How social media use influences our life satisfaction Research on the effect of social media use on adolescents’ life satisfaction and mediating mechanisms

Abstract

This study examines the influence of social media use on life satisfaction among adolescents and to what extent this is effect is mediated by upward social comparison, bonding social capital and cyber-victimisation. Hypotheses were tested using longitudinal data of 200 Dutch adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 from the Digital Youth Project. Multiple linear regression analyses were carried out. There is no effect of social media use on adolescents’ life satisfaction 2 years later. Also, there are no indirect paths via upward social comparison, bonding social capital and cyber-victimisation. More frequent social media use does not cause a lower life satisfaction among adolescents.