Discovered: Powerful way to feel more connected
Next time you’re browsing social media, take a minute to chat with a friend online or comment on one of their posts. Researchers in the Journal of Happiness had participants complete surveys about their social media use for 10 days and found that active engagement like this helped users feel less lonely and envious than when they passively looked at others’ feeds. The researchers say social contact can improve well-being to help counter negative feelings of comparison that sites like Facebook and Instagram tend to foster.