Facebook linked to disease

As the usage of social networking sites such as Facebook are rapidly becoming more widespread, researchers have been discovering interesting phenomena associated with such networks. For example, a new study has found that frequent use of Facebook may increase one's risk for anxiety and depression. However, it is important to point out that the research has been concentrated only on a sample of 13-year old girls. Based on this study, feelings of depression and anxiety originated from excessive conversations that dwelled upon depressing topics such as failed relationships or rocky friendships. Although such "excessive conversations" can be achieved in other formats besides online social networking sites (i.e. via the telephone, or even at school), I think that the existence of a message wall and an inbox prevents such topics from really disappearing. Depressing conversations discussed in text are saved and are forever stored within a person's account even after the matter has been resolved. That is, unless you delete every message. Therefore, I can see how conversations about such issues would linger in one's mind since it can be easily viewed even as you update your Facebook profile.

This most recently reminds me of class and how we discussed cultural domains intersecting and constantly changing. In this case we have the "domain" of online social networking intersecting with the domain of health and disease. Since such websites are being frequently visited, it is interesting to see how new issues arise and are linked to various cultural domains. This is actually the first topic concerning a study of health and social networking that I have found, so it makes me wonder if there are any other studies that have been done concerning other virtual worlds as well.