With social networking at an all-time high, the chances are that many of you spend your evenings browsing through your Facebook news feed, or other social networking sites. But would you feel the same about the enjoyment of your social networking activity if you knew that it was damaging your wellbeing and, specifically, your sexual health?
Before Twitter, Facebook and blogs existed, people had a limited knowledge of other people’s lives. Now, every little detail of other people’s lives is on show for the whole world to see. Many people also choose to share a vast amount of information, from what’s going on in their bank accounts to what’s going on in their bedrooms.
All of this information can actually have a detrimental effect on your wellness as you start to feel unsatisfied with the details of your own life, when you compare them against the great lives that everyone else seems to be showing off through Facebook. This can lead to a lot of emotional instability, and can cause problems with our self-confidence, our relationships, our general happiness and even our sex lives.
Ironically, the image that many people project to the world via Facebook is not actually a true reflection of their day-to-day life, but more of an edited highlights reel. They do not tell the whole story behind a situation but merely paint it in the best possible light. For example, someone may choose to share a beautiful first scan photo with all and sundry on Facebook, but may not share the fact that they’ve been sick several times a day for weeks on end. They may share a glamorous promotion, but not the fact that they have a very difficult boss. Some may post images that show their relationship in a very positive light – at a romantic restaurant together, for example – when in fact, behind the scenes, it is not a happy relationship. Nevertheless, people see these babies, promotions and ‘happy’ relationships and compare their own lives unfavourably with what they are seeing on Facebook.