It just says in the past week. Most folks I know use the internet a little bit each and every day, even if they aren't being social. Banking, playing a single player game (after logging into playstations network, of course), reading news, watching a show or movie.
Yeah, this is what I was thinking as well. The internet absolutely has a positive effect on my life. Finding out which store I need to go to, how to do simple home repairs, how to start a garden, maps, ordering groceries (we've got 4 young children; grocery pickup is a life saver).
And on the other hand, social media is terrible for me. There's just something about doom scrolling that's hard to give up because it's the perfect way to kill dead time.
But if we asked you right after you got in a doom scrolling sadness argument, you'd probably hate it.
Too many of these studies are based on self-reporting; I feel that we need something more to really get correct answers.
I have never used Tiktok, haven't used Facebook since 2014 and Twitter wouldn't be worth using if I was sent a monthly check in the mail.
People just txt me and those that don't have my number, don't have my number for a reason.
Of course, I am missing out on what my cousin's ex wife is having for lunch. This is a feature though and not a bug.
I do think it does more good than harm though especially with people who may otherwise not have many organic opportunities at social interactions.
I was wondering about the overall effect for young folk and women in particular. It seems like the effect is fairly narrow and not what I would expect.
I also wonder if the effects from substantial social media interaction could be teased out.