Volume 124 Issue 48
kansan.com
Friday, October 28, 2011
HEALTH
NOTICE
Don't Let Facebook Get You Down
The site that sucks you in and gives you the tools to compare
You log onto Facebook after a hard day. You scored badly on the paper you slaved over, your boyfriend dumped you or you've had a whole series of frustrating events. You scroll down your news feed and see the status of the annoying girl you knew from high school: "Just got a fabulous Chanel bag from my boy, can't wait to show it off!" Suddenly your blood pressure rises and you feel even worse. Sound familiar?
AMANDA GAGE
It's easy to get sucked into the trap of interpreting all of your friends' chipper posts, smiling pictures and excited statuses as dull in comparison to your own life. Facebook's design even encourages positivity, by having features such as the "Like" button without a corresponding "Hate" button.
Research shows that the easy ability to make comparisons on Facebook affects our mental health in a negative way. A recent Stanford University study found that Facebook causes us to underestimate our friends' negative and unhappier posts, and to overestimate their positive, happier posts. This makes us to feel defeated and as if we don't have what it takes to reach our own goals or to be as lucky or attractive as our friends on Facebook.
Initially we think about how excited we are for that person, but then the after-effect of those thoughts sink in as we wish we were as lucky or privileged as them. As glamorous as we can make other people's lives out to be, Facebook users should understand that there's a little bibling going on.
Facebook can be used as a salve for self-esteem issues, or a quick-fix in a way, says Susan Newman, social psychologist and relationship expert. "On Facebook you can build yourself up into the person you would like to be and you don't have to reveal anything negative or upsetting."
The tools Facebook provides can be the perfect palette to create a surface version of you. You're able to convince strangers that you are a fashionista, get stellar grades on everything or are always going to the next big concert.
"I think because Facebook is so open, its users are its editors. They can edit their life in whatever way they want," Jahmal Clemons, a senior from Wichita, says. "And if you take the
pictures and statuses at face value, you may get a whole different idea of a person than when you actually have a conversation with them."
Creating a façade can be alluring, especially because Facebook isn't the physical world. On Facebook, what you see is what you get. You can guide someone's perception of you with a single click.
Sebastian Valenzuela, assistant professor in the School of Communications at Catholic University of Chile, concurs. He says that you're defining your personality on Facebook and you can revamp yourself and your image. "People craft personalities on Facebook who want to become more popular to compensate the lack of popularity and connectedness that they encounter in their offline face-to-face world," says Valenzuela, who has been a part of a research team conducting five different studies on how Facebook affects us.
Even though we have a tendency to exaggerate about our lives, whether we're doing the exaggerating or witnessing it, it has an effect on us.
Bailey Proctor, a freshman from Overland Park, says that she once felt discouraged when she was sick while her friends were out having fun and she saw things they would post.
"Whenever I see an excited status I'm happy for them, but if I'm not feeling the same, I might post a sad lyric or something to get their attention," Proctor says.
Whether stomaching a princess-esque status update or gushing about a new installment in your own life, remind yourself that people do see what you write online and that you have the power to be your best self, despite all the comparisons.
In addition to focusing more on yourself, Dr. Newman says that people should focus on Facebook as a vehicle for keeping up with classes and upcoming assignments, communicating with professors and finding jobs, as well as using it as a networking tool to stay connected to friends and family. "Reduce the amount of weight you give to what is posted by others on Facebook," Newman says. "Realize that some puffery may be going on."
Photo illustration by Jessica Janasz Un-friend Poor Self-esteem: Not taking Facebook behavior seriously helps keep your confidence up.
Make light of statuses and learn to laugh a little:
It's easy with some statuses to look beyond comparison and just plain laugh. "If it's a friend, I make fun of them for sometimes posting private stuff, but if I don't know them then I usually just laugh and keep scrolling," says Nicole Leighty, a junior from Andover. The fact of the matter is that it can be a confidence-booster to make light of others' outrageous status updates. Laugh-worky statuses:
"I don't mean to be selfish, but I picture myself getting paid!" — Anonymous
"Is it Thursday yet?! Yay for Mexicoooo" – Anonymous
“MANHATTAN FOR KG'S 21ST!!!! &#@*$*(****000!#$@” – Anonymous
"LICENSE one day JOB the next!!!!" — Anonymous
"When you have so much stuff in your shopping bag that your car thinks there is a person sitting in the passenger seat and you have to buckle your bag in." - Anonymous
Through an executive order, President Obama will move forward with his "Pay as You Earn" proposal that will help reduce monthly student loan payments. By 2014, borrowers will be able cap their payments at 10 percent of their discretionary funds and consolidate their loans, which will reduce interest rates.
dmscott@kansan.com
Obama's proposal will allow more than 1.5 million students to take advantage of the cap and six million students the ability to consolidate their loans in 2012.
The White House announced Tuesday that the administration will take steps to increase college affordability by making it easier to manage student loan debt.
BY THE NUMBERS
DAVID SCOTT
"It's unfortunate that financial setbacks can prevent students from pursuing their true dreams," Iler said. "They have to get a job that they know will help them pay back their loans."
SOURCE: OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Jill Jess, director for news and media at KU University Relations.
10
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Molly Iler, a senior in English from Summit, N.J., is a bit skeptical about the feasibility of the idea. She wonders if the program can keep interest rates down while borrowers pay less. But she holds out hope that the president's proposal will help fellow students.
said capping the monthly payment allows former students in repayment to better manage their finances if they are in low-income
"In a global economy, putting a college education within reach for every American has never been more important," President Obama said at the plan's announcement in Denver. "But it's also never been more expensive."
positions. The consolidation of the Direct Loan program and
necessarily.
The flu shot also assists with students' education.
"We are hopefully preventing missing classes," said Ken Sarber, public health educator for the University.
SEE LOANS ON PAGE 3
Students have the option of immunization through a shot or nasal mist, which cost $15 and $20, respectively. Jacque Bagwell, a nurse giving vaccines for the clinic, sees the benefit of her work.
"It's important for your health and the health of those around you," Bagwell said.
The vaccination via shot consists of three inactive, non-live flu viruses that are expected to be most common this flu season out of the 200 flu strains in circulation. The flu mist consists
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CLASSIFIEDS 9
CROSSWORD 4
Wenger even considers opening his own flu clinic someday after he graduates. While there are concerns that immunizations might eventually be ineffective because of their widespread use, Wenger's confident that the vaccines will continue to help flu prevention without any long-term consequences.
As for Bissell's unexpected flu vaccination, she feels positive about her experience.
"I would highly suggest it. It's a really fast process," said Bissell. "I was in and out within five minutes between my classes."
Edited by Sarah Champl
CRYPTOQUIPS 4
OPRINION 5
SPORTS 10
SUDOKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
Don't forget
Have fun and stay safe over the Halloween weekend.
Today's Weather
HI: 60
LO: 29
Forcasted calls by
University students. For
a more detailed forecast
see page 24.
笔
Sunny day and a chilly night
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