In the News: social media diet is beneficial; student loan servicing company adding to student debt

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"If you were considering going on a social media diet, new research backs up the benefits. 

According to a paper in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology’s December issue, tightening Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat use can lower loneliness and depression. 

University of Pennsylvania psychologist Melissa G. Hunt led the study, which surveyed 143 students at Penn. Researchers divided the undergrads into groups that limited social media use and groups that continued to use the platforms as they pleased. Participants, who were predominately female, were offered academic credit for their time. 

The study did not ask students to abstain from social media. The researchers explained this choice in the paper, noting, “It is unrealistic to expect young people to forgo this information stream entirely.”

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https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20181120/study-cutting-social-media-time-can-lessen-depression-and-loneliness

https://www.instagram.com/franklinmatters.ma/

"One of the nation’s largest student loan servicing companies may have driven tens of thousands of borrowers struggling with their debts into higher-cost repayment plans. 

That’s the finding of a Department of Education audit of practices at Navient Corp., the nation’s third-largest student loan servicing company. 

The conclusions of the 2017 audit, which until now have been kept from the public and were obtained by The Associated Press, appear to support federal and state lawsuits that accuse Navient of boosting its profits by steering some borrowers into the high-cost plans without discussing options that would have been less costly in the long run. 

The education department has not shared the audit’s findings with the plaintiffs in the lawsuits. In fact, even while knowing of its conclusions, the department repeatedly argued that state and other federal authorities do not have jurisdiction over Navient’s business practices."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20181120/is-national-student-loan-servicer-swindling-borrowers