How logging on to Facebook can make you feel less depressed

Facebook could be used to treat depression as 90% of users log on to the social networking site to remember happier times, experts have said.

According to the research by University of Portsmouth, nostalgic photos and even old comments are used to "self-soothe".

Scientists already know that reminiscent therapy is helpful for older people with memory loss.

Now the University wants to do a bigger study to confirm its findings, which could suggest Facebook can help treat mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, the Daily Mirror reports.

Dr Alice Good, who led the new study, said scientists found a growth in "self-soothing" on Facebook is helping users especially if they are prone to feeling low.

Psychologist Dr Clare Wilson said pointed out that Facebook is marketed as a means of communicating with others.

This research shows we are more likely to use it to connect with our past selves, perhaps when our present selves need reassuring, Wilson added.

According to the report, the study has been published in the journal Lecture Notes in Computer Science: Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction.