Researchers at the American Academy of Pediatrics have proposed a new phenomenon called “Facebook depression.”
Facebook Depression is defined as depression that develops when preteens and teens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, such as Facebook, and then begin to exhibit classic symptoms of depression. (Wow, did a PhD to come up with that gem, or was it an MD?)
Adolescents just want to be loved, and be accepted by their peers. Apparently, the intensity of the online world could be a factor that may trigger depression in some adolescents.
On top of that, preadolescents and adolescents who spend so much time alone with the Internet could turn to sites and blogs for “help” that may promote substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, or aggressive or selfdestructive behaviors.
The researchers failed to explain why they did not coin the terms TV Depression or J. D. Salinger Depression for previous generations of preteens and teens who spent a great deal of time on those activities.
Study is from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
