Is using Facebook making you envious?

Do you ever feel like you aren’t yourself after you log onto Facebook? Does the green-eyed monster appear, perhaps, or your inner gremlin start taunting you about not being as busy/popular/happy as your friends?

It’s a feeling many of us have, but researchers are now suggesting we take a second to ask how we actually use the social networking site. In a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, it was found that people who passively browse Facebook feeds – just reading what other people have posted – have more feelings of envy, which leads to reduced wellbeing.

However, by actively participating on the site – via commenting and posting – especially with people we know well, these same feelings do not occur.

We can decide how Facebook makes us feel? Let’s get posting!

Photograph: iStock