Wow!

…what Wood and Forest discovered was that sharing negative thoughts or feelings apparently made users less likable …

….

“If you’re talking to somebody in person and you say something, you might get some indication that they don’t like it, that they’re sick of hearing your negativity,” Forest said. “On Facebook, you don’t see most of the reactions.” However, those with high self-esteem get more responses for negative updates than those with low self-esteem, the study found.

Source: Your Negative Status Updates Rub People the Wrong Way, Apparently | TIME.com

That last sentence is interesting and is not explained. Why would a person with high self esteem get more responses for negative updates than a person with low self esteem?

Perhaps we can influence the culture of negativity that pervades Facebook by following some simple rules:

a. Never comment on a post that is filled with negativity

b. Never share a post that is filled with negativity

c. Hide, Unfollow or Unfriend those who are constantly posting negativity on Facebook

In other words, chop off the negative commentary at the source. Do not support it, do not share it, do not encourage it. Leave “the trolls” alone and ignore them. Perhaps they will see that their online negativity is not producing what ever outcome they think they are striving for.