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Social comparison on social networking sites.
Philippe Verduyn1, Nino Gugushvili2, Karlijn Massar1
1Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht, Netherlands.
Current Opinion in Psychology
|May 11, 2020
Summary
Social networking sites (SNSs) increase social comparisons, often negatively impacting subjective well-being (SWB). Passive SNS use and upward comparisons are linked to lower SWB, with social comparison acting as a key mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Media Studies
Background:
- The proliferation of social networking sites (SNSs) has amplified social comparison opportunities.
- Concerns exist regarding the adverse effects of online social comparisons on individual subjective well-being (SWB).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review research on the drivers of social comparisons on SNSs.
- To examine the consequences of SNS social comparisons for SWB.
- To investigate social comparison as a mediator or moderator in the SNS-SWB relationship.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing existing studies on social comparison and SNS use.
- Analysis of factors influencing social comparison occurrence on SNSs.
- Examination of the impact of social comparison on subjective well-being.
Main Results:
- Passive SNS usage correlates with increased social comparison.
- While occasional positive effects exist, social comparison on SNSs typically leads to negative SWB outcomes, particularly through upward comparisons.
- Social comparison is a significant mediator explaining the link between SNS use and SWB.
Conclusions:
- Social comparison is a critical mechanism underlying the relationship between SNS engagement and subjective well-being.
- Individuals prone to social comparison are more vulnerable to the negative psychological effects of SNSs.
- Understanding these dynamic, cyclical processes is crucial for mitigating negative impacts.
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