Ten years ago,
when Facebook
hit college campuses around the country, it looked a helluva lot
different than it does today. For one, it lived at TheFacebook.com—and
you could do little more than look up your fellow students. Now? With
more than 1 billion active users, 6 billion daily likes, 350 million
photos updated per day, Facebook is celebrating its first double digit
birthday: the big 1-0.
And there could be more to celebrate than just a birthday: Since
Facebook’s birth, researchers have found that logging on can actually be
good for your health—especially for guys. “In general, men don’t have
as close friendships as women do and often find it easier to express
themselves or even ask for help online than in person,” says Eva
Buechel, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Miami who studies
motivations for posting content online. Even anticipating a response to a
post can improve your mood regardless of the reactions you actually
receive, she adds.
So in honor of its 10th birthday, here are 10 ways to use the social network to your advantage.
1. Boost your confidence in minutes. According to a
Cornell University study, spending just 3 minutes on Facebook can make
you feel better about yourself, possibly because you’re able to choose
the information you put out there. Bonus: Editing your own profile
during a Facebook break yields the biggest confidence boost, researchers
say.
2. Chill out by perusing posts. Students experienced
a decrease in heart rate and lower levels of stress and tension when
using the social network, report researchers from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
3. Dream up vacation ideas. German researchers found
that many users report feeling envious while visiting Facebook.
Specifically, drooling over others’ vacation photos triggers more than
half of jealousy-inducing incidents. But research shows taking a
vacation reduces stress, increases satisfaction, and could even help you
live longer. Turn your resentment into inspiration and book that beach
getaway—then make others jealous with photos of your toes in the sand.
4. Show off! Nearly two thirds of men report putting
their art, music, writing, and photography online compared to just 50
percent of women, Northwestern University researchers found.
5. Drop pounds. Participants following a weight loss
program shed more weight—4.5 pounds, on average—when they joined a
Facebook group than those who followed the program without the social
media component. Sharing your goals and progress can help you feel
accountable and motivated.
6. Fight pain. People report lower levels of pain
while viewing photos of a loved one, say UCLA researchers. Got a
dentist’s appointment scheduled? Cue up your girlfriend’s profile.
7. Boost productivity. In a study at the University
of Melbourne, workers given a 10-minute break to read Facebook were 16
percent more productive than a group that wasn’t allowed to use the
Internet during the rest, and 40 percent more productive than people who
didn’t receive a break at all.
8. Smarten up. A University of Arizona study found
that older adults who used Facebook experienced a 25 percent improvement
in their working memory, possibly because it requires you to process so
much information—photos, status updates, and comments—at once. It’s a
mini mental workout.
9. Land a date. Men feel more confident saying
things online they may not say in person, Buechel says. In other words,
logging on can give you the guts to message a girl you’re attracted to,
but are afraid to make the first move with face-to-face.
10. Stay informed. Thirty-one percent of men and
women say keeping up with the news is the major reason they log on to
Facebook, according to Pew Research Center survey findings.
