On Facebook users are exposed to posts from both strong and weak ties . Even though several studies have examined the emotional consequences of using Facebook less attention has been paid to the role of tie strength . This paper aims to explore the emotional outcomes of reading a post on Facebook and examine the role of tie strength in predicting happiness and envy . Two studies one correlational based on a sample of 207 American participants and the other experimental based on a sample of 194 German participants were conducted in 2014 . In Study 2 envy was further distinguished into benign and malicious envy . Based on a multi method approach the results showed that positive emotions are more prevalent than negative emotions while browsing Facebook . Moreover tie strength is positively associated with the feeling of happiness and benign envy whereas malicious envy is independent of tie strength after reading a post on Facebook . New communication technologies such as social media have made social news more pervasive . Facebook continuously keeps users updated with a variety of posts and passive consumption of news updates is the main Facebook activity that people engage in . The majority of these updates are positive . There is evidence for emotional contagion showing happiness can spread through the news updates on online social networks . However recent studies also indicate that exposure to positive posts on Facebook may induce envy and lead to depression and reduced well being over time . Given that Facebook has over 1.35 billion active users and there are on average 1500 potential stories for users to check per visit we are eager to understand how Facebook affects users emotions and identify relevant factors that will determine emotional reactions . We argue that tie strength between the user and the poster is one important factor that should affect emotional outcomes . The use of social media such as Facebook can cause both positive and negative feelings and the results of prior studies on the psychological effects of social media usage are quite mixed . From a long term perspective the use of social media offers benefits such as the possibility of developing and maintaining social capital and social connectedness Nevertheless it may also lead to negative outcomes such as social overload an over optimistic perception towards others lives and a decrease in life satisfaction . From a short term perspective the use of Facebook can evoke a feeling of flow which is characterized by high positive valence and high arousal and joyful and fun are the most common positive feelings reported by users while using Facebook . Nonetheless the consumption of social news on Facebook can also trigger invidious emotions such as jealousy and envy . Faced with mixed results from prior research on the psychological effects of Facebook usage it is important to differentiate between interactive and non interactive social media behavior . Previous research has shown a consistent relation between using FB for interpersonal interaction. 


Summary: Positive emotions are more prevalent than negative emotions while browsing Facebook. Users are happier when a positive post comes from a strong tie rather than a weak tie. Similarly users experience more benign envy when a post comes from a strong tie. The experience of malicious envy is independent of tie strength.