Does checking social media frequently impact your mood? Understanding how to navigate all the new platforms available, like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr, Pinterest, Reddit, and many more, can be overwhelming these days. If you find yourself feeling exceptionally sad, happy, or angry after checking your social media newsfeeds – you are not alone. New research suggests that recent increases in social media addiction may be associated with both self-esteem and overall life satisfaction.
Findings from Hawi and Samaha’s (2017) recent study of university students found that heavy uses of social media predicted lower self-esteem. Hawi and Samaha (2017) acknowledged that self-esteem is also positively associated with perception of quality of life. So when you find yourself frequently checking newsfeeds, you may want to be aware of how other peoples’ posts are making you feel about yourself. These feelings could impact your everyday life!
– Ali Swoish, APUG Senior
Want to know more? Check out the research study yourself:
Hawi, N. S., & Samaha, M. (2017). The Relations Among Social Media Addiction, Self-Esteem, and Life Satisfaction in University Students. Social Science Computer Review, 35(5), 576-586.