Social Media Experiences on Well-Being

Social Media Experiences on Well-Being Social media plays an important role in the everyday lives of college students, allowing individuals to communicate, share experiences, and interact with different types of content. However, frequent social media use may also influence how individuals view themselves, like social comparisons. Self-esteem refers to an individual’s overall evaluation of their own worth or value, and it is especially important during young adulthood as individuals develop their sense of self. Previous research has found relationships between social media use, social comparison, body image, and self-esteem, like finding that upward social comparisons were associated with lower self-esteem and more negative self-evaluations. Although previous research has established connections between social media use and self-esteem, less research has examined whether the specific social media platform used most frequently is associated with differences in self-esteem. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between social media platform use and self-esteem among college students aged 18 and above. Participants will be recruited through the SONA research participation system and will complete several self-report measures. Two scales in this study will be used to assess participants’ self-esteem. While the other three scales will collect information about participants’ most frequently used platforms, preferred platforms, and screen time, how social media is incorporated into participants’ daily lives, and participants’ symptoms of anxiety. The primary independent variable is the social media platform used most frequently, while the dependent variable is self-esteem. It is hypothesized that increased screen time across social media platforms will be associated with lower average self-esteem among college students. Expected results are that students who report higher screen time on social media will have lower self-esteem scores and higher anxiety symptoms. Differences in self-esteem are also expected between students based on their most frequently used social media platform. These findings may provide a better understanding of how social media habits relate to self-esteem and mental health among college students. Keywords: Social Media, Self-Esteem, College Students, Screen Time, Social Comparison.