A social constructivist viewpoint of media effects: extending the social influence model of technology use to media effects

Abstract New media technologies are often assumed to have negative effects on user’s mental health. However, several studies found no or only small effects. Building on a social constructivist perspective on media effects, this article aims to advance the debate around media’s effect on mental health, theoretically by proposing an extension of the social influence model of technology use. Mirroring the original model’s argumentation for media characteristics, the proposed extension assumes that there is a conceptual difference between perceived and objective media use and that in addition to objective media use, also media use perceptions influence users’ mental health. Finally, it is assumed that media use perceptions are socially constructed, meaning that the social environment influences how an individual perceives their own media use. Previous research supporting the model’s assumption as well as open questions requiring more research are discussed.