FACEBOOK CAN LEAD TO ‘ADDICTION’

Facebook can lead to 'addiction', especially among the poorly educated - and heavy users feel less happy about their lives

• 70% of users log in as soon as they start their PC
• Can lead to 'addiction' say researchers
• Poorly educated use site the most
• Heavy users feel less happy and content with their lives

Facebook can lead to 'addiction' says a Swedish report into the social network - and people on low incomes and of low educational levels are particularly at risk

Facebook is a habit-forming activity - but users who spend a lot of time on the site say they feel less happy with their lives.

University of Gothenburg researchers say that many users log in as soon as they turn their PCs on - and that the behaviour can develop into an 'addiction'.

People in low income groups and the poorly educated are particularly at risk.

Up to 85% of users say that they use Facebook daily - and half say they start up Facebook as soon as they open their web users.

Half fear that they are not 'on top of things' if they are not logged into the site, and 25% say they fill 'ill at ease' if they can't log in regularly.

The Swedish survey, which polled 1,000 people aged 18-73 showed the network had its dark side.

'Facebooking may become an unconscious habit. A majority of the respondents log in every time they start their web browser. This may even develop into an addiction,' says Leif Denti, doctoral student of Psychology at the University of Gothenburg.

People with low income and low-educated individuals spend more time on Facebook.

Women are generally more active than men on Facebook.

FACEBOOK IN NUMBERS - WHO USES IT, WHY AND FOR HOW LONG

• The average user spends 75 minutes per day on Facebook
• The average user logs on to Facebook 6.1 times per day
• 70% log in every time they start their computer or web reader
• 26% feel ill at ease if they do not get to log in regularly
• Women spend on average 81 minutes per day on Facebook
• Men spend on average 64 minutes per day on Facebook

Users with low income and low education use Facebook more than other groups. Within these groups, users who spend more time on Facebook also report feeling less happy and less content with their lives.

This relationship is also present for women, but not for men.

The other surprise about the network is that although a huge amount of personal 'news' is traded, through the site, it tends to focus purely on the positive.

'Facebook is a social tool that is clearly used to manage relationships with friends and family.

'But users won't write just anything – most of the content they share has something to do with major events, positive events and when feeling good. Only 38 percent write about negative emotions and events,' says Leif Denti.