4 ms·

My initial response was: Duh Then I read this: "“It seems that inflammation not only increases social media use, but our results show preliminary evidence tha

My initial response was: Duh Then I read this: "“It seems that inflammation not only increases social media use, but our results show preliminary evidence that it’s also associated with using social media to specifically interact with other users, like direct messaging and posting to people’s pages. Interestingly, inflammation did not lead people to use social media for other purposes—for example, entertainment purposes like watching funny videos,” This is a really bold claim. What are the odds this is never replicated? I'd love to have a science gambling website, heck, I wonder if those odds could be added to confidence of a study.

haswell 3y ago
I’m not sure that this is so bold or even surprising. I suspect the finding is because people are seeking actual social connection, not just diversion. The body knows what’s going on even if we’re not consciously aware of it, and a response like: “seek out other humans” when the body is inflamed makes sense from an evolutionary perspective in a social species. Obviously this needs further study, but it makes some kind of logical sense at least.
- RugnirViking 3y ago
  that doesn't really tie in with my experience at least. Most people I know when hurting retreat into themselves. It's much more common to find someone sitting at home eating ice cream or whatever when under significant stress than at a bar
OJFord 3y ago
My reaction's still 'duh' to be honest - you wouldn't necessarily want to do much more of things like watching videos than you were doing already, but the social interaction is replacing something. At least assuming it's serious enough that you're stuck at home recovering - I'm realising as I write that my reading of it was quite biased by the image. Otherwise I would not think on reading 'inflammation' that it was particularly serious. If they studied people with slightly swollen ankle or whatever, but walking about, at work, etc. and found a significant increase in their interest in socialising (social media just being the most easily measured form) that is pretty interesting.
akira2501 3y ago
Most of the study participants were fellow students who participated in the study for additional credit. That really makes me wonder what amount of selection bias ended up encoded into the data.

haswell 3y ago

I’m not sure that this is so bold or even surprising. I suspect the finding is because people are seeking actual social connection, not just diversion. The body knows what’s going on even if we’re not consciously aware of it, and a response like: “seek out other humans” when the body is inflamed makes sense from an evolutionary perspective in a social species. Obviously this needs further study, but it makes some kind of logical sense at least.

RugnirViking 3y ago
that doesn't really tie in with my experience at least. Most people I know when hurting retreat into themselves. It's much more common to find someone sitting at home eating ice cream or whatever when under significant stress than at a bar

OJFord 3y ago

My reaction's still 'duh' to be honest - you wouldn't necessarily want to do much more of things like watching videos than you were doing already, but the social interaction is replacing something. At least assuming it's serious enough that you're stuck at home recovering - I'm realising as I write that my reading of it was quite biased by the image. Otherwise I would not think on reading 'inflammation' that it was particularly serious. If they studied people with slightly swollen ankle or whatever, but walking about, at work, etc. and found a significant increase in their interest in socialising (social media just being the most easily measured form) that is pretty interesting.

akira2501 3y ago

Most of the study participants were fellow students who participated in the study for additional credit. That really makes me wonder what amount of selection bias ended up encoded into the data.