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Differences between Facebook and Instagram Usage in Regard to Problematic Use and Well-Being
Maria Limniou1, Yasmin Ascroft1, Sarah McLean1
1Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science
|October 19, 2021
Summary
Instagram use is linked to higher problematic usage compared to Facebook. Platform differences influence well-being, with Instagram
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Media Research
- Digital Well-being
Background:
- Extensive research links well-being (self-esteem, depression, loneliness) to social media use.
- Limited studies compare Facebook and Instagram usage patterns and their impact on mental health.
- Understanding platform-specific effects is crucial for digital well-being interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in problematic social media use and well-being between Facebook and Instagram users.
- To explore the relationship between user engagement metrics (likes, friends, followers) and mental health outcomes.
- To identify platform-specific factors influencing problematic use and well-being.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 69 Facebook users and 66 Instagram users.
- Online questionnaires assessed self-esteem, depression, loneliness, and problematic internet use.
- Analysis examined associations between platform use, engagement metrics, and well-being indicators.
Main Results:
- Instagram users exhibited significantly higher problematic use behavior than Facebook users.
- Number of Facebook friends positively correlated with depressive symptoms; Instagram followers did not.
- Number of likes negatively associated with self-esteem on Instagram, but not loneliness.
Conclusions:
- Social media platform differences (e.g., image-orientation of Instagram) may influence problematic use and well-being.
- Importance of followers/likes and user demographics (age) moderate problematic use differently across platforms.
- Further research is needed to understand the nuanced impact of platform design on user psychology.
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