Rhelyn Harder
- The results of the study were very inspiring
- After deactivating their accounts, respondents were having free time about an average of one additional hour a day
- Respondents have limited knowledge and were less able to answer correctly some factual questions about recent news events
Have you imagined a month going by without viewing your Facebook account?
A new study says “Quitting Facebook has an unexpected positive side effect for an individual.” There are plenty of reasons why you have to use Facebook, from your personal concerns to political manipulation.
The study has found a randomized sample of 2,844 users through Facebook display ads. About half of them have been offered $102 in return for deactivating their Facebook profiles for four weeks. It started before the November 2018 midterm elections and ended shortly after.
The control group was not compensated.
The results of the study were very inspiring. The participants that deactivate their account were having a free time of about an average of one additional hour a day. Some of the users used their time to watch more television or spend time with family or friends.
But when they were asked news about politics or the president, they had limited knowledge and were less able to answer correctly some factual questions about recent news events.
In conclusion, the researchers from Stanford University and New York University found that deactivating Facebook helped some users reduce their online activity and increased offline activities including socialization with family and friends that could lead to healthier and happier lives.
