Study finds shooting and sharing one photo per day improves wellbeing

Who sponsored and paid for this study? Seems very suspicious. There are many other studies that indicate social media has a negative effect on mental and emotional health. I have and use various social media platforms and they do not improve my emotional well being so I have scaled back my usage quite significantly. I could see myself pretty much eliminating all my social media and being happier, which is where I am headed.

Strange. My wellbeing improves when I *don't* use social media.

It's this sort of rubbish that has given experts a bad name.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

Well that explains my poor health 😉
Den

Was it a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study?

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

Study must have been funded by Zuckerberg.

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”!

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.

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 :) )

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

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.

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.

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

... But reduces everybody else's

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.....

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.

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.

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.

Shooting and sharing is great but reading specialized photo websites might get you in a psycho asylum!!!

Does this come from Dr. Oz, or some other TV personality or feel good advocate?

Yeah, but the study overlooked the effects on the wellbeing of others forced to look at one's crappy images on a daily basis.

If the one photo was a selfie, might be deeper problems with person.
The Khardasians must be the most well adjusted people on this planet.😊

GC

I doubt that taking a photo is the key factor in this correlation. Research has consistently shown that connecting with others is an essential aspect of wellbeing. Although most of us would agree that photography is fulfilling in its own right.