The Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescent Self-Esteem Trajectories

Thesis Abstract

The rapid proliferation of social media platforms has intensified peer comparison and online feedback processes among adolescents, raising concerns about potential impacts on self-esteem development during a critical transitional period. This study addresses the problem of how varying patterns of social media use influence trajectories of self-esteem across early to middle adolescence, and whether these effects are moderated by gender, baseline self-esteem, and social support. The aim is to quantify how frequency, intensity, and content exposure on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat relate to changes in self-esteem over a 12-month period, and to identify mechanisms by which social media may affect self-perception. Specific objectives include (1) to map individual self-esteem trajectories using longitudinal data; (2) to examine associations between daily time-on-platforms and self-esteem changes; (3) to assess the role of social comparison orientation and feedback sensitivity as mediators; (4) to explore moderator effects of gender, socioeconomic status, and family support; and (5) to evaluate differential effects of positive versus negative feedback exposure on self-esteem development. Guided by Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954) and the Sociometer Theory (Leary & Baumeister, 2000), the study hypothesizes that higher, more interactive social media use will be associated with greater fluctuations in self-esteem, with negative feedback and upward comparisons predicting larger declines in self-esteem among lower baseline levels, while supportive online communities may buffer adverse effects for some subgroups. A longitudinal, mixed-methods research design will be employed. The primary data will be collected from a stratified sample of 1,000 adolescents aged 12–15 at baseline, drawn from five secondary schools in a metropolitan region. Quantitative data will be obtained through validated instruments administered at three time points (baseline, 6 months, 12 months) Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to measure self-esteem, a tailored Social Media Use Questionnaire capturing frequency, duration, platform mix, and content exposure, and the Revised Social Media Consciousness and Comparison Scale to assess social comparison orientation. Additional covariates will include demographic variables, family support measures (Parents’ and Friends’ Support Scales), and mental health indicators (perceived stress scale). Qualitative insights will be gathered from a purposive subsample of 40 participants through semi-structured interviews focusing on perceived online experiences, feedback interpretation, and offline self-concept. Quantitative analyses will utilize latent growth modeling (LGM) to estimate self-esteem trajectories and the dynamic associations with social media use, controlling for confounders. Mediation analyses will test indirect effects of social comparison and feedback sensitivity on the link between social media use and self-esteem change, using bootstrapped confidence intervals. Moderation analyses will examine whether gender, socioeconomic status, and family support alter the strength or direction of effects. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring themes about online experiences, coping strategies, and the perceived impact on self-concept, with integration of findings through a convergent mixed-methods approach. Expected findings include (a) a nuanced, non-linear relationship between social media engagement and self-esteem, with moderate use linked to stable or slightly improved self-esteem in some youths, whereas high-frequency use, especially with prevalent negative feedback, predicting declines; (b) mediation by social comparison and sensitivity to feedback, partially explaining how exposure to upward comparisons and critical comments translates into self-esteem changes; (c) buffering effects for adolescents with strong family support and positive peer networks; and (d) gender differences indicating potentially greater susceptibility to online feedback processes among female adolescents. The study contributes to knowledge by longitudinally clarifying how adolescent self-esteem evolves in the context of pervasive social media, identifying mechanisms and subgroups at risk, and informing interventions aimed at media literacy, resilience-building, and family-based support. The main conclusion is that social media use has heterogeneous effects on self-esteem trajectories, contingent on content exposure, feedback experiences, and social support structures. Recommendations include implementing school-based media literacy programs, promoting digital well-being curricula that emphasize critical engagement with online feedback, and fostering family communication strategies to bolster supportive environments that mitigate adverse self-esteem outcomes.