this study shows.

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Students are more aroused by someone after having stalked their Facebook profile rather than meeting them first as this study shows.

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Whether you want to admit it or not, everyone sort of does it: Facebook stalking is unavoidable. The whole premise of the social-networking website involves seeing personal conversations, photos, and information about other people that you would normally never see up front, just talking to them face to face.

Having all that information at your fingertips makes it tempting to "stalk," or to get a better understanding of a person by "creeping" on their Facebook profile. It makes sense then, that before meeting someone new, we may want to gather as much information about them as possible so as to have a smoother first meeting. But a new study has found quite the opposite: when students saw a person's Facebook profile right before meeting them in person, their arousal levels were much higher - especially for people with social anxiety. Shannon Rauch, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of psychology at Benedictine University in Arizona, decided to test whether meeting a person via Facebook first would improve - or worsen - social anxiety before meeting them in person. She gathered 26 undergraduate college students and required them to take a social anxiety test, then divided them into four groups.

The first group simply saw a person's Facebook page, and the second group took in the sight of a new person in a room. The third group, meanwhile, saw a person's Facebook page, then saw that very person in the room. And the fourth group saw the person first, then checked their Facebook page afterwards. During this time, the participants were hooked up to monitors that measured electrical signals in their skin, which shows their arousal levels.

We may think that digital social interaction beforehand would actually help alleviate some of the social anxiety associated with meeting someone for the first time, but Rauch's results pointed to something different. "Intuitively we all thought it should help to pave the way a little bit," Rauch told . But she found that the students who first viewed a person's Facebook page, then saw that very person in the room, had a higher arousal score than people who just saw a person in the room without having any Facebook information on them.

It's important to note that higher arousal scores don't necessarily mean a higher anxiety or stress score: stress would be measured by stress hormone levels. But Rauch says that regardless, this change in arousal was negative, not positive, because seeing their Facebook page raised arousal rather than calming it. She also found that the effect was stronger among people who had higher scores on the social anxiety test. "If your goal is to calm yourself for the face-to-face encounter, Facebook is probably not the best strategy," Rauch told Time.

The interesting thing about this study is that it paves the way for research looking into how social media helps, or worsens, social connections and relationships. The study suggests that seeing someone's Facebook page before meeting them first creates an idealized picture of that person, that comes along with expectations that may not be met in real life. Meanwhile, social media in general has a tendency to breed envy and insecurity as people are likely to make comparisons easily: Facebook friends who brag about personal achievements online can make us feel inferior, even though in reality that may not always be the case. Previous research has shown that social media can cause anxiety, but Rauch is interested in measuring people's bodily reactions and arousal levels in relation to social media. "We'd like to start using physiological data to start challenging notions of how social media affects social connections," Rauch told Time.

Source: Rauch S, Strobel C, Bella M, et al. Face to Face Versus Facebook: Does Exposure to Social Networking Web Sites Augment or Attenuate Physiological Arousal Among the Socially Anxious? Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 2014.

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Why Facebook Stalking Makes Your Social Anxiety Worse

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Whether you want to admit it or not, everyone sort of does it: Facebook stalking is unavoidable. The whole premise of the social-networking website involves seeing personal conversations, photos, and information about other people that you would normally never see up front, just talking to them face to face.

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Is Facebook causing us to become increasingly anxious as individuals?

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Is Facebook causing us to become increasingly anxious as individuals?

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Ah, the tyranny of read receipts - enough to put you off digital communication for good.

Ah, the tyranny of read receipts - enough to put you off digital communication for good.

Most platforms tell you when your message has been opened - on Facebook Messenger, the recipient's profile picture appears next to it. On Snapchat, the arrow goes from opaque to an outline. On WhatsApp and for Twitter direct messages, the tick turns blue. On iMessage, if your recipient has read receipts turned on, "Delivered" changes to "Read" - and it tells you the exact time they saw it.

ㅤ (@AntonioRelates)
When their read receipts are off, but you know they're always on their phone pic.twitter.com/ey2oXaSCqU

It sounds straightforward enough, even perfunctory, and indeed it is if it's only a blip in the back-and-forth. But when a message lingers on "seen" without explanation for anything beyond a few minutes, you've been "left on read". It's enough to make even the most self-assured individuals question their worth.

Was what you said so out of line? You thought not, but you were obviously wrong, because why else would they have read it and not replied?

You never picture them driving, or in the bath, or with relatives who don't believe in phones at the table. In the moment, the likelihood of their secretly resenting you, or agonising over a reply that is certain to disappoint, seems far greater than it actually is.

Marieke Hardy (@mariekehardy)
'Seen 8.43pm.' (via @WASHINGTONx) pic.twitter.com/xSGJeiQEXl

It works both ways, too: if you've read a message that you're either unable or unwilling to respond to immediately, the countdown has already started. The implicit message being read into your silence is that you're ignoring them - not the best starting point for a conversation, even when it eventually gets under way.

The anxiety of being left on read is silly but it is real, and unique to this time. There is no analog equivalent. Well, perhaps if you were to stop by a friend's house and knew for sure they were home but were inexplicably not answering the door - but in that case I'd like to think you'd give them the benefit of the doubt, and assume they'd fallen over in the shower or something.

There's no such goodwill in web 2.0, when everyone is assumed to be available at all times. And if not - it's personal.

Elena Eimert (@EBEimert)
People with their read receipts turned on are either sadists or saints. There is no in between.

Combined with notifications for "last active" (which tell you how long since someone was on the platform) and "is typing" (which tell you when they've started crafting their reply) - well, is it any wonder anxiety is so rife among Generation Y?

The horror of read receipts is so widely recognised that a strategy of sorts has evolved around minimising it. People will go to some lengths to avoid being seen to have "seen" a message - on Snapchat and Facebook, downloading the message then turning on flight mode and opening it can stop it from registering as opened.

Turning on "previews" that display on the lock screen will, in many cases, show enough to get the gist of a message ("I think we should break ... ") without opening it. iPhone users can turn them on by tapping "show previews" in the "messages" tab of notifications.

But while some people contort themselves to avoid being seen to have "seen", others manipulate that anxiety to their own ends. Some people - you might call them sociopaths - leave people on read deliberately to exact some sort of retribution. (An added layer of complication: no one knows whether the "read" in "read receipts" is pronounced "red" or "reed".)

grace ma☁️ (@gracemacleodd)
When u don't have read receipts on but you still want to make someone feel bad pic.twitter.com/SqyI775fKQ

That there are people who turn on read receipts specifically to rattle their correspondents proves the anxiety is warranted.

Tinder has removed its "last active" notification on individuals' profiles. I've asked it why, but it could be because a) users were stressing over why their matches hadn't yet replied to their opening line, thus harshing the vibe of what should be a fun or flirty platform; or b) it helps people who are using Tinder to cheat, by letting them claim to their partners that their account is inactive.

I'm inclined to think b) is more likely. But maybe read receipts and the games people play with them have just ruined my ability to trust.

They're a neat example of how communication has gone downhill, even as it's ostensibly improved. When we're used to good things happening instantly, time taken to craft a thoughtful reply is considered a bad thing. I can't tell you how many times I've watched, agonised, as those typing dots disappear and reappear.

NAGY. (@mohamed_naagy)
When you send a risky message and see 3 dots of typing ... pic.twitter.com/3OJzZkjfGL

Personally, I want read receipts abolished. Ignorance (of the exact moment you read my message and decided to de-prioritise it) is bliss.

I have already turned them off for Twitter, WhatsApp and iMessage. But they're part of the package on Facebook and Snapchat and, for as long as they're opt-out, not opt-in, going out of your way to turn them off can be inferred to mean you've got something to hide.

Lexie Erdos (@LexieErdos)
not to be dramatic but if you don't have your read receipts on you are sketchy and probably a serial killer and I hate you

Perhaps because they're so fraught, having read receipts turned on is seen by some as an extension of complete transparency. It's apparently considered a show of commitment - which should give you an indication of how low that particular bar has been set.

A happy medium is selective application of read receipts, if someone demands or deserves transparency. iMessage's latest update allows you to send read receipts for individual chat threads - hit the 'i' in the top-right corner and select "send read receipts".

Rachel Getty (@gettyrachel)
Turn ya read receipts on 2k17 pic.twitter.com/AoXspVx21k

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I know they've seen my message - so why haven't they replied?

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Ah, the tyranny of read receipts - enough to put you off digital communication for good. Ah, the tyranny of read receipts - enough to put you off digital communication for good. Most platforms tell you when your message has been opened - on Facebook Messenger, the recipient's profile picture appears next to it.

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This survey indicates that cyber bulling is very much a problem amongst young teenagers and the main place the bullying takes place is on Facebook.

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This survey indicates that cyber bulling is very much a problem amongst young teenagers and the main place the bullying takes place is on Facebook.

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NoBullying - Bullying & CyberBullying Resources

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We have finally gathered enough evidence from our cyber bullying survey with an added focus on school bullying. With over 200 respondents, the results are sure to shock you. Explore the interesting results from NoBullying's cyber bullying survey below.

First of all, 56% of the respondents to our bullying survey questions were between the ages of 12 and 18 and 61% of the respondents reported being residents of the United States of America.

Almost 47% of the respondents said they were bullied more times than they could remember and 17% said they were bullied at least 2-5 times.

As for the cyber bullying related part of the cyber bullying survey, an astounding 52% of the respondents said they were bullied on Facebook and 42% said they were bullied and sent hateful remarks via text messaging while 17% said they were bullied on twitter.

And when asked on how they responded when receiving those hateful messages, 64% said they ignored it and another 40% said they confronted the sender/bully while 51% blocked the sender.

As for social media providers, they were asked whether they believe social media platforms are doing enough to prevent online abuse and cyber bullying 42% said they believed Facebook, Ask.fm, Twitter and Myspace are not even close to doing enough to prevent cyber bullies.

As for where they believed they were bullied the most, 61% said they were bullied at school and 20% said they were bullied by family members and 38% said they were cyber bullied.

A part of the cyber bullying survey revealed that when the respondents were asked about the bystander effect and whether they would stand up for someone else being bullied, almost 92% said they would definitely stand up for bullies.

This cyber bullying survey revealed a shocking part of social media safety and how children perceive it, respondents were asked what information they believed should be shared online with no fear, almost 40% shockingly said they felt it is perfectly fine to reveal photos online for anyone to see while 18% said they felt it is fine to share their school's or work location.

As for parents, the respondents in this cyber bullying survey were asked if they felt their parents know enough about bullying and cyber bullying, 84% said their parents weren't even close to knowing enough about bullying and cyber bullying.

Lastly, in this cyber bullying survey, the respondents were asked whether they felt schools were doing enough to fight cyber bullying, 69% said they didn't believe schools are even remotely close to helping out when cyber bullying happens.

NoBullying's cyber bullying survey goes out to show how bullying and cyber bullying are issues that need constant communication between the community and it all starts with educating teens and children about what bullying is and how cyber bullying affects lives.

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Our Cyber Bullying Survey Results are out - NoBullying - Bullying & CyberBullying Resources

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First of all, 56% of the respondents to our bullying survey questions were between the ages of 12 and 18 and 61% of the respondents reported being residents of the United States of America. Almost 47% of the respondents said they were bullied more times than they could remember and 17% said they were bullied at least 2-5 times.

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Many Britons are exposing themselves to surveillance and fraud risks, privacy campaigners have warned after a poll found that almost half of people surveyed preferred to keep in touch with friends virtually rather than in person.

The survey of 2,000 people also found that 79% maintain friendships they feel would wither without being linked through social media, and a further 72% believe online networks have strengthened their friendships.

But many people are not aware that sharing information over services such as Facebook - which 80% said they do - hands ownership of their data to organisations which are not transparent about the ways that they use it, campaigners warn.

They added that with the return to the legislative agenda of the investigatory powers bill, which has been labelled a snooper's charter, British users of online platforms could find their communications laid open to the state.

Sara Nelson, a spokeswoman for Privacy International, said: "People live online and when things like the investigatory powers bill and what's happening with Apple in the US happen, it throws into question how we continue to use those services."

California-based Apple has been embroiled in a high-profile spat with US authorities after it refused an FBI request to help agents access encrypted information in the iPhone owned by one of the perpetrators of the San Bernardino mass shootings.

Under the investigatory powers bill, the UK government could make similar orders to equipment manufacturers like Apple, as well as online platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp, in total secrecy.

"Being unable to tell customers that their services are weakened - how do you continue to use those services in the way that we do now, especially with people communicating private details of their lives?" Nelson asked.

She added: "One interesting thing in the investigatory powers bill is this idea of internet connection records.

"Every website that you visit would be recorded and stored for a year and the idea that everything we do online is recorded and stored, that in itself is alarming. I think if people knew about that it would have a chilling effect on how people interact online."

Jim Killock, the executive director of the Open Rights Group, which campaigns for privacy and against mass surveillance, said that even leaving aside cases of government surveillance, social media and other online services "don't necessarily give people much choice on how data is used".

"The problem is that most of the time these platforms are going to take things like data security very seriously, but they also see that data as something to monetise," Killock said. "Sometimes it's not as private as it may seem, as that is the bottom line with these different platforms and applications."

According to the research on internet communications, carried out on behalf of BT, each person in the UK sends an average of 11,315 texts each year, along with 1,092 picture messages and 6,935 WhatsApp messages. It also found that people are increasingly sharing content, with one in 10 people sharing more than 50 videos a week with online contacts.

Killock warned that regular users of such platforms should take steps to ensure their security, including checking their privacy settings, using secure passwords and password managers and not over-sharing details of their personal lives online.

"Also turn encryption on on your devices, so that if you lose a phone, or worse a tablet or laptop, you are not in danger of all your information being accessed by somebody you really wouldn't want accessing it," he added.

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Your virtual friendships come with privacy risks, campaigners warn

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Many Britons are exposing themselves to surveillance and fraud risks, privacy campaigners have warned after a poll found that almost half of people surveyed preferred to keep in touch with friends virtually rather than in person.

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Anna Rowe had a whirlwind romance with Antony Ray after meeting him through the dating app Tinder.

But their 14-month relationship came crashing down when she discovered his profile was a fake.

His name was not Antony and he was not single.

In fact, he was a married dad who had initially used photos of a Bollywood actor on his profile and had lured in other women too.

"He used me like a hotel with benefits under the disguise of a romantic, loving relationship that he knew I craved," says Anna.

The practice of using a fake profile to start an online romance is known as "catfishing".

Now Anna, 44, from Kent, has launched a petition calling for it to be made illegal.

But how serious is catfishing and is it practical to make it a crime?

More than half of online dating users say they have come across a fake profile, according to consumer group Which?

While the number of people defrauded in the UK by online dating scams reached a record high in 2016.

There were 3,889 victims of so-called romance fraud last year, who handed over a record £39m.

It has become so prevalent, that it led to the creation of reality TV show Catfish - which is dedicated to helping victims learn the true identity of their online romances.

Currently catfishing is not illegal but elements of the activity could be covered by different parts of the law.

If a victim hands over money, the "catfish" could be prosecuted for fraud.

Someone using a fake profile to post offensive messages or doctored images designed to humiliate could also face criminal action.

'Premeditated'

A review of social media and the law by the House of Lords in 2014 concluded there was enough current legislation to cover crimes committed online.

New guidance was also issued by the CPS in October to help the police identify online crimes - including trolling and virtual mobbing.

But Anna thinks the law needs to go further.

Writing on her petition, she said: "I did not or would not consent to have a sexual relationship with a married man, let alone a man who was actively having relations with multiple women simultaneously.

"His behaviour was definitely premeditated showing his intent to use women, yet the current law will not find his actions a criminal offence."

Tony Neate, chief executive of Get Safe Online, recognises the devastating impact catfishing can have on victims.

"It can ruin a life. I know there have been suicides because it's affected someone badly," he says.

"It can affect their mental stability and lead to depression and the victims feel they can't trust anyone again.

"I do think we need to look more wisely at this in relation to how it is tackled at the moment."

Built-in screening system

Mr Neate, a former police officer, says there should be a "discussion" about punishing the worst catfishing offenders.

But he raises concerns about how practical a new law would be to implement.

"I really feel for that poor woman [Anna] but we have got to be realistic on how far we got and how the police would be able to enforce it," he says.

"Let's have the discussion because we can't have people being hurt and it's something we have got to look at."

Many dating websites offer users advice on how to spot a scammer and tips to avoid being taken in by a fake profile. (See "Tips to avoid catfishes", below)

Popular dating site Match.com has a team which will remove unwanted accounts and check photos and personal ads.

It also has a built-in screening system that can help identify suspicious accounts, remove them and prevent re-registration.

Lovestruck has a verification service that can confirm members are single and professional by checking their profiles against their other social media sites.

'Genuine reasons'

But the advice has not stopped many people being duped.

Last month, university professor Judith Lathlean revealed how she was tricked out of £140,000 by a gang using a fake profile.

Ife Ojo, 31, and Olusegun Agbaje, 43, were jailed in 2016 after conning a woman out of £1.6m using a fictional character.

But Andrew McClelland, chief executive of the Online Dating Association - the trade body for the industry - believes legislating against catfishing would be "difficult".

He said there could be genuine reasons why someone might not use their real details online - for example if they had been in an abusive relationship and did not want their ex-partner to find them.

Data protection and freedom of expression would also be an issue when it came to enforcing such a law, he added.

"The biggest problem this faces is how do you legislate against someone lying?" says Mr McClelland.

Tips to avoid catfishes

Ask lots of questions. Do not simply rely on the information given in someone's online profile

Search. Use the internet as a tool to search elsewhere for information and the social media accounts of the person you are chatting to

Speak to friends and family. Be guided by others on whether the profile appears genuine

Chat on the dating site. Avoid giving out your personal number or email before really getting to know someone

Never give out money. If someone asks for money on a dating website, do not send it to them

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Anna Rowe had a whirlwind romance with Antony Ray after meeting him through the dating app Tinder. But their 14-month relationship came crashing down when she discovered his profile was a fake. His name was not Antony and he was not single.

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The truth about smart cities: ‘In the end, they will destroy democracy’

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The smart city is, to many urban thinkers, just a buzzphrase that has outlived its usefulness: ‘the wrong idea pitched in the wrong way to the wrong people’. So why did that happen – and what’s coming in its place, asks Steven Poole

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You never know who you are talking to online and the dangers of meeting with others on dating apps are becoming more apparent.

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You never know who you are talking to online and the dangers of meeting with others on dating apps are becoming more apparent.

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A JUDGE has warned of the dangers of Internet dating after jailing a psychopath for life for the brutal murder of a woman he had met for sex.

Usha Patel, 44, was ferociously beaten and strangled to death by Miles Donnelly, 35, after the pair had organised to meet for up at her Cricklewood flat in north London.

Patel was killed while her five-year-old son slept in the next room after the mother had invited the "lying and manipulative" man over on the night of October 7 2015 after meeting through the online dating agency, Oasis.

Before their meeting, Donnelly had bombarded the mother, who the Old Bailey heard was "desperate for a new relationship", with sexually explicit messages before telling her: "I will treat you like a princess."

The pair drank alcohol on the night of the attack with them undressing before Donnelly, who has a history of violence when drunk or on drugs, killed his date by beating her ferociously about the head and strangling her.

He then stabbed her in the stomach with a large bread knife 13 times before fleeing, leaving his underpants, socks and keys, with a picture of his daughter on, behind.

Her body was discovered when her father, Gopal Patel, arrived to take the mother's five-year-old son to school with the little boy telling his grandpa: "Mummy's not well".

Donnelly managed to avoid the police for several days by hiding at the home of his neighbour, Rosie Ferrigno, 43, in Maida Vale.

While hiding out in her home, he told her that it was his birthday and that he wanted to marry her before living in Ireland together to have lots of babies.

But when Ms Ferrigno spurned his advances, he hit her on the back of the head.

He was finally arrested on October 11 after calling police himself.

Judge Rebecca Poulet QC sentenced the murderer to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 23 years after Donnelly admitted murder and causing actual bodily harm.

She said: "In my assessment, this case is a stark warning to anyone who plans to meet someone following limited internet contact.

"That meeting must take place in a public place until one person feels they know something of the other.

"She was clearly anxious to meet a new partner but she paid for that invitation with her life."

She added: "However, it is clear there was mental and physical suffering inflicted on the victim before death.

"We, and her family, will never know why you did this terrible act."

Donnelly has a string of convictions for threatening and abusive behaviour, possession of a knife, criminal damage, robbery, racially aggravated assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm over an attack on a prison officer, battery, and other acquisitive crimes.

Prosecutor Simon Denison QC told the court that a psychiatric assessment had found Donnelly to have a "psychopathic personality".

He said: "The evidence shows the defendant to have met and murdered Usha Patel, and assaulted Rosie Ferrigno, at a time when he was driven by compulsions to drink, take cocaine, and have sex.

"He is a lying and manipulative man who was able to quickly gain Usha Patel's trust and get her to agree to invite him to her home."

He said there was no suggestion that the murderer had gone to the meet up to kill Ms Patel or that he gained sexual pleasure from violence.

Denison added: "But he did know, from his extensive criminal history, that he had a tendency to become violent when drunk and drugged, and he must have known he presented a significant and serious danger to women."

A string of WhatsApp messages recovered from Ms Patel's phone showed the pair had first made contact in April last year.

The prosecutor said they make "very sad reading," adding: "It is clear he wanted to meet up for sex and she was accepting of that."

He later told Ms Patel his mother had died, that he wanted more than just sex and was looking for a life partner, promising: "I will treat you like a princess."

The night before they first met face-to-face, Donnelly said: "If I come to you tonight...and you nurse me back to health...I will swear my life over to you...If you do that babe I will marry you tomorrow."

The night of the organised date, Donnelly took two bottles of rose wine to her flat while she bought bottles of Magners cider for Donnelly.

Mr Denison said: "It is clear from all the evidence, from the scene and from her phone and his, that he went to her home that evening by arrangement, to drink and to have sex, and they drank, and they both undressed, and for a reason that she cannot tell us and he won't tell us, he killed her and then left in a hurry.

"The defendant killed Usha Patel in her home that evening, possibly into the early hours of Thursday, after she had put [her son] to bed."

A post mortem revealed she had been ferociously beaten, strangled and stabbed 13 times in the stomach and the cause of death was recorded as compression of the neck, blunt head injury and alcohol intoxication.

There was no evidence a sexual assault had taken place.

In his basis of plea, Donnelly claimed he had killed Ms Patel in a drunken rage following a brief argument.

His barrister, David Hislop QC, blamed Donnelly's state of mind and drinking on the death of his mother.

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Judge warns of dangers of online dating after psycho killer murdered woman he met through Oasis app

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A JUDGE has warned of the dangers of Internet dating after jailing a psychopath for life for the brutal murder of a woman he had met for sex. Usha Patel, 44, was ferociously beaten and strangled to death by Miles Donnelly, 35, after the pair had organised to meet for up at her Cricklewood flat in north London.

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Dating apps like Tinder are becoming the biggest way for people find relationships. This highlights the taking over of social media to some respect as instead of going out to meet others, it can be done on a mobile device. Moreover, the sense of surveillance and security arises as with apps like this, people can see where you are, what you're posting and at time have access to your facebook which may hold even more information. For many finding a significant other is so important

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Dating apps like Tinder are becoming the biggest way for people find relationships. This highlights the taking over of social media to some respect as instead of going out to meet others, it can be done on a mobile device. Moreover, the sense of surveillance and security arises as with apps like this, people can see where you are, what you're posting and at time have access to your facebook which may hold even more information. For many finding a significant other is so important

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Spreading awareness through hashtags are becoming one of the biggest ways to be heard all across the world.

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Spreading awareness through hashtags are becoming one of the biggest ways to be heard all across the world.

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Online Communities are becoming an opportunity to find friends with common interests and hobbies.

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Online Communities are becoming an opportunity to find friends with common interests and hobbies.

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Our commenter jennifera30 recently took advantage of a You tell us thread to request an article considering how "being part of an online community has become an important part of some people's lives".

I wondered which route to go down - confessional, empirical, anecdotal. Perhaps I can venture a smattering of each.

I recall with fondness when I was most deeply immersed in an online community. Sat up late at night typing, my right hand cold from scrolling and reading, telling myself this would definitely be the last post, knowing I couldn't help but be drawn back in again. Driven by curiosity, anger, amusement - I never learned so fast in my life. But I also remember guilt; my young son hovering by the door, vying for my attention.

He's almost as big as me now and obsessed with his own virtual community. I just asked him to describe how he feels about World of Warcraft, but his face dropped. With no hint of farce, he begins by saying it's really too upsetting to talk about "because I really want to get back on and I don't know how to". His account has been hacked - and the rather complicated instructions to reactivate it have got the better of him. "It's brilliant," he says. "Like having another life - being in another world and doing all the things you have always dreamed of. You make loads of friends - find out about each other - it's like having a pen pal but you can do all the things you would be able to do with them if you were with them physically."

Of course, a forum for political discussion and a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) where you customise an avatar and carry out long-drawn-out group quests are somewhat dissimilar. But how he speaks of his online acquaintances and their interpersonal connections resonate with my own experience.

Richard Dawkins was somewhat taken aback by community reaction last month when he announced plans to alter the atheist site's discussion forum. Users of richarddawkins.net vehemently opposed new levels of censorship and moderation proposed for the relaunch. Dawkins eventually climbed down - and his apology lays bare how he underestimated the strength of feeling in the community around his site.

This phenomenon is not uncommon. I have never quite managed to have a conversation with someone who has not been part of one and totally gets it. One area on which Dawkins eventually capitulated was retaining an archive of posts. I can very easily imagine, in fact I have been party to, conversations like this. Two sides: the site owner wondering why on earth anyone would want a record of all that heated, uncivil, ideological tennis, the other side full of passionate participants who had spent hours, weeks, months of their lives exploring subjects close to their heart. Could they really all be looking at the same forum?

Political deliberation and gaming are not the only arenas where online communities can be enjoyable, constructive and powerfully immersive. Research by Kristen Eichhorn has found participating in online discussion boards appears to be therapeutic and constructive for individuals with an eating disorder.

On a lighter note, Rosamundi recently tweeted her thanks for online support received after a disastrous blind date. Her blog tells of a rather unfortunate encounter which concluded with this post-meeting text: "I was told you were pretty, and you're not. I feel badly misled." Rosamundi's online contacts picked her back up. Her blog references an outpouring of virtual camaraderie: "To all those people who massaged my bruised and fragile ego via Facebook and Twitter last night - you are all utterly marvellous, and I thank you."

Gembar might relate to this. He/she wrote on a Cif thread last week: "I recently went through a very tough time, and reading some of the really hilarious posts somehow managed to help me see the wood through the trees, so to speak." Mrsubliminal has also hat-tipped the sheer hilarity of Cif discussions: "Having spilled my coffee many a time reading the comments (either from laughter or anger) I now use a styrofoam cup and bib."

Solentview wrote: "Unfortunately, this site seems to have taken a bit of a hold on me and I can't seem to stay away from it, I think I may be addicted ... Nurse!!!!" and kizbot shared a similar dilemma: "The main problem with Cif is that once you start, it's nigh on impossible to stop."

These are not isolated corners of cyberspace. Despite the current popularity of social networks "online communities" around interest areas are going strong, inside, outside and often straddling newer platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. The OxIS report 2009 found 33% of internet users in Britain now post messages on discussion or message boards as opposed to 16% in 2007.

Yet most of the time our shared online experiences just are. Their significance to us, in real life (IRL), goes unsaid and is hard to explain. Online communities all have unique characteristics, registers, norms. Their modes of interaction can be misunderstood as banal, nihilist, or even dangerous to those who do not move within. But what they share is providing spaces for people to connect online, quite profoundly, around the things they care about.
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The true worth of online communities | Mariam Cook

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Our commenter jennifera30 recently took advantage of a You tell us thread to request an article considering how "being part of an online community has become an important part of some people's lives". I wondered which route to go down - confessional, empirical, anecdotal. Perhaps I can venture a smattering of each.

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Constantly being exposed to pictures of other people who have what we want is causing people to become self conscious and less body confident.

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Constantly being exposed to pictures of other people who have what we want is causing people to become self conscious and less body confident.

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First, there was Gigi Hadid, taking to Instagram to defend herself against critics who took aim at her body type. Now, there's Vin Diesel.

Mr. Diesel, the actor in the "Fast and Furious" series, posted a response to the accusation he had a " dad bod" on his feed over the weekend, writing, " Body-shaming is always wrong!" He then followed up with a shot flashing his (pretty pronounced) abs.

Like Ms. Hadid, Mr. Diesel received thousands of comments in response, cheering him on.

Both of them are following in the footsteps of Demi Lovato, the former Disney star-turned-troubled teenager-turned-body activist, who has been using Instagram pretty regularly to celebrate her love of her body. Ms. Lovato recently posted a picture of herself sprawled out over some sort of lounge in a playsuit and heels with the words, "Learn to lurrrrrvveee yerrrrr currrrrvveees," adding, "I actually used to hate them."

It suggests that the social media platform could become something of a soapbox for this particular issue. Perhaps even the most effective soapbox.

It makes sense, after all, since body image, while a psychological issue, begins with optics, and Instagram is first and foremost an optical platform. Mr. Diesel's words convey his position, but his picture shuts the debate down.

This was, in fact, the argument Lena Dunham offered at the Vanity Fair New Establishment conference. Though she had handed over her Twitter account to her team because of what she saw as its aggressive negativity, she has remained on Instagram. The ability to post a picture, and the fact that there was no character limit, means the whole issue could be explored in greater detail.

Instead of retreating, it takes the fight directly to the fans, who seem to be happy to play their part of outraged army.

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Instagram Has Become a Body-Image Battleground

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First, there was Gigi Hadid, taking to Instagram to defend herself against critics who took aim at her body type. Now, there's Vin Diesel. Mr. Diesel, the actor in the "Fast and Furious" series, posted a response to the accusation he had a " dad bod" on his feed over the weekend, writing, " Body-shaming is always wrong!"

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Is Instagram making us envy what other people have and look like more than appreciate what we have?

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Is Instagram making us envy what other people have and look like more than appreciate what we have?

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Snapmaps - the new feature on 'Snapchat' meaning everyone on the app can see where you are, when you were there and what you are doing.

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Today Snapchat introduced a new feature, the 'Snap Map'.

This location based map allows users to see where in the country their Snapchat contacts are, as well as seeing location based photos and videos. The Snap Map shows a user's Bitmoji, their cartoon avatar within Snapchat, pinpointed on a world map. Users can then zoom into the map to see the exact location of their friends.

How to access Snap Maps

To access the Snap Map in the latest update of the Snapchat app, users need to go to their camera screen within Snapchat and zoom out using two fingers. This will then launch the Snap Maps screen and will allow a user to see their friend's locations.
Choose who can see your location
It is important to be careful about who you share your location with, as it can allow people to build up a picture of where you live, go to school and spend your time.

Given how specific this new feature is on Snapchat - giving your location to a precise pinpoint on a map - we would encourage users not to share their location, especially with people they don't know in person.

There are three settings for sharing your location on the map, these are; Ghost mode, My Friends, and Select Friends. But what do these settings mean?

Ghost Mode means that you are the only person who can see your location on the map.
Within Ghost Mode you can still see the locations of your friends but they will be unable to see you. This setting will ensure that you have complete control over who knows your location.

My Friends
My Friends means that all of your contacts on Snapchat can see your location. If turning on this setting then it would be important for users to review their Snapchat contacts and also make sure that they never add someone they don't know in person onto Snapchat.

Select Friends
This setting allows users to look through their friend list and then decide which of their friends they want to be able to view their location. This setting gives users the opportunity to control who can view their location.

Changing settings

When first opening the Snap Map users get to make a decision of who they want to be able to view their location. Once these settings are in place they can always be changed in Snapchat's settings. This can be done in two ways:

1. In the Snapchat settings
In the Snapchat screen click on the Settings (cog) icon> click on 'see my location' > Choose the setting which suits you

2. On the Snap Map
Click on the setting button in the top right of the map > choose the setting which suits you

Our top tips

Sharing location can be a risky thing to do. Our tips for location sharing are:

Only share your location with people you know in person. Never share your location with strangers.

Don't add contacts to Snapchat if you don't know them in person.

Regularly review your settings and take an active decision about whether you want people to know your location. Remember you can switch this off at any time. Think about where you're sharing your location. Location services such as Snap Maps can lead people to your house. Think about what times you're on the app and whether these are locations you want to share - if not, then turn this off within your settings.

For more information about Snap Maps visit: https://support.snapchat.com/en-US/article/about-snap-map2

For more information about the other latest features on Snapchat read our latest blogs:
Reporting within Snapchat stories Features of the latest Snapchat update
This blog has been featured in:

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Introducing 'Snap Maps' - the new location sharing feature in Snapchat

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Today Snapchat introduced a new feature, the 'Snap Map'. This location based map allows users to see where in the country their Snapchat contacts are, as well as seeing location based photos and videos. The Snap Map shows a user's Bitmoji, their cartoon avatar within Snapchat, pinpointed on a world map.

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You never know who you are talking to online. There is a safety hazard of impersonating others as well as pretending to be someone you are not whilst posting online.

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You never know who you are talking to online. There is a safety hazard of impersonating others as well as pretending to be someone you are not whilst posting online.

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Are we as safe online as we think? Scandals for Mark Zuckerberg indicating privacy is not as secure as we think.

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Are we as safe online as we think? Scandals for Mark Zuckerberg indicating privacy is not as secure as we think.

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Facebook believes the data of up to 87 million people was improperly shared with the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica - many more than previously disclosed.

The BBC has been told that about 1.1 million of them are UK-based.

The overall figure had been previously quoted as being 50 million by the whistleblower Christopher Wylie.

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said "clearly we should have done more, and we will going forward".

During a press conference he said that he had previously assumed that if Facebook gave people tools, it was largely their responsibility to decide how to use them.

But he added that it was "wrong in retrospect" to have had such a limited view.

"Today, given what we know... I think we understand that we need to take a broader view of our responsibility," he said.

"That we're not just building tools, but that we need to take full responsibility for the outcomes of how people use those tools as well."

Mr Zuckerberg also announced an internal audit had uncovered a fresh problem. Malicious actors had been abusing a feature that let users search for one another by typing in email addresses or phone numbers into Facebook's search box.

As a result, many people's public profile information had been "scraped" and matched to the contact details, which had been obtained from elsewhere.

Facebook has now blocked the facility.

"It is reasonable to expect that if you had that [default] setting turned on, that in the last several years someone has probably accessed your public information in this way," Mr Zuckerberg said.

New numbers

The estimates of how many people's data had been exposed were revealed in a blog by the tech firm's chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer.

The BBC has also learned that Facebook now estimates that about 305,000 people had installed the This Is Your Digital Life quiz that had made the data-harvesting possible. The previously suggested figure had been 270,000.

About 97% of the installations occurred within the US. However, just over 16 million of the total number of users affected are thought to be from other countries.

A spokeswoman for the UK's Information Commissioner's Office told the BBC that it was continuing to assess and consider the evidence before deciding what steps to take.

What is the controversy about?

Facebook has faced intense criticism after it emerged that it had known for years that Cambridge Analytica had collected data from millions of its users, but had relied on the London-based firm to self-certify that it had deleted the information.

Cambridge Analytica said it had bought the information from the creator of the This Is Your Digital Life app without knowing that it had been obtained improperly.

The firm says it deleted all the data as soon as it was made aware of the circumstances.

But Channel 4 News has since reported that at least some of the data in question is still in circulation despite Cambridge Analytica insisting it had destroyed the material.

During Mr Zuckerberg's press conference, Cambridge Analytica tweeted it had only obtained data for 30 million individuals - not 87 million - from the app's creator, and again insisted it had deleted all records.

The latest revelations came several hours after the US House Commerce Committee announced that Facebook's founder, Mark Zuckerberg, would testify before it on 11 April.

Facebook's share price has dropped sharply in the weeks since the allegations emerged.

Wide-ranging changes

In his Wednesday blog post, Mr Schroepfer detailed new steps being taken by Facebook in the wake of the scandal.

They include:

a decision to stop third-party apps seeing who is on the guest lists of Events pages and the contents of messages posted on them

a commitment to only hold call and text history logs collected by the Android versions of Messenger and Facebook Lite for a year. In addition, Facebook said the logs would no longer include the time of the calls

a link will appear at the top of users' News Feeds next week, prompting them to review the third-party apps they use on Facebook and what information is shared as a consequence

Facebook has also published proposed new versions of its terms of service and data use policy.

The documents are longer than the existing editions in order to make the language clearer and more descriptive.

Tinder users affected

Another change the company announced involved limiting the type of information that can be accessed by third-party applications.

Immediately after the changes were announced, however, users of the widely popular dating app Tinder were hit by login errors, leaving them unable to use the service.

Tinder relies on Facebook to manage its logins. Users reported that they had been signed out of the app and were unable to log in again.

Instead, the app repeatedly asks for more permissions to access a user's Facebook profile information. Many were quick to link the outage to the changes announced by Facebook.

Fake news

The Cambridge Analytica scandal follows earlier controversies about "fake news" and evidence that Russia tried to influence US voters via Facebook.

Mr Zuckerberg has declined to answer questions from British MPs.

When asked about this by the BBC, he said he had decided that his chief technology officer and chief product officer should answer questions from countries other than the US.

He added, however, that he had made a mistake in 2016 by dismissing the notion that fake news had influenced the US Presidential election.

"People will analyse the actual impact of this for a long time to come," he added.

"But what I think is clear at this point is that it was too flippant and I should never have referred to it as crazy."

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Facebook believes the data of up to 87 million people was improperly shared with the political consultancy Cambridge Analytica - many more than previously disclosed. The BBC has been told that about 1.1 million of them are UK-based. The overall figure had been previously quoted as being 50 million by the whistleblower Christopher Wylie.

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Here we have an image demonstrating how powerful the notion of the Selfie has become. With big brands now using the idea of a Selfie to promote their mechanise it goes unsaid how much this notion has taken over social media. in one way, selfies are problematical in the way we view ourselves and others, adding to the idea of photo shopping and body image due to their filters and altering options given. Selfies are now seen everywhere: commercials, social media and advertising. They have become an ingrained part of society. However, is it making our society more self obsessed?

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Here we have an image demonstrating how powerful the notion of the Selfie has become. With big brands now using the idea of a Selfie to promote their mechanise it goes unsaid how much this notion has taken over social media. in one way, selfies are problematical in the way we view ourselves and others, adding to the idea of photo shopping and body image due to their filters and altering options given. Selfies are now seen everywhere: commercials, social media and advertising. They have become an ingrained part of society. However, is it making our society more self obsessed?

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FOMO - This study is discussing how an increasing amount of individuals are constantly checking their social media from 'Fear of Missing Out' (FOMO) and as a result are wasting their 'real' social lives away by neglecting them in favour of their online communities. Arguably, many individuals use social media as a gateway to new connections but it is argued here that those who suffer with mental instabilities simply watch their news feed and monitor other members of society and their lives having an end result of feeling even more isolated in themselves.

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FOMO - This study is discussing how an increasing amount of individuals are constantly checking their social media from 'Fear of Missing Out' (FOMO) and as a result are wasting their 'real' social lives away by neglecting them in favour of their online communities. Arguably, many individuals use social media as a gateway to new connections but it is argued here that those who suffer with mental instabilities simply watch their news feed and monitor other members of society and their lives having an end result of feeling even more isolated in themselves.

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You might think that social media allows us to be connected to our loved ones 24/7, but a new study has discovered that it's actually making us feel lonelier.

The report suggests that if you spend over two hours a day on social networks, your chances of feeling socially isolated are twice as high.

The study was carried out by the University of Pittsburgh and saw researchers questioning 1,787 adults aged between 19 and 32 about their use of the 11 most popular social media sites - Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, Vine and LinkedIn - at the time the research was conducted in 2014.

They found that people who visit social networks over 58 times a week are three times more likely to feel lonely than those who use the sites under nine times.

It has long been suggested that social media is contributing to the rise in FOMO (fear of missing out), but this study suggests the problem may be more serious.

However it's not clear whether social media causes loneliness, or whether it's just that already lonely people are more likely to spend longer on social networks.

"We do not yet know which came first - the social media use or the perceived social isolation," co-author Elizabeth Miller, professor of paediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, said.

"It's possible that young adults who initially felt socially isolated turned to social media. Or it could be that their increased use of social media somehow led to feeling isolated from the real world."

The scientists allowed for demographic differences and maintained that there's a link between social media usage and loneliness.

However as well as FOMO from events you didn't attend, the study suggests that the longer someone spends on social media, the less time they have for real life social interactions.

As suicides and mental health issues amongst students and young adults are on the rise, the role of social media is being increasingly scrutinised.

"We are inherently social creatures, but modern life tends to compartmentalise us instead of bringing us together," Professor Brian Primack, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said.

"While it may seem that social media presents opportunities to fill that social void, I think this study suggests that it may not be the solution people were hoping for."

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You might think that social media allows us to be connected to our loved ones 24/7, but a new study has discovered that it's actually making us feel lonelier. The report suggests that if you spend over two hours a day on social networks, your chances of feeling socially isolated are twice as high.

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Selfie Campaign for Awareness - Although there are many who would argue that the Selfie phenomenon is driving society to becoming increasingly self obsessed the uses of the self are broadening. With many campaigns noting that the Selfie is so big on social media they use it as a means to promote charities, awareness and to get a message across with many having fundraising success. What was so special about the 'No Makeup Selfie' campaign was that it was representing real, natural beauty not altered or photoshopped, which is what many see the selfie as being used for.

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Selfie Campaign for Awareness - Although there are many who would argue that the Selfie phenomenon is driving society to becoming increasingly self obsessed the uses of the self are broadening. With many campaigns noting that the Selfie is so big on social media they use it as a means to promote charities, awareness and to get a message across with many having fundraising success. What was so special about the 'No Makeup Selfie' campaign was that it was representing real, natural beauty not altered or photoshopped, which is what many see the selfie as being used for.

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The selfie has reached a new zenith this week, thanks to the No Make-Up Selfie for Cancer Awareness campaign which has seen £2m raised for Cancer Research UK in the space of just a few days. But how did it happen?

The #nomakeupselfie started trending on Tuesday as women posted pictures of themselves without make-up on Twitter and Facebook, and urged their friends to do the same.

Cancer awareness became the theme, selfie posters pledged donations to cancer charities and CRUK set up a text number to make donating even easier.

Very rapid communication like this has never been faster in human history, but you have to be careful...
Dr Linda Gibson, Nottingham Trent University

But the cancer charity did not kick-start the trend - it grew organically, making a huge impact on social media and getting attention in national newspapers and on radio and TV news.

So why did it go viral? Was it all about raising awareness and money for life-saving research?

No-one quite knows how the trend started. It may have been related to the Oscars selfie featuring a gaggle of gorgeous A-list actors which was retweeted endlessly following the film awards in early March.

Or it may have been a reaction to the negative comments directed towards 81-year-old actress Kim Novak following the same event.

People lined up to sympathise with her by posting pictures of themselves in (mostly) unflattering lights.

With hundreds of thousands of donations, 826,000 likes on Facebook and 140,000 followers on Twitter, Cancer Research UK confessed to being "overwhelmed with donations and support".

But not everyone is behind the idea that women revealing their real face is something brave or altruistic.

Commentators have lined up to say that the campaign made cancer awareness all about vanity and emotion rather than about useful, practical action.

Dr Linda Gibson, senior lecturer in public health at Nottingham Trent University, says the success of the campaign shows that social media is a very powerful medium, particularly among young people, but there are dangers inherent in it too.

"This campaign has captured the imagination. Very rapid communication like this has never been faster in human history, but you have to be careful.

"You can lose the depth of message. When thinking of designing interventions using these media there can be unintended consequences."

The message may not be clear, but that can be a good thing because it forces people to ask "what's this about?", she says.

The problem comes when people believe they are doing something important when really their actions are not changing anything.

In that case, aren't we just using social media to clear our consciences, just by sending a selfie?

The money raised - 80p in every £1 donated goes to cancer research - suggests this is more than just an exercise in self promotion.

Images sent to CRUK demonstrate that people want to show their solidarity with cancer sufferers, and pay tribute to friends and family who have died from the disease.

The Institute of Fundraising says combining popular trends with fund-raising is a great way to reach young and untapped audiences. Men are now getting on board by posting selfies of themselves wearing make-up, this time in a bid to raise awareness of men's cancers.

Use of celebrity trends also helps to target those that wouldn't necessarily think about the charity or the cause otherwise, it adds. And there have been plenty of big names posting their selfies this week.

But perhaps there is more to the success of this selfie campaign.

"Maybe it's about how women feel about themselves, and their private and public faces," says Dr Gibson.

"The image of women in the media can be so artificial and constructed that body image often becomes an issue.

"This is almost an act of rebellion."

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The selfie has reached a new zenith this week, thanks to the No Make-Up Selfie for Cancer Awareness campaign which has seen £2m raised for Cancer Research UK in the space of just a few days. But how did it happen?

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We are looking at ourselves as individuals for analysis. Constantly updating our social media accounts with news, pictures and looking at our friends news online is having an effect on how we want others to see us. Constantly comparing what we see with what we post, social media is almost becoming a competition between individuals to rate and like each others posts.

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We are looking at ourselves as individuals for analysis. Constantly updating our social media accounts with news, pictures and looking at our friends news online is having an effect on how we want others to see us. Constantly comparing what we see with what we post, social media is almost becoming a competition between individuals to rate and like each others posts.

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The weird thing that happens to your brain when you get a like on social media

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From drug-like chemical rushes to the very real risk of addiction, this is the truth about what ‘likes’ are doing to your self-esteem.

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Facetime - With phones now coming with pre-installed facetime options, we are now in a place where technology has allowed us to be able to have face to face conversations with anyone in the world. We are no longer in a world where our social communities are restricted to who we have access to. Social media and apps like Facetime have enabled societies to grow. However, this also makes it increasingly easy for society to connect as well as disconnect with one another.

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Facetime - With phones now coming with pre-installed facetime options, we are now in a place where technology has allowed us to be able to have face to face conversations with anyone in the world. We are no longer in a world where our social communities are restricted to who we have access to. Social media and apps like Facetime have enabled societies to grow. However, this also makes it increasingly easy for society to connect as well as disconnect with one another.

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This article highlights how the digital technologies we have (mobiles, laptops etc) are dominating our lives and communities. With more and more people choosing to communicate on a digital basis as well as having all kinds of information available at their finger tips, we as social beings now are moving into a digitally social era. We share our lives with one another on an online basis more so now than on an offline basis.

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Do you remember when the digital age became part of your DNA? Can you recall the moment your social media "on" switch flipped for good?

As a young media relations professional right out of college, part of my first job was to compile relevant industry news stories every single day for an executive summary that was faxed around the world (remember ... no email in the 1980s!).

I literally had to read through dozens of PAPER newspapers and magazines and TYPE my summary into a state-of-the-art word processor, which had just replaced electronic typewriters. It was a painstaking process.

And yet, that job had its advantages. When I was home, I was home. No cell phone. No computers. No email. No business connections whatsoever unless I brought some paper journals home with me to catch up on some reading. And best of all, when I needed to, it was possible to "hide" from your boss!

Tethered

I vividly remember the moment I accepted my permanent connection to the digital tether.

Around 1989, I got my first laptop and cell phone. With a sudden jolt, I was thrust into a world of 24 x 7 accessibility. This was particularly relevant because I was living in Los Angeles - three time zones away from my boss. With this new electronic connection, my working hours were instantly extended by at least 50 percent each day.

I was working in sales at the time and was embroiled in a devastating product quality crisis with my most important customer. Perhaps I was weakened by the long-term stress of the customer situation, or maybe it was just bad luck, but at the time I got my first laptop I became extremely ill with strep throat ... probably the most sick I had ever been in my life.

Digital immersion and personal freedom

Although I was feverish and could barely stay upright, I persisted working from my home (an entirely new concept) when I was too sick to go into the office. Despite the illness I cranked out urgent computer reports to my boss on the other side of the country as I facilitated a solution to the quality problem.

I remember my worried wife asking me why I was risking my health to create these reports. Why indeed? Why indeed.

That was the beginning of the end for a big part of my personal freedom.

Some may be critical or philosophical about my decision at the time. After all, don't we all have a choice about how we live our lives and whether we tether or un-tether from the grid?

Of course we do. However, let's be realistic. If you have any type of career that involves customers and the exchange of money I contend there is also an expectation of constant connection today. In fact, the ability to manage that constant connection is probably a crucial life skill for the business world.

The digital era ushered in breathtaking productivity gains that were supposed to make life easier. But the inescapable fact is, most business professionals became tethered to little machines like digital life support systems that robbed a lot of our freedom.

Even when we wean ourselves away for a few days of digital de-tox, if you're like me, your head is still thinking about all the emails and social messages facing you upon your return ... which starts the cycle all over again.

How have you changed?

It's interesting to consider that almost nobody in our current generation will ever know what it's like to be truly untethered from the digital hive.

I was recently on a trip to Croatia and took a sight-seeing cruise to a historic Roman village along the coast. It was a brilliant, sunny day and the coastal scenery was spectacular. I noticed a young woman who had her phone wired to her a wireless hotspot sitting in her lap. Even in the middle of the Adriatic Sea she was furiously flipping through Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram. She never looked up once, literally tethered to another world.

Some commenters may point out the tremendous freedom the digital world CREATES. Of course it does. But I wonder ... how would I be a different person if my career spanned the 1970s and 80s instead of where I am today?

How is this young woman floating in Croatia, but surfing another world, better or worse for the tether?

How has constant digital immersion permanently altered me and you as an employee, a person, a spouse, a parent? Interesting thought exercise ...
Mark Schaefer is the chief blogger for this site, executive director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions, and the author of several best-selling digital marketing books. He is an acclaimed keynote speaker, college educator, and business consultant. The Marketing Companion podcast is among the top business podcasts in the world. Contact Mark to have him speak to your company event or conference soon.

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What are the personal impacts of your digital immersion?

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Do you remember when the digital age became part of your DNA? Can you recall the moment your social media "on" switch flipped for good? As a young media relations professional right out of college, part of my first job was to compile relevant industry news stories every single day for an executive summary that was faxed around the world (remember ...

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With the notion of phubbing being more apparent in today's society, the argument that people are being more digitally active than 'physically' active is circulating. With so many people joining online communities many are prioritising communication digitally as it is seen as easier, quicker and more efficient to communicate. However, this in turn means that when in contact with people in person, we are becoming more likely to have  conversations with our digital communities at the same time as  our non digital ones. This is leading to the ideas of neglect in our relationships and many are seeing the digital world dominating all realms of communications.

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Phubbing us when your partner is distracted by their smartphone

7 0% say phubbing hurts their ability to interact with their partners

Handsets are relationship downers - up there with money, sex and kids.

Using a handset while with a partner undermines the relationship's quality

The majority of our relationships are in shambles.

The U.S. divorce rate hovers at 40 percent, but that's not the whole story.

Many intact relationships are on life support.

According to a survey by the National Opinion Research Center, 60 percent of people in a relationship say they're not very satisfied.

There are some familiar culprits: money problems, bad sex and having kids.

But there's a new relationship buster: the smartphone.

THE RISK OF PHUBBING

My colleague Meredith David and I recently conducted a study that explored just how detrimental smartphones can be to relationships.

We zeroed in on measuring something we've dubbed 'phubbing' (a fusion of 'phone' and 'snubbing').

It's how often your romantic partner is distracted by his or her smartphone in your presence.

With more and more people using the attention-siphoning devices - the typical American checks his or her smartphone once every six-and-a-half minutes, or roughly 150 times each day - phubbing has emerged as a real source of conflict.

For example, in one study, 70 percent of participants said that phubbing hurt their ability to interact with their romantic partners.

Most know what it's like to be phubbed: You're in the middle of a passionate screed only to realize that your partner's attention is elsewhere.

But you've probably also been a perpetrator, finding yourself drifting away from a conversation as you scroll through your Facebook feed.

In our study, we wanted to know the implications of this interference.

We surveyed 175 adults in romantic relationships from across the United States and had them fill out our questionnaire.

We had them complete a nine-item Partner Phubbing Scale that measured how often some felt 'phubbed' by his or her partner's smartphone use.

Sample questions included 'My partner places his or her smartphone where they can see it when we are together' and 'my partner uses his or her smartphone when we are out together.'

Survey participants also completed a scale that measured how much smartphone use was a source of conflict in their relationships.

WHAT IS PHUBBING?

Participants also completed a scale that measured how satisfied they were with their current relationship, how satisfied they were with their lives and if they were depressed.

We found that smartphones are real relationship downers - up there with money, sex and kids.

WOMEN SAY DEVICES ARE RUINING THEIR RELATIONSHIP

People who reported being at the receiving end of phubbing also reported higher levels of conflict over smartphone use than those who reported less phubbing.

Not surprisingly, higher levels of smartphone-related conflict reduced levels of relationship satisfaction.

Something as seemingly innocent as using a smartphone in the presence of a romantic partner undermined the quality of the relationship.

This can create a domino effect: As our study also showed, when we're not happily in love, we are also less likely to be satisfied, overall, with life.

We're also more likely to report that we are depressed.

Why, might you ask, does partner phubbing wreak such havoc between romantic partners?

At least two possible explanations for such relationship tumult exist.

RELATIONSHIP TIPS FOR PHONE ADDICTS

The 'Displacement Hypothesis' suggests that time spent on smartphones displaces (or reduces) more meaningful interactions with your lover, weakening the relationship.

I call a second theory 'Smartphone Conflict Theory.'

Simply put, the device is a source of conflict and leads to fighting.

Fights, of course, can only serve to undermine your satisfaction with your partner and the relationship.

So what can we take away from all of this?

Even if we act like it's no big deal, it still stings whenever we're phubbed by our romantic partner.

In a sense, our romantic partners are choosing their phone over us.

We probably feel a little less important and the relationship feels a little less secure.

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Study finds 'phubbing', or phone snubbing, kills relationships

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Phubbing us when your partner is distracted by their smartphone 7 0% say phubbing hurts their ability to interact with their partners Handsets are relationship downers - up there with money, sex and kids. Using a handset while with a partner undermines the relationship's quality The majority of our relationships are in shambles.