Why Instagram Can Lead to Lower Self-Esteem Among Young Adults
Social networking sites, such as Instagram, are increasingly popular among young adults. However, according to a study in Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, using Instagram can have harmful consequences. Especially when young adults compare themselves with others online and base their feelings of self-worth on approval from others, they experience lower self-esteem.
Take aways
- Intensive Instagram use relates to lower self-esteem among young adults, but only for those whose feelings of self-worth depend upon approval of others.
- Young adults whose self-worth depends on approval of others are more likely to compare themselves with others on Instagram, which in turn relates to lower self-esteem.
- For parents and policy makers it is important to understand the mechanisms that link social network sites to lowered self-esteem. A better understanding might help identify youngsters at risk, and design interventions.
Study information
The question?
What is the effect of Instagram use on self-esteem among young adults?
Who?
237 young adults between the ages of 18 to 29 years (mean age: 23 years; 60% female). Most of the participants had a white/Caucasian background (85%). Participants had been using Instagram between 6 months and 3 years. They spent between 30 minutes and 5 hours on Instagram every day.
Where?
Australia
How?
The researchers used Facebook to recruit participants with an Instagram account. Once people were willing to participate in the study, they received a link to an online questionnaire. This questionnaire included questions regarding social comparison (“I often compare how I am doing socially with other people on Instagram”), intensity of Instagram use (“I feel part of my Instagram community”), self-esteem (“I feel that I am a person of worth, at lease on an equal plane to others”) and self-worth (“When I think I look attractive, I feel good about myself”).
Facts and findings
- The intensity of Instagram use was associated with lowered self-esteem, but only among participants who depended their self-worth upon approval of others.
- This was explained by the finding that those young adults were more likely to compare themselves with others on Instagram.
- Furthermore, the more intensely young people used Instagram, the more they compared themselves with others on Instagram. This relation was even stronger for young adults whose feelings of self-worth depended upon approval from others.
- Critical note: We should interpret the results with caution as the direction of cause and effect is not clear. For example, it is possible that young adults’ low self-esteem leads to self-worth depending upon approval of others. Furthermore, the results are based on self-reported questionnaires. They might therefore be less reliable.