I Feel Blue, Let Us Share Something—A Multimethod Study on How Momentary Emotional States and Daily Events Shape Social Media Use

Abstract Social media presence is deeply embedded in everyday life, yet individual differences in usage patterns are still pronounced. While prior research has extensively examined personality traits and emotional dispositions in shaping online behaviors, less attention has been paid to the influence of situational (e.g., daily events) and state-like (e.g., narcissistic states) factors. This multimethod study, based on Hungarian participants, explores how emotional states and contextual experiences affect social media activity. Study 1 ( N = 31) applied a qualitative approach to examine emotional drivers of social media use. Study 2 ( N = 123) and study 3 ( N = 109) used a longitudinal diary method over 5 days to assess the influence of daily events and narcissistic states on general social media usage and Instagram use, respectively. Findings from study 1 revealed that participants tend to avoid active use during negative emotional states but often post positively charged content to gain affirmation: highlighting social media’s role in self-esteem restoration. Study 2 and 3 showed that negative daily experiences were associated with increased online activity, suggesting a compensatory coping function. Across studies, results point to the paradox of digital self-presentation: positive content may stem from underlying emotional struggles. These insights carry implications for psychological interventions and social media literacy efforts.