Phil,
I agree about the social media problems. In my experience, selectively using Facebook for moderated "groups" takes care of that nicely, as far as one's own personal experience. Of course, that doesn't do much for the larger issues…

At any rate, I am enormously glad for this group here! And everybody in it :-)

Shemaya

Shemaya,

Thank you for your interesting piece. I think that all I'm really saying is how many "sites" does one want to participate in? I find the JRA site quite sufficient. It takes enough time to wade through JRA stuff let alone any more! SO of course, each to their own, but I do remember years ago when the junk rig yahoo group was infiltrated by spammers and it drove me bonkers to wit 25 emails every 24 hours for months. Enough said.

Others have commented on the bad effect for the young of seeing "all" the people they know perceivably, the important word, having a "better time" than them. Surely that is just a question of parental  education for life. Of course every one else is having a better time. They always do. They are all also richer, wiser, have better opportunities etc etc so get over it, or get ambitious and work hard and life is bloody unfair. 

 My parents were always saying to us young boys "we can't afford it" but I'll tell you we had the most loving upbringing and wonderful holidays without any luxury. Playing in mud, walking the beach and having my glasses knocked off my head into the sea by the swinging boom of a dinghy the first time I ever went sailing, in the Alde Estuary. I could no longer distinguish between where the sea ended and the shore began, so we went home. No sympathy from dad! What would have happened if he had fallen overboard and I could not see him?..............

I'm afraid I've done it and let my intense frustration intrude into this safe junk rig zone.  I am not critical of any individual's right to free speech, only those state sponsored and funded trolls and bots.  I apologize and will stick to the topics that are the intent of this great site.

I had thought that the pluses and minuses of social media as mixed. For example as a former school counselor I saw increased damage done. While I am not on Facebook many in my family get great pleasure in connecting. That has changed for me when It became clear that social media has become an effective tool for enemies of democracy to spread fear, lies and discord and influence national elelctions.  I don’t have an answer. I am afraid I would love to see these sites disappear but I also certainly can’t criticize anyone who uses social media in fun or helpful ways.  That’s what we do here on a narrow scale.

Tony - I am not sure it counts as peer reviewed research, but I have had this report,  which covers both the positives and negatives for young people, saved for discussion at the school where I work.

One line stuck in my mind when I first read it: "Seeing friends constantly on holiday or enjoying nights out can make young people feel like they are missing out while others enjoy life."

Not for any professional reasons, but as that is how I sometimes feel when I look at boats sailing on social media, when my boat is still in the back yard!  Still, I generally accept that I probably enjoy it almost as much at home, where I can gain great satisfaction from building a new cabinet that works, as I will on the water.  And the vicarious sailing of social media is not without its pleasures.