On the outside looking in: Social media intensity, social connection, and user well-being: The moderating role of passive social media use.

Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, Vol 55(3), Jul 2023, 240-252; doi:10.1037/cbs0000323Social media offers a nearly unlimited number of opportunities to bond with others. The present research, however, suggests that social media use can have both positive and negative implications for our well-being. Passive use of social media entails viewing others’ social media pages without interacting with the page owner. Across three studies, which included two survey-based studies and an experimental study, consistent results are found showing that passive social media use moderates the relationship between social media usage/intensity and perceived social connection. Study 1 found social media intensity involving more passive engagement was associated with less social connection and lower well-being. Study 2 found that the interaction between social media use across 11 social media platforms and high passive use of these platforms is associated with lower perceived social connection and, subsequently, higher stress. In response to a call for more experimental research by Verduyn et al. (2017), Study 3 manipulated social media use (heavy or light) and type of social media use (passive vs. active) and found that heavy social media use has a negative impact on social connection when used passively, but a positive effect when used actively. In addition, the present study adds to the emerging literature which shows that one’s emotio...
Source: Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research