Week 2 Discussion

photo: www.artemishospitals.com

2. Is there an ideal number of “friends” or connections individuals have on Facebook that can improve their mental health?

        I don't believe there is an ideal of number of "friends" or connections on Facebook that can improve an individuals mental health. If mental health was contingent on the number of "friends" or connections on Facebook then I am certain that number would greatly vary based on the individual and the type of content they consume on Facebook. 

4. Do social networking sites have any responsibility in promoting mental health in their users? If so, how might they go about doing so?

    I don't believe social media sites have any obligation in promoting mental health to their users. First, they would have to define what is considered good mental health and then they would have to decide how to deliver that. By definition, social media is user driven content. Algorithms are created to continue showing you the content like the ones you previously interacted with. Whether or not you actually like that content and it's good for your mental health is certainly a good question to consider. Also, if a social networking site did decide it was their responsibility to promote mental health, that would imply that there is some harm occurring to an individuals mental health that uses their site. That perception could be damaging to the company.

    If a social networking site decided to promote mental health in their users then they may decide to build algorithms that identify negative content and try to push positive content after a user has viewed negative content, for balance. Though the nuances with this would be challenging. They could also suggest a user take a break from using the site if certain behaviors are observed with the content they view, share, and interact with. Though these sites make their money from advertising and trying to place advertisements in front of as many viewers as they can, limiting user interaction would be damaging. Bottom line is that social networking sites are only interested in making money, anything that doesn't serve that purpose won't be taken seriously.



Here is a link to a website that contains 7 Ways To Protect Your Mental Health When You Use Social Media


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