Impacts of Instagram Use on Users’ Well-Being

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Summary

In the modern world, social networks have integrated firmly into people’s everyday life. Various research estimates the impact of websites and online communities on human self-esteem and well-being. According to some opinions, social networks develop pessimism and lower confidence; others claim online platforms positively affect users’ characters. According to Verduyn et al. (2017), intensive Facebook use is often associated with greater degrees of retained social capital to users. As a result, users who are more committed to a platform increase their social capital and feel more connected with others (Verduyn et al., 2017). Furthermore, different types of using social networking services (SNS), notably passive and active, impact humans differently. Passive consumption is mostly leading to unfavorable outcomes such as distress, while dynamic usage has had a positive impact on users.

Uploading an Instagram photo, “liking” other people’s content, or adding comments to other users’ posts are all instances of dynamic social media habits. This sort of contact leads to social connectedness, which is sometimes a unique opportunity to make new acquaintances and build a relationship with others. Such activity is positive for individuals and positively affects their well-being and self-esteem. On the other hand, passive usage was proven to correlate with social comparison and jealousy (Verduyn et al., 2017). In the other study by Trifiro and Prena (2021), two hypotheses are used to evaluate the influence of Instagram usage and its outcomes for users. This study will survey the connection between aggressive social media engagement, self-esteem, and the well-being of users, obtaining data from a poll of undergraduate college students in the United States.

Hypothesis One

The first hypothesis claims that top-level use of Instagram is highly related to greater self-esteem levels. This hypothesis predicts a favorable connection between conscientious Instagram use and self-esteem levels influenced by intensity. First, the active users and self-esteem will be associated using Pearson’s product-moment correlation. Secondly, this Instagram-self-esteem connection will use the least-squares route analysis during the study. The analysis may find that the intensity of using social media has a substantial and indirect influence on users’ self-esteem (Trifiro & Prena, 2021). Those who were more involved in social media platforms will be more likely to have a higher sense of self-worth.

Hypothesis Two

The second hypothesis anticipates a strong relationship between active Instagram engagement and consumer satisfaction, with intensity acting as a mediator between the well-being of users and Instagram involvement. The results of this investigation will reveal that, overall, the result of intense social media usage on the well-being and self-esteem of users are substantial. Nevertheless, no statistically significant correlation will be found between active usage and users’ contentment (Trifiro & Prena, 2021). According to these findings, the intensity may mediate between active social media usage and users’ self-esteem.

Procedure and Sample

The Snowball sampling approach acquired 359 students from colleges around the United States as the sample in the study. This survey was based on Facebook and Instagram posts from undergraduate students in these institutions. To be deemed relevant in the research, every respondent was an ongoing undergraduate student at college during the first six months of 2018. Using the 359 respondents used in the research, these respondents completed the 411 questionnaires administered to them. Due to insufficient data, some respondents were removed from the study.

Active Use Measure

In this procedure, this study used both passive and active usage measurement methodologies. Active usage scores from these methodologies ranged from 5 to 25 respondents (Gerson et al., 2017). While the study’s questionnaire acquired information on passive usage, the findings were unconnected to the objectives of the research and thus did not aid in explaining the research hypotheses.

Instagram Intensity

The capabilities of using Instagram were measured using both the Intensity Scale and analysis of the student’s engagement on Facebook. The survey developed a score based on the notion that higher levels of reported social capital were associated with increasing Facebook usage. To examine how emotionally linked respondents were to Instagram, self-reported ratings of Instagram habits were obtained using Likert scale attitudinal questions. A significant number of respondents reported that Instagram was a part of their daily life and that they were happy to tell others that they were on Instagram. Others said that they felt disconnected from the world when they were not on Instagram for an extended period (Gerson et al., 2017). The research used these sample responses to assess the connection between the well-being of Instagram users and their participation on this platform.

Well-Being

Instagram’s ability to increase respondents’ happiness and contentment was tested using a Life Scale. The accuracy with which this scale examined the two components of subjective well-being established its validity. Respondents’ attitudes regarding their personal lives were also assessed using five Likert scale measures. Some of these attitudes stated that, courtesy of Instagram, their lives were incredible, and if they were given an opportunity to change anything concerning the impacts of Instagram in their lives, they would not change a thing.

Self-Esteem

Aiming at testing the self-esteem of Instagram users, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was utilized. According to the results of the test, many respondents replied that Instagram increased their confidence and popularity in society. However, few participants believed that they had little or nothing to be proud of from using Instagram.

Data Analysis

The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) will be used to manage the data cleaning and analyzing procedure. This research will also use the macro technique to analyze the results obtained from Instagram usage results on user self-esteem and their well-being. According to the research, the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) across predictor variables has to be less than five. This variance will aid in avoiding various correlation difficulties throughout the study.

To answer the questions posed in the study, I plan to use the method of summarizing and grouping statistical observation materials. To answer the first research question, “Is the use of Instagram associated with an increase in self-esteem?” the grouping feature will be the respondents’ self-esteem levels; the order of formation of groups will be determined by an increase in self-esteem. To answer the second research question, “What is the relationship between active use of Instagram and customer satisfaction?” the statistical summary will be based on a system of satisfaction indicators of respondents.

The statistical assumption for answering the first question is higher self-esteem among Instagram users compared to respondents who do not use this social network. For the assessment, I will use an assessment of the level of self-esteem of respondents using a psychological survey, where it will be necessary to assess the correctness of statements on a scale from 1 to 10. The statistical assumption for answering the second question is higher life satisfaction among respondents who spend more time on Instagram, sharing posts or stories. For evaluation, I will use account statistics and a psychological test with one-word answers.

After the analysis, I used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to clean and analyze the data. I have successfully prepared a database matrix, performed initial calculations and obtained descriptive statistics. Based on the prepared matrices, I performed operations with multiple questions and then built conjugacy tables, calculating the coefficients of statistical connection. Then I used macro technology to analyze the results obtained from using Instagram on users’ self-esteem and well-being; both of my assumptions were met. The coefficient of variance inflation (VIF) for predictor variables indeed had a value of less than five.

Results

There were 122 male students (34 percent) and 236 females among the 359 authorized responders (65.7 percent). Although one respondent did not want their gender revealed, the average age utilized in the study was 20 years (0.3 percent). The majority of users reported having at least 801 Instagram followers and spent at least 31 minutes each day on the platform. As a result, an insignificant connection was established between the level of self-esteem of respondents and their activity in this social network.

In conclusion, the findings of this study indicated that user intensity contributed to the connection between social media usage and outcomes for users. The more excessively people use social networks, the more negative effects they receive. Major unpleasant outcomes lead to social comparison, jealousy, and pessimism. However, active usage of social networks proved to have positive effects, such as improving social skills, increasing self-esteem, and general well-being. Consequently, the amount of time spent on social networks significantly influences the outcomes.

References

Gerson, J., Plagnol, A., & Corr, P. (2017). Passive and active Facebook use measure (PAUM): Validation and relationship to the reinforcement sensitivity theory.Personality and Individual Differences, 117, 81-90.

Trifiro, B. M., & Prena, K. (2021). Active Instagram use and its association with self-esteem and well-being. Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 2(3), 1-5.

Verduyn, P., Ybarra, O., Résibois, M., Jonides, J., & Kross, E. (2017). Do social network sites enhance or undermine subjective well-being? A critical review. Social Issues and Policy Review, 11(1), 274-302.

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