INTERVIEW - This Wednesday is the 8th World Day
without Facebook. On this occasion, Yannick Chatelain, teacher-researcher and
specialist in new technologies, deciphers the risks involved in excessive use
of the third most visited site in the world.
24 hours without Facebook. This is the challenge
launched this Wednesday to the users of the site. Or a day without
"liking" any content, without automatically browsing his news feed,
without spying on the profile of his friends. As every year since 2010, the
World Day Without Facebook aims to fight against addiction to social networks.
Beyond this symbolic boycott, Yannick Chatelain *, professor and specialist in
new technologies, explains the repercussions that the use of the most famous
social network in the world can have, in particular on our health.
Why a world day without Facebook?
Yannick CHATELAIN. - It is a day dedicated to
raising awareness of the consequences of using this social network. Today we
have a delusional relationship with our phones and social networks. Young
people invented 35 hours a week on smartphones. We are currently in a form of
digital colonization which impacts our daily lives. The Royal Society for
Public Health (RSPH) asked 14-25-year-olds about their use of social networks.
What emerges is that Facebook is the most harmful. You don't have to be a
psychologist to understand that when a young person posts a photo of himself,
he is waiting for likes and compliments and is on constant alert. This can lead
to real psychological distress. An unpleasant comment will obviously have a
negative impact whether you are 20 or 50 years old. The social impact has, by
extension, an impact on health.
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Why is Facebook considered the most harmful social media for 16-24-year-olds?
Facebook is the dinosaur, other social networks are
clones. It is the tool to which generations have been exposed the most and the
earliest. The youth have suffered the plasters, they have suffered all the
misdeeds of Facebook on the front line. What conscience can an 11-year-old child have on the images he publishes, how can he realize that it is a weapon
that can be turned against him? The consequences of behaviour are visible
everywhere and at all times. The other does not exist. In the cinema for
example, instead of talking to your neighbour while waiting for the film to
start, you look at Facebook. In some countries, they have even installed light
strips at crosswalks for people who have their eyes on their phones. We're in
an era of techno-fascination, but we'll end up looking up.
“Today there is a giraffe generation, named after
the least sleeping animal in the world. "
Yannick Chatelain, teacher-researcher and
specialist in new technologies.
What health risks?
The risks are considerable, overuse of Facebook leads
to depression, feelings of loneliness, anxiety, not to mention poor academic
performance, exposure to violence, cyber-bullying or an increase in the number
of victims of intimidation. Excessive use of Facebook also leads to changes in
sleep and diet. Today there is a giraffe generation, named after the least
sleeping animal in the world. Young people sleep less because they are always
waiting for likes or comments on their published content. They are
constantly connected. This has a direct impact on
the ever-dwindling creativity. Nowadays, we no longer know how to be bored. We
take refuge on Facebook at the slightest opportunity.
How to remedy the negative impacts of Facebook?
It was the children who taught their parents how to
use social media. The generation of 14-24-year-olds today is a sacrificed
generation that found itself alone in the face of innovation. In the absence of
safeguards, it has suffered all the damage from Facebook, social networks and
in general, the cell phone. But the current sacrificed generation will be the
one that will be able to teach the children of tomorrow in the more appropriate
use of Facebook. Having been exposed to dangers herself, she will be much more
demanding and vigilant. Everything goes through education. This is how the
limits will be set, the use controlled and the consequences on health reduced.