emotions

Facebook Study That Manipulated Users: Why You Should Be Concerned

June 29, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 3 Comments

Facebook research study manipulates emotions

When you signed up for Facebook, you probably didn’t think that one of the things you agreed to was to let the company do psychological tests on you, but that’s what Facebook claims you did. They contend one of the things you agreed to, as part of the terms of agreement, was their data use policy which says Facebook can run experiments with your account. On the surface, this doesn’t seem like such a big deal, but it certainly became a lot bigger deal with the recent release of a study where Facebook concluded it has the power to change your emotions by what it places in your newsfeed.

In January 2012, Facebook ran an experiment on nearly 700,000 (689,003) of its English-speaking users with the sole purpose of seeing whether or not they could manipulate how those people felt and acted online simply by manipulating what information they saw in their daily newsfeed. In doing so, Facebook came to the conclusion that it does have the power to make you feel better or worse during the day by the news it feeds you.

The experiment was set up in such a way to study the effects of what would happen if users received exposure to primarily positive posts or negative posts in their newsfeed. Facebook did not alter any of the user’s posts which they put out, but what they did do was change what the users saw when they looked at their newsfeed. The newsfeed is controlled by Facebook through an algorithm, so what shows up isn’t everything that all your friends post, but what Facebook decides would be of most interest. For this experiment, they changed the algorithm in such a way as to favor certain types of posts over others to see if this could manipulate your emotions.

The users were split into two groups, with the first group receiving a newsfeed that had primarily positive posts. The second group had a newsfeed that was primarily negative content. The study found that the users were influenced depending on the type of emotion which they were reading in their newsfeed. That is, those who have a newsfeed that was primarily positive appeared to become more positive themselves, and shared that positiveness in their own posts. The same effect occurred with those with negative posts in their newsfeed. They appeared to become more negative, and this negativity reflected in what they posted on Facebook.

The fact that Facebook is able to manipulate your emotions should be a concern for anyone who is on Facebook (or that Facebook did this psychological experiment to in the first place). It’s reasonable to assume Facebook will use this information to help it make more money. As the saying goes, “If you’re not paying for something, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold.” It doesn’t take a leap of faith to understand Facebook could begin tailoring your newsfeed in ways to encourage you to buy certain products and services from advertisers, making both the advertisers and Facebook a lot of money.

Even for those who don’t buy anything from Facebook, this should still be of concern. When you go to your newsfeed each morning, Facebook could be subtlety determining how you are going to feel that day simply by deciding what friend’s posts you’re going to read. Even if you don’t buy, you’ll still be manipulated to see only the type of posts Facebook wants you to see.

Some will argue that this isn’t a big deal because advertisers are doing this on a daily basis in all aspects of our lives. Everyone does it, so why should Facebook doing it be of any more concern? The difference is that most advertisers aren’t using your friends, and what side of your friend’s you see, to do the manipulating.

My guess is that many people using Facebook already expect their behavior is being studied, but most probably weren’t expecting Facebook to actively manipulate what they see in their newsfeed to gauge how they react, and to see if their emotions can be changed in subtle ways. That’s psychological experimentation, something that usually needs to be run by an ethics board before it can be conducted.

(Photo courtesy of Marco Pakoeningrat)

Facebook Can Manipulate Your Emotions Says Secret Experiment on 700,000 Users

June 28, 2014 By Jeffrey Strain 11 Comments

Study: Facebook can manipulate users emotions from happy to sad through newsfeed

You may not have realized it, but as part of the terms and conditions you agree to when using Facebook, you allow the company to treat you like a rat in experiments they want to conduct. Yes, you read that correctly. Facebook can conduct experiments on you anytime they want, and they have been doing it.

One of those experiments took place in January, 2012. Facebook ran an experiment on 689,003 users of the English version of Facebook where their Facebook newsfeeds were unwittingly manipulated to show certain types of posts. In doing this experiment, Facebook discovered they have the power to influence your emotions in a way that can make you happy or sad, depending on what they decide to show you.

During the week-long experiment, Facebook studied what effect positive posts versus negative posts had on those reading their newsfeed, according to a study recently published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) journal.

The experiment was designed in such a way as to determine whether or not exposure to a certain type of emotion would lead to a person changing their own posting behaviors. During the experiment, users’ actual posts were not altered, and they could be viewed by others as normal. What Facebook did, however, was change what users saw in their own newsfeed. Since the newsfeed is controlled by a Facebook algorithm, it’s Facebook which decides what actually shows up in it. They took control of the newsfeed to show certain types of posts to certain users to see what effect this had on them.

The study split the groups into two. The first group received a newsfeed full of positive posts, while the other group received a newsfeed full of more negative content. The findings of the experiment indicate that emotion, whether that emotion be positive or negative, seems to be adopted by those who see it. That is, those who were given the newsfeeds with positive content appeared to take on that positiveness, and post less negative information in their own posts. For those who had the negative newsfeeds, they took on that quality as well, and became more negative in what they posted on Facebook.

In other words, Facebook has the power to make you happier or sadder simply by deciding what to show you in your newsfeed. Why is this important? If they know they can manipulate your emotions, it’s reasonable to assume they can, and will, use this manipulation to put you in a better state of mind to purchase goods from their advertisers. By tweaking their algorithm in certain ways, they can predispose users to buy certain products and services by manipulating them into an emotional state, which would then better sell that product or service.

This experimenting shows that although Facebook is a “free service” to use, actually using the service comes with a cost. As the saying goes, “If you’re not paying for something, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold.” This latest experiment shows exactly how Facebook plans to sell you, as the product, to their advertisers.

(Photo courtesy of Dimitris Kalogeropoylos)

15 Ways to Deal With Emotions Without Retail Therapy

May 10, 2013 By Jennifer Derrick 4 Comments

“I’m so messed up. I’m going out for a little retail therapy. Wanna come?” So began a recent conversation with my neighbor. I’ll admit that she’s got every reason to be upset: Her kids are in trouble, there are financial problems in her house, her job is a mess, and her relatives are the sort of people that give “family” a bad name. Add to that she just had two deaths in the family. That’s a lot of emotional baggage to be carrying around and I feel for her.

Her answer to all of this was to go for a little retail therapy. I declined her invitation. Sure, I could be supportive, but I’d rather listen to her talk about it on a walk than watch her blow money she doesn’t have (remember there are financial problems, here). I did see her unloading her car when she got home and it didn’t look like she’d done a “little” retail therapy. She’d done a lot of retail therapy. Bags from stores that I know are in two different malls came out of the car, along with a couple from some free-standing stores. I didn’t say anything, but I’m thinking that she’s got to find a better way to deal with all of her emotions, especially since part of the problem is already financial.

Last year another woman that I know lost her husband. If there was ever an excuse for going off the emotional rails, that was it. But she handled it with grace and no shopping. She could have gone on a shopping binge as she was well provided for financially, but she chose to find other ways to deal with her grief. There are plenty of alternatives to retail therapy that will be better for both you and your wallet in the long run. They aren’t as easy as heading to the local mall, but there are more rewarding. Here are some ideas.

Low cost counseling

If your problems aren’t severe or physical in nature, you might be able to get some help via non-traditional therapy sources such as church groups, helplines, and support groups.

Journaling

Writing about your problems can be a great way to see them in a new light and come up with solutions. If it’s not the sort of problem that can be “solved,” journaling can still be a great way for you to vent some emotions in a safe and nonjudgmental atmosphere.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a positive thing to do. It can make you feel better about yourself and others, and it gives you a chance to be out amongst other positive people. The work can be distracting, too. Pick a cause that’s meaningful to you and spend some time helping.

Exercise

It’s well known that exercise reduces stress and releases feel-good endorphins into your bloodstream. You don’t have to overdo it, either. A simple walk will do, but if you’ve got some rage to work off, you can look into things like boxing or martial arts.

Get out in nature

Sunshine is a great mood lifter. For many people, the natural world can be soothing. Go for a walk in your local park or even take a walk in your neighborhood. If you live close to a place like a lake, the beach, or the mountains, those can be wonderful, too. Take up gardening if you want some solid outdoor exercise. Get out of the artificially lit gym and go outside. (Wear sunscreen to protect yourself, though.)

Distract yourself

Some people deal with emotions best when they don’t think about what’s bothering them. That’s sort of the idea behind retail therapy. But there are plenty of free and low cost distractions to be had. Rent some DVD’s or watch some old favorites you already own. Work a jigsaw puzzle, play a board game (there are even solo games available if you don’t have company to play with), go to a museum or free concert, work on some hobbies or crafts, or take a class in something that interests you.

Work

Being a workaholic may not be ideal, but there are some people who find work to be a great emotional outlet and distraction. If this is you, have at it. Just be careful not to cross the line from “Hey, this is helpful,” over into, “All I ever do is work and I hate it.”

Just be

Sometimes you just have to simply “be” to deal with whatever’s bothering you. Sit quietly, think through the problem, meditate, or pray. If you can find a way to go on an inexpensive retreat for a few days, that might be helpful.

Listen to music

Many people find that music can help soothe their emotions. Sometimes you may want some metal screaming through your head and other days you may want some soothing classical or New Age melodies. When you need a lift, bubble-gum pop or music that you remember positively from your younger days may work.

Be with people

Some people deal with emotions best when they are surrounded by friends or family. Sympathetic listeners or fun people can be helpful.

Be alone

Other people do best when left alone. If you don’t want to be around people, don’t feel like you have to accept any invitations, no matter how well-meaning. You can simply say, “No thanks. I’d rather be alone right now.” Only the most insensitive jerks will be offended by that.

Find comfort in rituals

Sometimes, during periods of stress or grief, it’s tempting to skip things like birthday/anniversary celebrations and holidays. But this may be a mistake. There can be comfort and relief in observing traditions, even if they seem painful at first (think putting up a Christmas tree after the death of a loved one). It can be hard to get started, but many people find they’re glad they went ahead with it in the end.

Read

You can read fiction to “take you away from it all,” or you can read non-fiction that’s uplifting or somehow related to your problems. The self-help aisle at the library can be full of quackery, but there are also some gems in there that might be helpful.

Don’t make it worse

Whatever you’re going through is bad enough. You don’t need to compound the problem by watching sensationalist news stories designed to scare you to death. You don’t need to participate in conversations with people whose sole mission in life seems to be to work you up into a frenzy or to depress you further. (You know the people I’m talking about. They’re the ones who say they want to help you, but they really want you to dish the dirt or wallow in misery with them.) Surround yourself with positive people and messages and eliminate the negatives.

Get a checkup

If your problems persist, go get a physical. Sometimes what seem like emotional issues are really physical issues like vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disorders, food allergies/intolerances, or hormone imbalances. Many problems are easy to fix with medication or dietary/lifestyle changes, once you know what’s going on. But you have to figure it out, first, and a doctor can help.

Of course, if you need more help than this, by all means go to see a licensed professional and get medication if the doctor thinks you need it. Sometimes emotional issues are a medical problem in the brain and all the exercise, journaling, and distractions in the world won’t fix it. But even if you end up having to see a doctor, that’s a far better use of your money than heading to the mall to buy a bunch of crap you don’t need.

(Photo courtesy of Dragonleek)

10 Things That Don’t Seem To Be About Money, But Really Are

August 9, 2012 By Danielle Warchol 4 Comments

Many people fail to realize that almost all aspects of our lives are intricately weaved together with our finances, but it’s crucially important to understand that even things that don’t initially seem to have anything to do with finances or money management can have a great impact on these areas. By understanding that almost every decision that we make has financial consequences, you place yourself in a position to save money where you once wasted it without even realizing it. Here are a few of those areas that may not seem to have anything to do with money, but upon deeper reflection actually have a large impact in this area:

Stress

Almost everyone has been stressed out about something during their lives. Some of us deal with more stress on a daily basis than others. While stress can be caused by a variety of things, it’s often caused due to concerns about money. After all, which of us haven’t been stressed about our lack of savings, paying bills, or saving for retirement? Money is always a constant concern and it’s no wonder that stress is usually about money – even when it appears that the reason behind stress is something completely different.

Time

The saying “time is money” is definitely true. Time is a valuable thing and wasted time means wasted money. What this boils down to is people who squander opportunities to earn money – or spend less – in favor of being unproductive. How many of us could do an extra job for an extra paycheck but choose not to because we would rather hang out or sit in front of the TV? So, really, Benjamin Franklin was right when he said that “time is money”.

Relationship Breakups

More people than ever before state that the biggest reason their relationships fail is because of money. If one or both people in a relationship are barely breaking even, money is going to be an issue. It might not seem like it at first, but when you get down to the root of the problem or the arguments, you can bet that it’s going to be about money.

Health Problems

Just as money is often a factor behind stress, it’s also a factor behind poor health. Of course, money isn’t going to give you a disease, but constantly worrying about money will take its toll on your mental and physical wellbeing. If you’re worn down by your financial troubles, then you’re going to be more prone to getting sick.

Diet

Obviously, your diet is influenced by your financial status. Of course, on the surface level you’re going to worry about paying for groceries or your ability to go out to a restaurant is determined by how much money you have in the bank. But on a deeper level, your choice of food may be subconsciously influenced by money. For example, you might choose a generic brand over a well-known one because it’s cheaper. You might automatically skip organic produce because you don’t want to pay more money for it.

Education

Unfortunately, education has become about money. Sometimes it’s about sending a child to a public or private middle or high school. Sometimes it’s about whether or not someone can afford to go to a specific college. Additionally, instead of education being about obtaining knowledge and expanding one’s mind and skills, it’s become about obtaining a degree in order to obtain a job with a higher paycheck.

Habits

Most habits stem from someone’s financial status or awareness of money. This can range from having expensive clothing tastes to eating out every night to spending money twice a day for coffee. Or it could be obsessing about your budget and minimizing the amount of money you spend. It can even be something as simple as having the bad habit of leaving the light on after you leave a room, which makes your electric bill more expensive.

Emotions

Emotions are often tied to money. You’re happy when you’re not worrying about money and pleased when you can spend money without concern. But you’re angry when you don’t have any money and stressed when you’re in debt. Our emotions are tied to our financial stability. Even when money isn’t the first thing on our mind, it still affects our mood.

Entertainment

How you entertain yourself is definitely about money. Whether it’s going out to the movies, watching a sports game with friends, or staying home reading or watching TV, money is definitely involved. Your entertainment options are definitely affected by your budget and sometimes certain options aren’t feasible because you don’t have the money to spend. Even the decision to buy a DVD to watch repeatedly instead of paying for a movie channel on TV or Netflix is a decision that’s based on money and convenience.

Sleep

Naturally, sleep can be drastically tied to money. As with our emotions, health, and stress issues, the state of our finances can affect how we sleep at night. Are you worried about being able to pay your rent? You’re probably going to toss and turn all night. On the other hand, if you just got a promotion and a raise, you’re probably going to sleep wonderfully. Like most things, the more reassured you are, the better you feel. So, the next time you’re having a bad night’s sleep and are also having financial issues, you’ll know why you can’t get that rest you deserve!

(Photo courtesy of stevendepolo)