Facebook dependency decoded

Washington: People who use Facebook to meet new people are most dependent on the social networking site, according to a new study which found the reason why people use the site determines the level of their dependency on it.

However, Facebook dependency is not necessarily a bad thing, said Amber Ferris, an assistant professor of communication at University of Akron’s Wayne College. Ferris, who studies Facebook user trends, said that the more people use Facebook to fulfill their goals, the more dependent on it they become.

However, this dependency is not equivalent to an addiction, she said. Rather, the reason why people use Facebook determines the level of dependency they have on the social network. The study found those who use Facebook to meet new people were the most dependent on Facebook overall.