Miranda I do not use Facebook or Google+ daily. However since I became a member with RG I am spending generally about an hour in the morning and again about one hour in the evening. During daytime, I may on and off be watching for anything happening when I am in front of the computer terminal.

I have also put a similar question

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_much_time_do_you_spend_on_researchgate_per_day

I have also seen a question like is RG an addicton or not? but I don't remember from whom it is?

I spend about 10-15 minutes on FB and there is no specified time on RG...

Now may be a couple of hours....

Thanks Lijo, for your response. I need about 1 to 2 hours on RG, but I have little /no time for FB...

Miranda I do not use Facebook or Google+ daily. However since I became a member with RG I am spending generally about an hour in the morning and again about one hour in the evening. During daytime, I may on and off be watching for anything happening when I am in front of the computer terminal.

Thanks Prof N. I only turn on the computer when I want to work at it. Otherwise, it's Off. I'm not as watchful as you, and my mind is on my house work etc etc :)

Dear Miranda,

I´m retired and therefore can spent about 1 to 1.5 h per day for RG. I don´t visit FB or other facilities per convincement.

Thanks Miranda. Our office desktop is always on and the email system reminds periodically unanswered mails. I agree it is a lot of time. I will be slowing down as it is affecting my other work sometimes.

Thanks Hanno, Prof N. Sorry, I was distracted. Another airplane incident!!

This is just TOO MUCH. I will add on that thread...

I learned to use social networks a few weeks ago when I joined here at RG. I spent maybe two or three hours a week, adding up the various minutes over the days.

I believe that this interaction is healthy. Besides the possibility of even academic exchange, beyond this exchange of ideas.

In FB, however, is different. because I realize that there are many psychological and sociological issues at stake.

First of all: great topic! Everything has its ups and downs, some of which we may be able to control and others that are totally independent from us. Facebook has some useful information but most of the data that is published is useless as it refers to personal status that don't affect us. However, we read them because they tend to be unavoidable. Now, my " little" experience here in RG has already taught me that this helps a lot in discussing deep and interesting subjects about today's world, some of which we had not thought on a daily basis. Also, in RG we can connect and talk directly to a lot of researchers that have a lot of experience in our research fields which helps a lot on our studies. So, we have to keep track of time and manage it in an effective way so that every issue can fit it ( for example, family, recreation, work and social networks).

I spend much time on RG only. Although I have an account in FB but I spend a very little time on it. Working with RG takes some time, it is worth it.

I have a page on FB, but I am not active at all! RG is different. The questions and answers have some kind of interest!

Certainly, there is an effect, it's like you steal the family time, some of their rights. The worst when you come back with a score, they will be proud of us!

Thanks for your views, all of you :)

@Alexandre: 'this interaction is healthy. Besides the possibility of even academic exchange, beyond this exchange of ideas'

@Mahfuz and Costas: 'RG takes some time, it is worth it.'

@Pedro: 'in RG we can connect and talk directly to a lot of researchers that have a lot of experience'

@Noureddine: let's be careful we don't 'steal the family time, some of their rights'.

Certainly I spend more time of RG than I can afford to. But I feel that it is a great learning process, which is more effective than surfing the net and then knowing things.

I spent about 2 hours on RG and and about 15 minutes on FB on an average. I have found it quite difficult to find this extra 2 hours time. Definitely, my family is deprived of this time, as it is theirs actually. I think, it is easy to remember things that we know through RG. So that is a big plus.

I have no FB. My time at RG depends - perhaps, some minutes here and there, no more 1 hour per day. And, I hardly ever am searching something - just widening information (answering question, I see three more questions - if these are of interest, I follw).

Social networking is some kind of fake - on FB you imitate life, I think. RG is for work, this doeas not count.

Thanks Profs Debi, Linas. For us, we realize the importance of family. WE even discipline ourselves on the amount of time that we can spend each day. But it's different for my students. That's why I put up the question too. Thanks, good evening. I need to wake up early each morning!

Dear friends, this is Lijo's thread that runs parallel. Great minds think alike :)

https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_much_time_do_you_spend_on_researchgate_per_day

Dear Miranda, I'm on RG and FB. My time on these site depends on my other duties.

My university also has profile on FB and my Educational Sciences Faculty has one official website too, so we can quick be informed as well as captured. This is non formal way of professional communication. I also speak with my friends from other universities via FB. If virtual life is influencing real one ? Probably yes, but not in radical way, in my case.

@Debi: I have the same problem. I am tempted to get into RG because of the interest. But then has to plan in such a way that other activities do not suffer. I may have to reduce my time with RG as sometimes it becomes difficult to squeeze the time.

Dear Miranda. When I am not travelling - and that is frequent - I go to RG every day but I try to concentrate that time in between "Windows" of relax amongst my duties at the University and science projects which, naturally, include a lot of time for scientific writing. I guess that the fact that I live in the Azores - a place where we do not loose time in trafic jams and things like that, does help me a lot in managing my time. I spent almost no time watching TV so I still manage to lecture, accomplish my duties as course director, science work, music playing/studying, scientific illustration and diving/spear fishing - which also implies cooking! I also do not sleep a lot (ca. 5h are quite enough).

Best,

JP

P.S.: I never had a profile on social networks such as facebook, twitter or MSN.

I have diverted my time from FB to RG. No compromise with the time for work, family and studies.

Thatz [email protected]!

Thanks for your views. I see that we are thinking about the same things:

I have already had to "reduce my time with RG",

"thought to suspend my RG account, but then I change my mind because of the friends like you all"

I know 2 friends who have closed their accounts. I actually miss their contributions but I must respect their decisions. Let's go on doing our BEST, as long as we can :)

Definitely! Since we all are very busy in our daily routine, taking out time for RG or FB is taking out time from our family allotted time. Is it advisable? This answer will depend on how each person, his or her spouse takes it and besides, if a person is not working for someone, maybe has more time at hand! Response will be different in each situation. As for myself, I respond to questions on RG through my I phone, at whatever time, I can.

@Miranda, I did spent too much time at RG, probably 4 hours per day, while I was at FB couple times a week, in order to find some people , mostly from RG! Addiction? YES. You have stated in Your thread that this "have a negative effect on our deeper and more meaningful relationships that we have with our families, relatives and close friends?" Very TRUE!

That's absolutely true, dear Ljubomir!

Dear friends, because we are imperfect humans, it's not always easy to practice correct priorities: family and health are more important than our social media interactions. But on RG, let's be sincere and honest friends, contributing to the good of the RG community. Let's make up for the anonymous, unethical, negative 'people'.

today I already spent an hour on RG. Thats OK, as there were new answers in many threads. I contacted some peers for paper exchange, conference, etc. It's for work.

Thanks Linas and friends. Actually I try to keep my time on RG to about 2 hours a day, but it's not a continued period.

Social Networking now a days has became a part of our daily routine but the thing is that we have not placed it in our list of routine activities. :)

If we want to stay away from its negative effects then we should fix certain time for it also because not using it is not possible and over using has more negative impacts.

But if you are spending more time particularly on RG then also you are gaining something.

In this case just think that "To gain something, you have to loose something"

It totally depends on your management skills that how much you are loosing! :)

Regards,

Nitish

I like that Nitish :)

"To gain something, you have to lose something"

Thanks for the time you spend on my threads. Actually I have another question. It has been in my mind the whole day. My time now is 7 pm...

ha ha ha, it's like "no money, no honey"?

On the serious hand - I gain a lot from RG. It widens my brain... And I am going to meet first scientists I did not know in person before, already this autumn. Only RG gave this chance.

Dear All, Lijo Francis that you know is not able any longer to log in his RG account from yesterday. RG suspended his account without any reason. I don't know why, but I find this an outstanding abuse. Please help me inform all other participants as this is a signal that things are not going in the right way in RG.

Regards

Gianni

Dear Giovanni, I think, you should write e-mail to RG (through Contact system), and it will be clear, why. Lijo Francis is so interesting!In the long run, it may be by chance.

As for Miranda's question. Surely, it's a kind of "Socratic addiction"to surf on RG. Every contributor is a brightest personality with his/her own beauty, style, individuality- in other words, it's a perfect intellectual -virtual-community, which we can't meet in real life (or seldom in the international conferences).Besides, we have a choice to take part in the polylogue we are interested in.It's the greatest motivation.I can be on RG only in the evening (from time to time), my nearest have their own occupations in the evening. Every member of the family has one's own interest It's great!

Thanks Irina, Linas, Prof G. Yes, there are good things that we have from RG, as Linas has said.

As for that matter, I trust that it will resolve well. Yes Irina, my time on RG is very limited, just like you.

Responding to Prof Gianni et al:

Friends, sometimes Blessings come in disguise. Now Lijo has more time to work on his research without RG cares or commitments. Lijo wrote this 5 hours ago to us all:

'Just now I have received the Cyprus Visa in my Passport.

Now I am going to prepare the PPT slides to present my papers in Cyprus EDS Conference. Since I have two papers to present.

Conference will be from 11-15 May.'

I spend some time (1-2 hours or some time much less) with RG depending on questions and answers. But I have to spend much time preparing my questions for RG as my questions comes with a short review about the question itself! I enjoy interacting with RG researchers as it helps to enhance my knowledge in some areas with which am not familiar

Thanks Golam et al. I have learned many things through RG. That's the best thing about RG. But I don't have the luxury of spending much time here...

Dear Miranda,

Thank you but I see RG activities as a volunteering (free) to assist/help wider communities with either knowledge or information within my limited capacities if and when applicable

Interesting question @ Miranda. RG has its own credibility to stand out from other social networking sites. In RG one could connect with unknown genuine researchers from all over the world. I wouldn't agree more with @ Golam. RG helps enhancing once thirst for knowledge. Whereas FB serves totally different purpose in connecting with people. I presume FB is used to connect with friends and families in different part of the world to stay in touch with. FB is surely a social networking, but at the same time if used wisely could share knowledge as well. FB crowd seldom use it for improving knowledge. Anything becoming an addiction is not good. That is spending more time on RG just because its very useful for updating once knowledge is not ideal. But saying that I would prefer RG over any other sites given a chance to learn more.

I agree Meena:

'RG has its own credibility to stand out from other social networking sites. In RG one could connect with unknown genuine researchers from all over the world. '

There are appropriate times to interface with the cyber community. One need only find those times that are appropriate. Over-use (at inappropriate times) can be construed as an anti-social behavior with respect to one's immediate environment. Good cooking requires that we add the spices at the correct intervals. By no means ever sacrifice relationships and/or interpersonal interactions that are important to you for the sake of the almighty microchip. The net will always be there, your true friends and family may not be. I would like to think that the better angels of each of our natures will always know when to hit the off button and resurface in the room in which we currently dwell. Hey - wait my daughter just said something about allergies -- gotta go~!

Yes, Jack and friends. I agree exactly, it's a matter of balance, a great balancing act is required :)

Dear Miranda,

Dear All,

I do not use FB at all. My addictions are: reading belles-lettres, painting and RG. I am glad I use more time for painting than RG. I try to do everything for my family and my friends. I organise with my university mates now the anniversary of finishing of our university studies. I sample alfalfa fields and hedges, identify insects and do wood work and cooking often. Even I go often for a walk with our dog.

I note this is but a chat...

Thanks for describing your interesting activities, Andras.  It's great to live in touch with nature.  I have a beautiful field and track to exercise in college.  I'm very thankful.  I do use some FB with good friends and students.  RG is time consuming, but we need to communicate.

Sure dear Miranda, we spend a lot of time on social media. But how much of this is truly time invested vs. time wasted? While it is tempting, I do not have any of my social media site opened all day in a desktop application; rather I dip in a couple of times and treat it as a break from work. So, clearly a lot of the time spent by me in social media is for leisure. In fact, it is a matter of one's priorities and mindset if he/she regards it as a waste of time. One has to think in terms of one's intention vis-a-vis return on social media investment (ROSMI). I personally gained a lot in terms of a good number of learned friends and their thoughts on various issues through my association with RG. Even though, I feel that one should not pressure oneself with these stuffs and keep one's important responsibilities and priorities in check. Pick your battles and closely monitor where your time goes and what results you get, and if you have fun, well there is no harm in that is there