Appnome analysis reveals small or no associations between social media app-specific usage and adolescent well-being

The debate on how social media use (SMU) influences adolescent well-being is mostly based on self-reports of SMU. By collecting data and screenshots donated from 374 Swiss adolescents (Meanage = 15.71; SDage = 0.82) over 2 weeks, we created "Appnomes"-app-specific usage metrics on screentime, number of activations, and number of notifications per participant per day derived, and associated them with daily hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Longer TikTok time predicted lower eudaimonic well-being (β = - 0.08) daily but higher positive emotions (β = 0.06) the next day; longer use of WhatsApp predicted negative emotions (β = 0.06) while more screen activations for WhatsApp predicted greater feelings of connection (β = 0.08). Instagram notification was positively related to increased feeling of focused (β = 0.06) the next day. YouTube screen unlocks predicted more feeling of meaning (β = 0.07) the next day. More Snapchat screentime predicted less relaxed, less competent, and less positive emotions (with - 0.07 < β < - 0.06). Results pointed towards minimal or no effects, challenging the moral panic on the detrimental impact of SMU on teen well-being.