Institute For The Future

Social networking sites may be bad for your health

This story, from CBS News, addresses a topic in which I have a particular interest: the role of social networking and health.  But in a way that is reminiscent of what you sometimes find when looking for a story about mobile phones and health, this piece is a cautionary tale about how social networking sites may be bad for your health. 

A British scientist (the Brits are often the ones most concerned about how cell phones will cause cancer) recently caused a stir when she speculated in a House of Lords debate that the amount of time young people spend on sites like Facebook and bebo may have an adverse effect on their health.  Acknowledging that her comments were based on speculation rather than science, Professor Susan Greenfield said, "'Perhaps given the brain is so impressionable, that screen life is mandating that more infantilized lifestyle. Now this is based on a little bit of neuroscience, observations, a bit of clinical evidence, there is no one single or conclusive killer fact.'" Oy. If I am not mistaken, with the introduction of every new technology, from the radio to the television to the computer, someone has always come along to voice concern about our brains rotting as a result of exposure (and I don't mean the radioactive kind) to the medium.

Of course, we ought to consider what long-term effects may result from missing out on whatever online time is replacing.  For example, hours spent on the computer means that kids aren't outside running around and getting exercise, which in turn has lead to a rise in childhood obesity.  Gary Small, professor of Psychology at UCLA, also poses the question: are young people "learning to talk to each other face to face?"  But, again, Dr. Small points out that, "No study has ever found that extensive use of Internet social networks permanently damages the brain."