A team of Utah Valley University boffins has established that regular Facebook users tend to be a bit more sad than non-users.

The reason? Well, it all seems to boil down to envy. Facebook simply offers a quick glance into the lives of others, much like the East German Stasi, and in the end many users simply don’t like what they see.

The paper, aptly titled “They Are Happier and Having Better Lives than I Am”: The Impact of Using Facebook on Perceptions of Others' Lives, found that Facebook users were fairly judgmental and don’t care much for cheerful pictures and statuses posted by others. In the end most of the 400 students surveyed were more likely to think that other people were happier than them and those who used Facebook regularly were more likely to believe life is unfair. Which it is.

However, some researchers disagreed with the findings, since Facebook really didn’t create a realistic perception of anyone’s life. While people tend to post cheerful photos on holidays, out on the town or just enjoying some scenery, few will post photos of their ulcers or credit card statements.

So here’s a tip. If you want to make someone’s day on Facebook, just post some really depressing stuff that will make everyone think they are better off than you. Good thing my company just went under and I’m out of a job. That should cheer a few people up.

More here.