Last week while I was out with friends, one started talking about a disgusting but funny bumper sticker she saw. She proceeded to explain it in full detail until another friend spoke up: “Who would ever put that on their car?” he asked, failing to realize she was talking about a virtual bumper sticker. Facebook’s bumper sticker application had altered the definition in her mind. And according to a study done by Ohio State University, that’s not the only aspect of life it has affected.
Researchers recently announced results that found Facebook users spent less time studying and had lower GPAs than students who weren’t logged on.
For their sample subjects they picked 219 Ohio State students; 102 undergraduate and 117 graduate students. According to the study, those people on Facebook reported having GPAs ranging from 3.0 to 3.5 whereas non-users reported GPAs of 3.5 to 4.0.
When asked about how many hours a week they study, the Facebook users averaged one to five hours whereas non-users averaged 11 to 15 hours, the study indicated.
I’ve been on Facebook since the fall of my freshman year. I admit it can be distracting and I would prefer to be scrolling through photo albums than finishing math problems, but I don’t think it could possibly have the affect on grades as this study concludes.
Or so I thought when I began writing.
Then I monitored myself. While I studied for a test, wrote an article, researched for a project and read a textbook, somehow I was mysteriously back on the site. I was writing on a friend’s wall, commenting on spring break pictures and changing my status. Meanwhile, I hadn’t even noticed the amount of time I had wasted or how my homework wasn’t going to do itself.
I had originally planned to write from the angle of refuting the researcher’s claims based on their small sample size. I mean, how could they draw a meaningful conclusion when they only surveyed 219 students? And who knows, maybe these Ohio students don’t have anything better to do than waste time sitting on their computers.
But then it hit me. All of a sudden, Freud’s theory of denial came rushing back into my head. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, one of the definitions for denial is: A psychological defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with a reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality.
So the reality is, I’ve been ignoring the existence of my Facebook problem. I haven’t acknowledged the fact that the site has taken up valuable study time that could have helped me ace a test or be better prepared throughout the quarter. It’s funny that Facebook isn’t on my ‘to-do’ list, yet sometimes it’s one of the only things that gets done.
And I’m not alone. Look at the Kennedy Library’s computer lab, student laptops and iPhones and see how many people are sucked in, glued to the screen. In extreme cases, students are even getting their fix in the classroom appearing to be a good student typing their notes when really they are instant messaging about how much fun last weekend was.
What results might we have if we just spent a little less time on Facebook and a little more time studying? The hours add up quickly and now I’ve begun to regret all the time I’ve spent sending virtual gifts, uploading numerous photo albums and having meaningless chats.
I challenge all of you Facebook users to actually monitor your time on Facebook — it might surprise you.
Jennifer Titcomb is a journalism and graphic communications junior and a Mustang Daily reporter and copy editor.