Online social networks can help fight social anxiety

Eva Buechel, Ph.D.,  is an assistant professor of marketing at the Darla Moore School of Business. Her research interests focus on the psychological processes that shape consumer judgments, decisions, and behaviors. Ever since the social media boom of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, people have wondered how these sites affect users. Researchers, practitioners and social commentators have expressed concern that they can reduce meaningful face-to-face interaction, leaving users depressed and lonely. Eva Buechel shares her research into this question.