Question

You had better think twice before posting a new photo or updating it to your Facebook profile. That’s because new research has found that social media use can lower some users’ sense of self-control over their lives. The research, which will be published in The Journal of Consumer Research, was based on the responses of 541 Facebook users in the United States.

“Using online social networks can have a positive effect on self-esteem(自尊) and well-being. However, these increased feelings of self-worth can have a damaging effect on behavior.” said researchers Keith Wilcox of Columbia University and Andrew Stephen of the University of Pittsburgh. “Because users care about the image they present to close friends, social network use enhances self-esteem in them who are focused on close friends while searching for information on their social network. This momentary increase in self-esteem leads them to display less self-control after looking through a social network.”

In other words, social media users have more self-esteem after using networks like Facebook. However, that momentary improvement in self-esteem lowers their self-control and leads them to do what they want, even if this is not good for them.

    In particular, the researchers found that social media users were more likely to do too much drinking and eating and have a higher body-mass index. Frequent Facebook users also were more likely to have certain financial problems, including a lower credit score and higher levels of debt.

    The researchers tied these feelings to the observation that social media users were less likely to exhibit modesty on their profiles, since feedback was not immediate.

    “These results are worrying given the increased time people spend using social networks, as well as the worldwide proliferation (激增) of access to social networks anywhere, anytime via smartphones and other small devices,” Wilcox and Stephen wrote. “Given that self-control is important for maintaining social order and personal health and happiness, this unnoticeable effect could have widespread impact. This is particularly true for adolescents and young adults who are the heaviest users of social networks and have grown up using social networks as a normal part of their daily lives.”

64. When may social media users lower their self-control?

   A. Before looking through social networks.

   B. After logging on to social networks.

   C. While scanning social networks.

   D. After looking through social networks.

65. What quality are social media users most likely to show?

   A. Self-control.       B. Self-confidence.      C. Self-esteem.      D. Self-discipline.

66. According to the writer, Facebook can make the users        .

   A. slim and rich      B. fat and poor          C. slim and poor     D. fat and rich

Answer 1

DC     B