Study finds shooting and sharing one photo per day improves wellbeing

This study was based on an N=8. There's virtually no way any conclusions or inferences from it can be considered statistically valid in any form whatsoever, even if alpha was "relaxed" to 0.10 or 0.15. Before you guys consider publishing something like this again, check with someone who has a basic understanding of statistics.

4 months ago*permalink

brycesteiner

You would think the people sharing their endless stream of pictures of their cats and kids would be happier then. People seem more angry/upset and general unhappy with anything and everything on FB.

4 months agopermalink

Vanitas Photo

Pretty weird, I find myself feeling better the farther away I am from social media for personal stuff.

4 months agopermalink

Docno

An interview-based study using 8 self-selected participants who already bought into the authors’ hypothesis ... well that’s going to tell you what you want to know. The participants’ use of terms such as “self care” and being “mindful” show that they were not a ‘naive’ sample. While there was some attempt to ensure observer reliability, there is no indication that the observers were blind to the hypotheses. No control group. Very small sample size. I could go on. I wouldn’t give this study much credence.

4 months agopermalink

McArchive

Maybe DPR can hire a Study Master and do their own happy quotient test perhaps later a study on who's more normal 43, 50, or 55mm owners.

4 months agopermalink

@Docno: Exactly right. Not only does this "study" (if you could call it that...) have virtually no statistical power, its crippled by ascertainment bias.

Thank goodness PNAS doesn't publish dreck like this...

4 months agopermalink

David Bo

And when you get followers then it's suddenly a stress because you have to post new photos all the time.

This is only seen from one side.

4 months agopermalink

Olifaunt

And if you get followers you really admire, like the ones who post nothing but one masterpiece every month, even more stress because you start worrying about whether your photos are really worth showing (the answer being mostly not, which is then depressing). But I do learn a LOT from participating on Flickr, so it is overall positive for my photography, if not entirely for my mental health ;)

4 months ago*permalink

John Jennings

This tracks with well established behavioral science theory.

4 months agopermalink

Based on sample size of 8? Have any idea how large the confidence intervals are with a sample size that small? They are so large that one cannot drawe any statistically valid inferences whastoever.

4 months ago*permalink

John Jennings

Please read the general behavioral science literature before making reckless generalizations. This phenomenon has been well documented and scientifically observed. Thank you.

4 months agopermalink

I don't need to read the background literature to know that a sample size of 8 is way too small to draw any statistically valid inferences, and that's not a reckless generalization, it's basic inferential statistics and the foundation of good science.

4 months agopermalink

John Jennings

But that doesn’t change the fact that it tracks with established science. Sorry, but it does! Lol

4 months agopermalink

Nukunukoo

I'm okay with the sharing bit, but why would I shoot anyone? ;-)

4 months agopermalink

Wye Photography

americans shoot people on an alarmingly frequent basis. I suppose it makes them feel better.

4 months agopermalink

paul simon king

Study finds talking and sharing with one person per day improves wellbeing

4 months agopermalink

yslee1

That can't be true, judging from the grumpy people that populate the comments section.

4 months agopermalink

john Clinch

I agree and disagree at the same time. My Instagram feed is full if wonderful shots often taken on phones. There are people on here who regularly share pictures. But there are people on here with multiple cameras ans lenses agonising over shot noise and corner softness who have no photos visible yo me online. They are the grumps

4 months agopermalink

CaPi

When I have the time I like to shoot all day - and I am happy if there is one special photo I get out of it.
I wonder if that's what they meant ;)

4 months agopermalink

Mister J

Or... stroke the cat, pat the dog, ride a bike, have a drink, say hello to another human...

4 months agopermalink

dialstatic

The only camera I have with me everyday is my iPhone. So I guess the old adage “an Apple a day keeps the doctor away” holds up.

4 months agopermalink

mais51

Sure do

4 months agopermalink

DenImage

Well that explains my poor health 😉
Den

4 months agopermalink

Tape5

Was it a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study?

4 months agopermalink

zakk9

I know people who post 20 photos (selfies) a day. They must feel very, very well...

4 months agopermalink

CaPi

Overdose! ;)

4 months agopermalink

iShootWideOpen

Study must have been funded by Zuckerberg.

4 months agopermalink

HaoAndHui

One photo a day, doctors run away.

It would be better if the photos are printed out rather than stored digitally.

4 months agopermalink

Enginel

Would be better? Do you have a study to confirm this? Preferably a randomized placebo-controlled one xD

4 months agopermalink

HaoAndHui

I don't know if there's study directly for my theory, but I have a feeling that:

1. Electricity usage when viewing digital photos should be > viewing printed photos
2. Some people still like printed photos - which is supported by Instax
3. If I just want to see some photos taken in the past, it's easier for me to see paper photos rather than power on my computer just for this purpose - I do have photos on my phone but it's not the same visual experience
4. Storing photos on hard drive feels less secure to me - I'm not young and I *feel* reliable when seeing paper photos - without worrying losing data and the need of backing up

4 months agopermalink

HaoAndHui

I hit the character limit, so here continues:

However, I'm also not sure:
1. The cost of printing photos, especially the environmental impact of inks - could it be worse than just viewing digital photos?
2. As I accumulate photos, it would become extra stuff I need to carry when moving house
3. The photos I printed at OfficeWorks - 10 cents per photo, looks worse than they are displayed on computer monitor, I know there are better printing services but they cost more, which makes photography expensive to me, if I'm willing to pay this, I'd rather go with film photography.

As a result, life isn't easy either way.

4 months agopermalink

skanter

I’ve been using social media way before the internet was invented (Compuserve forums) to discuss creative activities with fellow musicians, photographers, filmmakers, etc. It has been a positive force in my life, I’ve made friends with people all over the world, and many who have become face-to-face, real- life friends. One of them is coming over tomorrow for bunch for a sharing of prints and photography talk. I post and share my presesnt work on several forums of all different types.

That said, there are some who are addicted to SM and likes, and for whom the affect is a negative one. The study, unfortunately, seems too small a sample and totally worthless. I can see why DPR posted it as “news”!

4 months ago*permalink

thenoilif

It’s at least better than taking them, spending hours over-examining every detail, and then storing them away to never been seen by another pair of eyes ever again.

4 months agopermalink

CaPi

;') be nice!

4 months agopermalink

SteveAnderson

I disagree. If I enjoy a photo I took, I am happy. No need to share it.

4 months agopermalink

jjz2

Yeah photography for me is more capturing my own memories for review later or creating something cool, not necessarily to share it. I might send a text of one to somebody like my wife or good friend, but posting them publicly seems weird. If it's really good, I'll print it.

I think some people's brains are setup with more dopamine feedback on getting a lot of likes, comments and praise. Where as others, we might register a little, who doesn't, but it isn't a big enough driver to make the effort. These people are likely more extroverted.

2 months ago*permalink

PKJC

Creating in the form of photography and sharing your work with the world does give one a feeling of purpose and accomplishment so this finding makes complete sense to me. For me the entire process of developing the idea of the shot, taking the photo, editing the photo and then sharing and seeing how others react is a rewarding experience and one which helps me grow my own skills. And there's always that drive to get an even better shot the next time that keeps you engaged in the hobby. It really is like a drug without all the nasty side-effects (except the empty wallet :) )

4 months agopermalink

Wonder if it works to take a bunch of pictures at one time and then post one of those each day.

I think it is fun to review images from some event.. work on one and then post that one image. Later, work on and post another, etc.

I don't post to f'book or i'gram or similar... I have a little web page and I post pictures there. This pleases me. Sometimes the images are viewed and I wonder who from where found the picture. The mystery also pleases me. I check each day :^)

One of my most viewed images is of a particularly interesting public restroom. I enjoy puzzling over why this image is viewed so often.......

4 months ago*permalink

jackspra

I’ll start sending a photo to myself everyday and see how it works out.

4 months agopermalink

Should double the benefit.

In addition to reaping the benefits as submitter, you get the bonus feel-good of kindly commenting on the shared photo and this makes it all worthwhile :^)

4 months agopermalink

Fly18

Study funded by:
Facebook and Instagram!

4 months ago*permalink

DaveE1

That's the fun with studies. This one shows that shooting and sharing one a day is good.

The previous studies showed that sharing your photos regularly leads to an addiction to "likes" and feelings of rejection from negative comments.

4 months agopermalink

Plob

Do not agree....

4 months agopermalink

zacharry

As someone who has survived suicide, I can hugely vouch for the benefits photography has brought to my life. Being told that I would benefit from sharing it online and that I should do it every day does not do anything for me. The joy I get from photography is going out and about. It is in the joy of taking the shot as much as it is in looking at the end result. It brings constant joy to my life now and all without sharing it online and needing positive comments or likes. I enjoy looking at my own images to give me a reminder of where I was on a particular day maybe doing something as simple as sitting on a log in the forest and seeing what wildlife comes by. If someone asks me to see any of my photos, I am happy to share the experience in person and enjoy the interaction and the company.

4 months agopermalink

You have a truly complex process for your sharing.. involves real people and everything. Most amazingly, you must both occupy nearly the same point in space at the same time.. you will be near each other. Wonder what the study people would make of that :^)

I also like the process of taking pictures.
When it was film, I rarely developed them.
I liked taking pictures :^)

Now, I get to enjoy taking pictures, developing (like that process, too) them, and sometimes showing them to real people. Real people viewing or not, I like my pictures.

4 months agopermalink

Wye Photography

"Study finds shooting and sharing one photo per day improves wellbeing"...

... But reduces everybody else's

4 months agopermalink

Sirandar

Another misleading pseudo science study....

First the headline should be ....."If you are already invested in social media... then there is some correlation between general well-being and posting a pic a day on social media.....

BUT having something interesting to post about every day means you probably have an interesting rich life. These people will have more wellbeing regardless of whether they post a picture or NOT.

The study is hopelessly biased by only recruiting on social media and by autocorrelation of and interesting life and wellbeing.....

The article leads the reader to believe that if they invest in social media AND post about their life once a day this will lead them to greater wellbeing....

It is asking people to fly with fake paper wings .... It is also bad science.....

4 months agopermalink

(unknown member)

I bet you didn't read the study

4 months agopermalink

CIASpook

You also open yourself up to bullies. People who love nothing more than to trash your photo.

"You're garbage!! Trash your camera and go kill yourself!!"

That isn't good for anyone's well being.

4 months agopermalink

Sirandar

Another misleading pseudo science study....

First the headline should be ....."If you are already invested in social media... then there is some correlation between general well-being and posting a pic a day on social media.....

BUT having something interesting to post about every day means you probably have an interesting rich life. These people will have more wellbeing regardless of whether they post a picture or NOT.

The study is hopelessly biased by only recruiting on social media and by autocorrelation of and interesting life and wellbeing.....

The article leads the reader to believe that if they invest in social media AND post about their life once a day this will lead them to greater wellbeing....

It is asking people to fly with fake paper wings .... It is addressed science.....

4 months agopermalink

ialarmedalien

I think your other comment was better.

4 months agopermalink

RED i

Oh who would have thought that being addicted to getting likes on social media sites would improve a person well being when they posted something once a day to get a reaction. I'm sure an addict doing a rail of coke once a day will feel pretty good for an hour or two.

They should have tested how miserable people become when no one reacts to the photos they posted.

4 months agopermalink

Steve in GA

I do a version of this, with a twist.

Everyday I check my photo library on Google to see which of my thousands of photos, including scanned prints from pre-digital days, were taken on this date. And, there is usually one (at least) that I feel would be of interest to my two daughters and my adult grandchildren.

I then text the photo to the four of them, along with a note of when the photo was taken. Everyone enjoys this, me included. It helps all of remember good times.

So, how do I know they aren't just being polite about the photos, to humor the old man? Well, when I miss a day and don't send them a photo, they complain.

4 months agopermalink

Spiraea

That's awesome, once I'm old and with thousands of photos I should do that too :)

4 months agopermalink

Steve in GA

@Spiraea

Uh, thanks, I think.

4 months agopermalink

mais51

Well, I have more than 20,000 photos in my various online accounts if I just post 1 a day it would take me more than 50 years - grant some of them are possibly rubbish or near duplicate so if I half it it is still more than 25 years😀😀😀

4 months agopermalink

sirhawkeye64

Well being like maybe psychologically... I mean, most people would get energized or motivated when they share something, especially when that something (a picture) receives a lot of likes or positive comments. I know it has for me from time to time. But sharing can also do the opposite if the composition is not that great too, so I'd mostly agree, in that for most, it probably would. Now i don't know about the one photo per day thing, as I share maybe one a week, maybe two, on Instagram and other places.

4 months ago*permalink

There have been many studies showing social media feedback triggers endorphins, which is why people get addicted to it. They want the likes, the attention, the thumbs ups. The problem is, without social media they wouldn't be in that vicious cycle of endorphin chasing, like drug addiction.

It's why you see kids committing suicide from some stupid online comments. It means too much to them. And then we have the issue anonymity, people are free to say hurtful things online they might not in person, sometimes things that aren't even true and just meant to hurt.

The gist is that our brains are not hardwired for that kind of connection. It's why tribes historically were not millions and millions of people. It's why big cities tend to have more crime and violence. The world is getting too small, and companies like Google, FB ect are making it worse.

And 5g will take us even further down that rabbit hole.

4 months agopermalink

Feedback triggers endorphins

Animals other than humans like positive feed back as well. We are sophisticated and have developed the LIKE system. Some animals make due pressing a lever that dispenses a food pellet.

4 months agopermalink

In normal non-virtual environments, it's too difficult to get the same level of feedback. Hundreds, thousands, millions of "likes" or compliments, all at the press of a button, near instant time, and all without any real human contact. It's poison.

In normal world interactions, things are much slower, much more one on one. There is little to offer in the way of intimacy in the virtual world. Intimacy, not just the romantic kind, is needed by our brains. Babies literally die without human touch.

People are chasing the wrong kind of high and it shows with all the social problems in society.

4 months agopermalink

jonby

I agree. Digital positive strokes from people you have no other relationship with are an empty and meaningless one-time hit which just engenders an unhealthy need for more of the same (an addiction). If anything, the 'online sharing' phenomenon results in fewer interactions of the type which may bring more meaningful longer-lasting benefits IMO.

4 months agopermalink

jjz2

Not sure I agree on the big cities thing. I actually find it easier to be anonymous in big cities.

2 months agopermalink

Yea i think they are pretty much just yankin our chain here, plus there's not nearly enough context in the study. Are they saying 'ONLY' one photo improves heath, as in 1 rather than 100? Or are they saying somebody who does not usually share any photos (and who is a hermit), shares one, and it's an improvement?

Everything i have seen, read and heard suggests social media is an overall bad thing that hinders real human interaction, which is fueled by endorphin addiction as users crave attention and likes. If people like that only took and shared 1 photo per day, they would literally go into chemical withdrawals.

This study seems carefully worded/designed to promote social media.

4 months agopermalink

Impulses

Not everyone that uses social media is hopelessly addicted to it, just a tool, free to be misused or used for good like anything else. Pretty sure society has labeled every single new means of communication the devil at one point or another.

4 months agopermalink

Yea that's technically true but i wouldn't say all "tools" are equal in their likelihood to be misused or cause side effects. At one point alcohol was used as a pain killer and disinfectant, i would argue in this day and age, the world would be better off without it.

Yes it doesn't cause issues for everybody who drinks, but the potential and likelihood is so great, it's not really deniable. Not that alcohol is going anywhere but it's just an example.

Social media is highly addictive, easily exacerbates social issues like bullying leading to depression and suicide, and isn't actually needed by anybody. Im just looking on from a position of indifference, the only social interaction i have online is DPR and i keep it anonymous.

From where i sit, social media is cancer.

4 months agopermalink

Impulses

That's a very positive outlook, lots of things aren't necessary for life and have a potential for misuse... But life would be a lot more boring without them. Who are we to judge the individual balance of each one?

There's quite a bit of negatives attached to photography itself, and back when it was a new thing people even went as far as citing religious soul sucking negatives... Should we do away with photography too? Go full Amish? It's certainly a valid choice, just not one that'll prove too popular on the comments section of an internet site. ;)

4 months agopermalink