Study: Quitting Facebook Could Make You Happier
MENLO PARK, Calif. (CBS Sacramento) -- Staying off Facebook could actually make you happier, according to new research.
Researchers from the Happiness Research Institute evaluated over 1,000 Facebook users to look at their daily use on the social media site and its impact on happiness, as reported by Quartz.
Study authors found that 94 percent of the participants used Facebook daily prior to the study. Half of the group was then asked to quit the site entirely, while the other was allowed to continue use as usual.
After just one week, those who quit Facebook reported higher levels of life satisfaction. Researchers found that 88 percent of individuals who gave the site up felt "happy," compared to 81 percent among those who continued using Facebook.
Researchers say the Facebook-less participants enjoyed life more, were less angry, and felt more enthusiastic. This same group reported being more socially active and satisfied with social relations. Those who used Facebook were 55 percent more likely to experience stress. The findings suggests that Facebook could have a negative impact on happiness as users often focus on what other people have or what other people or doing.
The results were based on self-reported answers. Researchers emphasize the link is not causal and that further research is needed to fully examine the relationship between Facebook and overall happiness.
Facebook currently has over 1.5 billion monthly active users, according to Statista.