Asian Pac. J. Nursing and Health Sci.

, 2024; 7(2):1-7 e-ISSN: 2581-7442

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Social Media's Influence on Adolescent Self-Esteem: Patterns and Perceptions

Hanu Shashwat1, Muskan Singh2

1
Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar, India
2
Department of Psychology, University of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
_________________________
*Correspondence
Mr. Hanu Shashwat,
Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Bihar, India,
E-Mail: hanushashwat733@gmail.com

Abstract
The present study considered the very complex relationship between patterns of usage of social media and self-
esteem in adolescents. With the rapid expansion of digital platforms becoming an integral part of everyday life, the
relationship between the nature of this interaction and the self-perception of the youth is worth understanding.
Combining quantitative questionnaires with qualitative interviews, the current research attempted to observe these
subtle relationships closely. For this reason, the study aims to contribute useful insights to academic discourse as
well as practical interventions that promote healthy digital habits among youth by way of a very salient concern:
scrutiny of frequency, duration, and contents of engagement with social media and their impact on self-esteem.
Keywords: Adolescent self-esteem, social media usage, social comparison, digital engagement, mental health.

This is an Open Access article that uses a fund-ing model which does not charge readers or their institutions for access and distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0) and the Budapest Open Access Initiative
(http://www.budapestopenaccessinitiative.org/read), which permit unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the
original work is properly credited.

Introduction answer to the question of whether social media actually

Adolescents today swim in the colourful sea of social is affecting teenage self-esteem; it thus contributes
media which always expanded its scope and became valuable knowledge to that expanding conversation
more interdependent with pervasive digital over digital culture and adolescent development.
connectivity in this age. As youths age, so do the online This is because social media has become a very
imprints that make up their selves. There is new-found important part of the life of the present youth, and
interest in young people's developmental trajectories hence knowing the instrumentality of these media as
under the impact of social media. This paper intends to virtual arenas of self-expression, socialization, and the
explore an extended discussion on how this might dissemination of information makes their repercussions
provoke interesting constellations between usage on the self-esteem of adolescents users very crucial to
patterns on social media and adolescent self-esteem. know [4] [14]. Analyzing the frequency, length, and
Another critical implication is to help understand self- even the content of how people use social media,
esteem in the context of social media use toward research is to be expected to point toward the complex
developing strategies that support healthy use of digital ways in which these sites contribute either to general
devices among teens. There is a constellation of self-esteem for a person or detract from it among
increased problems related to mental health and well- young users.
being in the teen population that necessitates Material and Methods
uncovering the fine print behind their online The paper discusses different social media content that
experiences to design targeted interventions [9]. teenagers engage with and how this may be influencing
This study presents a holistic analysis, quantitatively self-esteem because of possibly different content
based on surveys and qualitatively, which goes beyond including pictures, messages, and comments [5].
enriching our understanding of the phenomenon but, at Shedding light on content-driven interactions in the
best, will produce actionable insights for all educators, debates makes the intricacies involved easier to
parents, and policymakers as they move forward into understand. The study evaluated the available studies
the challenges presented by the digital landscape. We and literature for the current status first followed by the
hike across the terrain in an effort to cobble together an
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establishing the research question/ hypothesis and the adolescents?
critical analysis of results obtained. b) How do different types of content
The increasing presence of social media platforms has consumption, such as images, posts, and
dramatically altered the adolescent socialisation comments, on social media platforms
landscape, fueling interest in academic exploration of relate to variations in self-esteem among
the implications of digital engagement for identity adolescents?
development and self-esteem. Among some of the c) Are there significant associations between
burgeoning literature on this topic, themes emerge and the duration of social media engagement
suggest much about the complex relationship between and levels of self-esteem among
adolescents and their online environments. adolescent users?
It has been found that adolescents basically use social d) What role does the perception of social
media as a reflective mirror in portraying themselves comparison play in influencing the self-
before both peers and a more extensive online esteem of adolescents on social media?
community [2] [20]. This posed a question about the Hypotheses
authenticity of the self and if it affects the self. The a) H₁: There is a significant negative
theory of comparative socialization assumes that young correlation between the frequency of
people are involved in social comparison processes social media use and the self-esteem of
whereby they compare their lives to the idealized lives adolescents, with increased usage
of other peers posting their lives on social media [2]. associated with lower self-esteem levels.
This process has been associated with wings of self- b) H₂: Specific types of content consumption
esteem because individuals work through perceived on social media, particularly those
differences between their real self and idealized self. involving social comparison, will be
The dark side of teenage social media engagement is positively correlated with variations in
outlined by the studies as new incidents of online adolescent self-esteem.
harassment and maltreatment have been associated c) H₃: Longer durations of social media
with impaired self-concepts [7] [10]. This therefore engagement will be associated with lower
points out that both sides of online interaction must be self- esteem among adolescents.
addressed to constructively address such issues [4]. d) H₄: The perception of social comparison
While some studies have targeted the specific role of mediates the relationship between social
digital literacy and coping mechanisms that adolescents media engagement and the self-esteem of
deploy in their efforts to handle the intricacies adolescents, contributing to variations in
associated with social media [7], understanding self-esteem levels.
adolescent interpretations and responses to online Below are our research questions and hypotheses
interactions will add to the knowledge base about their guiding our investigation into the area. They provide us
resilience and adaptive strategies. with a compass in the empirical analysis and
In navigated landscapes of existing research, a interpretation of findings on this intricate interplay
tendency is to understand how social media promises between patterns of social media use and adolescents'
much in terms of self-expression and connectivity but self-esteem.
challenges that may have an effect on the self-esteem of Methodology
young people. Thus, this literature review forms the This study will establish a relationship between patterns
background of our investigation of the need for a of social media use and self-esteem among adolescents
comprehensive understanding of usage patterns and by adopting a systematic design. Here, a cross-
their implications for the well-being of today's digitally sectional survey design has been adopted to draw data,
immersed youth. as this design makes the views and experiences of the
Defining Problem participants concerning social media use that impact
 Primary Research Question: To what extent do self-esteem [1].
the usage patterns of adolescents on social This comprised youngsters between the ages of 13 and
media platforms suggest any association with 18 years from diverse socio-economic backgrounds.
self-esteem, and to what extent do some aspects Recruitment was done through schools, community
of social media usage contribute to the range of bodies, and other online mediums. Participants and
variation in self-esteem? their legal guardians provided informed consent,
 Subsidiary Research Questions: thereby ensuring that the process stayed ethical while
a) To what extent does the frequency of informing all parties involved in the research about it
social media use impact the self-esteem of and what was expected of them before proceeding.
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A structured survey questionnaire shall be the primary preferences. From pictures and videos to more textual
tool for data gathering [1]. It was intended to gather forms of media, participants ranged widely. Most
quantifiable data regarding the usage pattern indicated this occurred daily, while others reported it
concerning social media and self-esteem. happened less often. Further insight is given into how
It covered several key areas: demographic information teens incorporate social media and what they find of
including age, gender, and socio-economic class; use of most value to them in their daily lives (Fig. 2).
social media, specifying the frequency of use, length of Correlational analysis at earlier stages may indicate
use, and types of information consumed; self-esteem, that there is a correlation between some specific social
which employed existing valid scales for general and media usage patterns and level of self-esteem (Fig. 3).
specific level measures of self-esteem [2]; and social Preliminary results show that infrequent use and short
comparison perceptions, examining the degree to periods spent on social media were significantly
which respondents considered social comparisons associated with higher scores of self-esteem [8].
taking place on social media. Regression analysis is applied later in this report after
The online platform was followed, so the comfort and accounting for some mediators and generating some
ease of participants were ensured while accessing the more detailed insights [9].
same. The participants were informed about the right to The study pointed to the massive dependence of
withdraw from the study at any point in time. teenagers using social media on social comparison.
Moreover, all the efforts ensured anonymity and Most of the respondents admitted that they engage in
confidentiality throughout the process. Statistical tools comparative social comparisons where they compare
that included correlation analysis, regression analysis, their lives to idealized representations of others online
and descriptive statistics have been used in the analysis [17] [20]. This led to significant highs and lows
of data. It used conceptual analytical tools to identify regarding self-esteem; their self-conception was
patterns and relations and determine predictors of self- governed by the comparisons. Understanding these
esteem through social media engagement. Ethical dynamics is crucial to eventually untangle how social
considerations are strictly followed, making sure the media impacts adolescents' self-perception and mental
privacy of the participants is assured [1]. health [12].
Participants assured informed consent with each and Future research will clarify the interaction between
every concern being made to avoid any kind of distinct social media use patterns and self- esteem
psychological damage caused by participating in such among teenagers, thereby possibly pointing out what
research. This is a broad-scale survey method intended intervention strategies would be needed for positive
to capture nuances regarding experiences from social constructive digital experiences in this age group [19].
media usage among adolescents as well as complicated Self-esteem was measured using the very commonly
dynamics that involve usage patterns and their self- utilized Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, where
esteem. generalized, global self-worth was assessed and ten
Results items included "I feel that I am a person of worth" [3].
The analysis of the responses from participants displays The responses were rated using a Likert-type scale,
diverse patterns regarding the frequency with which where a higher score would point towards a greater
young adolescents use social media. Most said they level of overall self-esteem level [3]. Global measures
often log into applications every day, while others said aside, specific domains of self-esteem were also
they do only less frequently, while rarely throughout measured with respect to academic achievement, social
the week. This also marks heterogeneity when relating relationships, and body image.
the integration of social media into an adolescent's life, These scales rely on existing instruments, like Harter's
with heavy users and moderate ones also featured (Fig. Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents, to measure
1). self-esteem in multiple domains.
Questions on hours spent on social media elicited Preliminary analyses of self-esteem scores suggested
fragmented responses spread along the spectrum of considerable variability [10]. While many adolescents
time spent per sitting. Most respondents reported showed robust self-esteem across most of the domains,
sitting for 1-2 hours, while others claimed to sit for 3-4 others yielded more variable patterns suggesting that
hours and more. This spread reveals aspects of the time perhaps some domains might carry more weight than
spent by the youth in digital communication and others in determining general self-worth. Early findings
therefore presents a backdrop for further discussion on generally suggest that specific types of social media
extended engagement effects on self-esteem. use have certain kinds of effects on domain-specific
In addition, the type of content utilized by participants self-esteem, indicating these forms of digital
was analyzed to reveal clear differences in media communication and interaction can both positively and
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negatively affect adolescents' self-esteem, depending appearance scored lowest. Results concerning the
on context. This paper aims to outline interlinkages association of frequency of social media use with self-
between social comparison, consumption of content, esteem were highly significant [9] [15].
and dimensions of self-esteem to understand how the There was also a moderate, negative correlation
use of social media is related to several dimensions of between the frequency of social media use and global
self-esteem [4] [12]. How complex such inter-relations self-worth, r = -0.35 (p < 0.01), meaning that the
are can help shine a light on what could perhaps be greater the frequency of using social media, the lower
made available for educators, parents, and the self-esteem [5] [16]. However, the correlation
policymakers to craft a good digital experience for between the time spent on social media and self-esteem
young people. was even greater at -0.42, p < 0.01, indicating that the
The results of the study show a mid-range level of self- longer the time spent on social media, the lower the
esteem among participants. An average global self- level of self-esteem [6] [16]. The type of content also
worth score of 18.7 was obtained from participants on impacted the self-esteem levels [5]. For example, the
the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) to indicate a adolescents who viewed more video-based content like
midrange level of self-esteem across the sample [3]. reels on Instagram recorded lower self-esteem scores
Domain-specific scores were also attained to show that compared to those viewing more textual and image-
an average rating of 16.4 was given for school based content (r = -0.25, p < 0.05) [5]. This specific
performance, 17.8 for social relationships, and 14.5 for study demonstrates how the type of content affects
appearance, thus indicating that, although self-esteem adolescents' self-esteem, particularly in relation to the
varies across different aspects of adolescents' lives, visual nature of some social media tools.

Fig. 1: Frequency of Social media Use and Self-Esteem

Fig. 2: Types of contents consumed by Adolescents

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Fig. 3: Duration of Social Media Engagement and Self-Esteem

Discussion that promote healthy self-viewing and balanced use of

The results of this research indicate a multi-directional digital processes, and then blow those up into
relationship between the use of social media and community organizations.
adolescent's self-esteem. Negative associations have However, since the present study is cross-sectional in
also been based on previous research in much the nature, the generalization of the study might be limited;
same way [11] [20]. Massively engaging or obsessing that is, causality can't be established. The self-report
with social media is associated with lower self-esteem measures are also by necessity subject to subjective
[14]. These are some things that become more interpretation and bias. Objective measures need to be
pronounced if adolescents tend to be constantly included within longitudinal designs for the
exposed to idealized, photo-edited images of their associations documented here to be further validated.
peers that spark social comparisons [14]. The study contributes to public debate about the
Thus, youths who get used to constantly "seeing" well-being of adolescents in the digital age. As this
images and videos on visually oriented applications study raises the imperative need for proactive
such as Instagram and TikTok are less confident measures in a digitally literate environment that
[17]. Results of the study may frequently indicate encourages positive online behaviours in light of
that these young people may easily become irritated detailing negative correlations between patterns of
when they post visual content that expresses a social media usage and levels of self-esteem, it
narcissistic or idealized self, which therefore indicates that educators, parents, and policymakers
increases the feeling of inadequacy against others must work in common cause and act in concert to
[13] [15]. prepare future generations of digital users with safe
The social comparison seems to form an integral part means of using this digital landscape [18-20].
of such dynamics [10]. Therefore, the results do Conclusion
support the hypothesis that adolescents tend to This study underlines a need for multilevel
engage in social comparisons with their friends on interventions to counteract the potential adverse
social media, who portray idealized 'versions' of their effects of social media use on self-esteem. These also
lives. Such comparison is probably one of the signify meaningful avenues for connection, hence
channels through which social media use tends to sites of risk for vulnerable adolescents predisposed to
negatively impact self-esteem. comparison. Subsequent research should be involved
Reasons for action: teachers, parents, and officials with longitudinal designs that allow for such
should jointly help adolescents learn positive online causality and further research into digital literacy and
behaviours and develop a better understanding of resilience training as potentially protective factors.
digital literacy [11]. Social comparison behaviour has The research focuses on elaborating how complex
to be diminished, teens have to understand that status dynamics shape youth experiences by examining the
updates are made from impossible things, and proper relationship between patterns of social media use that
usage of social media has to be developed. This can be impact adolescents' self- esteem. The negative
done actively at schools through workshop programs correlations between time spent and frequency of
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Conflict of Interests and Fundings mental health and wellbeing? Exploring the
The authors declare no conflict of interest, and this perspectives of adolescents. Clin Child
research received no external funding. Psychol Psychiatry. 2018;23(4):601-613.
12. Ulvi O, Karamehic-Muratovic A,
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seeking: Gender and popularity moderate

Source of Support: Nil

Conflict of Interest: Nil

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