Just in case etemophobia is not enough of a hassle in daily life, you can add to your fears every time you add a friend to your Facebook account.
A study from the University of Edinburgh Business School says the more friends you have on Facebook, the more chances you have of offending one of them, especially if you pal up with family and colleagues.
This is important to keep in mind as the study showed 55 percent of parents follow their kids on Facebook and more than 50 percent of employers said someone’s Facebook page played a part in the decision not to hire that particular person.
Study author and Business School student noted how Facebook has shifted as older users have hopped on board.
Facebook used to be like a great party for all your friends where you can dance, drink and flirt. But now with your Mum, Dad and boss there the party becomes an anxious event full of potential social landmines.
Even if you keep parents out of the loop, the average Facebook user belongs to several circles that are linked to family, and family members often tend to talk about what they’ve seen. Coworkers can also talk to bosses, which means keeping colleagues out your mix would be another consideration. Based on the breakdown of the average user’s connections, that would not leave you with all too many friends.
The average breakdown typically involves seven distinct social circles:
- 97 percent: friends known offline
- 81 percent: extended family
- 80 percent: siblings
- 69 percent: friends of friends
- 65 percent: colleagues
Other options for decreasing Facebook stress may be to use the privacy settings that allow you to filter information or perhaps not posting anything that could potentially offend. The latter, however, may be asking a lot as offensive material is often quite subjective.
More details at Science Daily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126131218.htm
