Its great to be able to find out what your friends are doing at all times, from any device, using any platform. We no longer need to pick up the phone any more. All we need to do is log on to Facebook and find out whatever we want about our friends.
But is our obsession with each other fuelling our insecurity. Finding out what our friends earn makes us unhappy. Seeing Facebook updates about fabulous holidays, amazing experiences, lavish meals and wonderful family occasions can make us feel inadequate that our own lives aren't quite as perfect as theirs.
Our children behave differently too. They no longer communicate with their friends, preferring to use Facebook for status exchanges. They seem to have an innate knack for multitasking - and seem to overcome the hidden cost of multi tasking.
Its pointless getting too worked up about what others are doing and sharing online. As Forbes notes, Don't waste time being jealous
I've long been concerned about over sharing on Social Networking sites. I didn't feel like I had anything important to say - even though this data is a goldmine to data analysts
Perhaps as Daniel says, we should take steps to alter our behaviour on Facebook and try to rely on real world relationships. Becoming more productive with email means closing the interface down on your desktop whilst you focus on work. Perhaps setting aside designated times for communicating on social media, focusing on the task in hand and rekindling your person to person relationships will bring you the rewards you want and reduce your anxiety.
...Or perhaps we should disconnect from the people that make you anxious, insecure and jealous and focus our attention on the folks that really matter to us - face to face...