A Data-Driven Analysis on the Impact of Instagram on Loneliness, Happiness, and Social Comparison

Instagram is an actively used social media platform among the 18-24 age group worldwide. People in this age group are especially vulnerable to mental disorders and suffer health consequences. The paper presents the findings from a data-driven examination of the associations between active and passive uses of Instagram, social comparison, loneliness and happiness among engineering undergraduates in Nepal. Clustering analysis shows that a student with low engagement on Instagram is associated with passive use (browsing feeds), but significant hours scattered throughout the day due to Instagram use. Meanwhile, a student with high engagement spends at least an hour in a single session. Bayesian network analysis finds that Instagram use is independent, and other variables are influenced by it. This supports the hypothesis that Instagram could be shaping psychological experiences and mental health outcomes. We also found that the shaping is modest but significant. Such a modest but potentially significant causal relationship was found between high Instagram use and high levels of social comparisons. Similarly, a potentially important relationship was found between high levels of social comparisons and high levels of loneliness. Our findings support the observation that social comparison orientation plays a mediating role. Interestingly, happiness neither influences nor influenced by the level of Instagram use. In the paper, we detail the computational techniques we have used, present interesting results, and discuss the model’s findings. This research highlights the impact of social media use among undergraduates in a unique cultural context like Nepal, contributing to the limited body of research on social media's influence in South Asia.