Social media use depends not only on the personality of the user, but also on their behavior, as a study by Washington University shows. According to lead author Alison B. Tuck, there are four categories of usage. The study, published in Assessment, presents a new, empirically tested model for understanding how use is related to a complex network of social desires and emotional concerns. The “Social Media Use Scale” is intended as a response to inconsistent and contradictory results on the influence of the social web on psychological well-being.
Followed negative posts on social media
According to co-author Renee J. Thompson, the model assesses the frequency with which people engage in one of four types of social media use. This is the belief-based category that captures social media activity that expresses and reinforces negative opinions. This category is associated with characteristics associated with poorer psychological well-being, more depression, and a desire for emotionally upsetting content. These users have poor self-control and try to avoid boredom through dramatic experiences.
Consumption-based use based on entertaining content is linked to greater emotional well-being, as well as greater self-esteem, extraversion, and less depression. This is about content that is more enjoyable. Image-based usage focuses on activities that help create a positive social image. This includes positive postings about yourself or tracking likes or comments. This behavior is associated with a need to display oneself and engage in activities that increase self-worth and integrity.
Digressing into the past
Comparison -based usage, on the other hand, focuses on activities in which people compare themselves to others or an idealized version of their own past. These activities are associated with a range of negative outcomes. These include lower social and emotional well-being, concerns about physical appearance, and fear of negative evaluations. The researchers created this scale based on a series of studies in which students between the ages of 18 and 23 were asked to describe their activities on social media.
In the first study, 176 students were asked to provide information about their use in three minutes and were able to describe their activities and enjoyment without any time limit. In the second and third studies, each of which involved more than 300 students, they were asked to indicate how often they engaged in the social media activities identified in the first study. In addition, they completed a series of tests online on personality traits and behavioral characteristics. Using a factor analysis, the researchers finally identified the four categories of social media use.
Source:
Press release
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