Why Americans Need Social Media Vacations

Internet users are suffering from social media overload from sites like Facebook and Twitter. Now, the majority of online users are looking for a social media vacation, new research shows.

A study by the online organization hub MyLife.com reveals that online users are becoming overwhelmed by the increasing number of social networks and email accounts they manage, and more than 50% of the online users surveyed have either taken or have considered taking a “vacation” from social networking in the past year.

Irrelevant updates and a lack of time are the top reasons for wanting a break from Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or any other social network.

Overall, more than 40% of adult Internet users manage multiple social networking profiles, and more than half belong to more social networks or visit their networks more frequently than they did two years ago. Additionally, the average adult manages 3.1 email addresses, up from 2.6 a year ago. In total, 35% of those surveyed spend more than 31 minutes a day visiting social networking sites, and reading and responding to personal emails.

“It’s universally accepted that people are living much of their lives online,” said Jeff Tinsley, CEO of MyLife. “Their Internet identities are their true identities, and they are spending an increasing amount of time managing all their connections and communications across multiple services, leading consumers to feel overwhelmed.”

Despite their desire for a break, most social networkers are afraid of what would happen if they were to step away for a while. Nearly 60% of those surveyed experience anxiety as a result of missing an important event or status update if they don’t monitor their social networks, and more than half report a fear of missing out.

The study was based on surveys of more than 2,000 adults ages 18 and older.