A group of influential doctors in the US warns about a risk condition they call “Facebook depression,” that may affect troubled teens who obsess over the networking site.
Pediatrician and lead author of new American Academy of Pediatrics social media guidelines, Dr. Gwenn O’Keeffe said the concept of Facebook makes it extra difficult for teenagers dealing with poor self-esteem.
When it comes friend counts, status updates, and photos depicting happy times, Facebook provide a twisted image of what goes on in real life, and may make some children feel left out and feel extremely bad if they think they don’t match up to their peers.
She also added that not being in the ‘in group’ can be more painful than sitting alone in a crowded school lunch room or other real-life encounters that can make children feel down.
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