Frequency Of Social Media Use Research Articles

Normalizing junk food: The frequency and reach of posts related to food and beverage brands on social media.

Food and beverage marketing on social media contributes to poor diet quality and health outcomes for youth, given their vulnerability to marketing's effects and frequent use of social media. This study benchmarked the reach and frequency of earned and paid media posts, an understudied social media marketing strategy, of food brands frequently targeting Canadian youth. The 40 food brands with the highest brand shares in Canada between 2015 and 2020 from frequently marketed food categories were determined using Euromonitor data. Digital media engagement data from 2020 were licensed from Brandwatch, a social intelligence platform, to analyze the frequency and reach of brand-related posts on Twitter, Reddit, Tumblr, and YouTube. The 40 food brands were mentioned on Twitter, Reddit, Tumblr, and YouTube a total of 16.85M times, reaching an estimated 42.24B users in 2020. The food categories with the most posts and reach were fast food restaurants (60.5% of posts, 58.1% of total reach) and sugar sweetened beverages (29.3% of posts, 37.9% of total reach). More men mentioned (2.77M posts) and were reached (6.88B users) by the food brands compared to women (2.47M posts, 5.51B users reached). The food and beverage brands (anonymized), with the most posts were fast food restaurant 2 (26.5% of the total posts), soft drink 2 (10.4% of the total posts), and fast food restaurant 6 (10.1% of the total posts). In terms of reach, the top brands were fast food restaurant 2 (33.1% of the total reach), soft drink 1 (18.1% of the total reach), and fast food restaurant 6 (12.2% of the total reach). There is a high number of posts on social media related to food and beverage brands that are popular among children and adolescents, primarily for unhealthy food categories and certain brands. The conversations online surrounding these brands contribute to the normalization of unhealthy food and beverage intake. Given the popularity of social media use amongst of children and adolescents, policies aiming to protect these vulnerable groups need to include the digital food environment.

The interplay of technology anxiety and digital health literacy in determining e-health readiness

Abstract Background The assessment of e-health readiness (eHR) is used to assess the ability of selected groups of citizens and patients, as well as society as a whole, to adopt e-health support. This study aimed to understand the main determinants of eHR in adult Internet users in Poland. Methods The analysis was conducted using data from a computer-based web-based interviewing (CAWI) survey carried out in June 2023 in a representative sample of 1661 Polish Internet users. The eHR score was established based on the e-Health Readiness Scale. Uni- (ULRM) and multivariable (MLRM) models were developed for eHR. Independent variables included technology anxiety (TA), digital health literacy (DHL), Internet (IU) and social media use (SMU), self-assessed health status, and sociodemographic variables. Results ULRMs revealed that TA, DHL, IU, SMU, an array of sociodemographic variables, and self-assessed health status (SAHS) were significant predictors of eHL. ULRMs with TA and DHL explained, respectively, 30.1% and 23.9% of the eHR variability. In MLRM developed with all predictors confirmed in ULRMs, only TA, DHL SMU, age, and income level maintained their significant effect on eHR. MLRM explained 42.8% of TA variability. Higher TA was associated with lower eHR (B, 95% confidentiality interval (95%CI): -0.30, -0.33 - -0.27). Respondents with higher DHL demonstrated higher eHR (B, 95%CI: 0.42, 0.37 - 0.48). Older persons were more likely to accept e-health solutions (B, 95%CI: 0.03, 0.003 - 0.05). More frequent SMU was associated with higher eHR (B, 95%CI: 1.87, 0.94 - 2.80). Finally, those who refused to reveal their level of income showed significantly lower eHR than those who revealed it (B, 95%CI: -0.84, -1.58 - -0.10). Conclusions TA and DHL are the main predictors of eHR. SMU also accounts for eHR. Unexpectedly, older age is a positive predictor of eHR. Finally, variables reflecting health status do not exert a significant effect on eHR. Key messages • Technology anxiety should be treated as an important determinant of the successful implementation of e health solutions. • The development of society’s digital health literacy may be a countermeasure to the unfavorable effect of technology anxiety on e-health readiness.

CDC finds link between frequent social media use and bullying

Observing that social media has become a pervasive presence in everyday life, including among youths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 2023 included for the first time an item assessing U.S. high school students' frequency of social media use.

Frequent Social Media Use and Experiences with Bullying Victimization, Persistent Feelings of Sadness or Hopelessness, and Suicide Risk Among High School Students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023.

Social media has become a pervasive presence in everyday life, including among youths. In 2023, for the first time, CDC's nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Survey included an item assessing U.S. high school students' frequency of social media use. Data from this survey were used to estimate the prevalence of frequent social media use (i.e., used social media at least several times a day) among high school students and associations between frequent social media use and experiences with bullying victimization, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicide risk. All prevalence estimates and measures of association used Taylor series linearization. Prevalence ratios were calculated using logistic regression with predicted marginals. Overall, 77.0% of students reported frequent social media use, with observed differences by sex, sexual identity, and racial and ethnic identity. Frequent social media use was associated with a higher prevalence of bullying victimization at school and electronically, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and some suicide risk among students (considering attempting suicide and having made a suicide plan), both overall and in stratified models. This analysis characterizes the potential harms of frequent social media use for adolescent health among a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school students. Findings might support multisectoral efforts to create safer digital environments for youths, including decision-making about social media policies, practices, and protections.

Flavored combustible tobacco product initiation in two longitudinal youth cohorts in the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study: 2013–2016 and 2016–2019

IntroductionFlavored tobacco products increase appeal and lower barriers to nicotine addiction for young people. We compared environmental, psychosocial, behavioral, and demographic characteristics between youth who started with flavored and non-flavored (i.e., tobacco-flavored) combustible tobacco products (CTPs). MethodsWe analyzed two representative US youth cohorts (baseline age 12–15) from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study (Wave 1 Cohort (W1) 2013–2016; Wave 4 Cohort (W4) 2016–2019). We first assessed baseline characteristics associated with any subsequent CTP initiation among youth with baseline never CTP use (W1 n=5,946; W4 n=8,240). Then, for baseline CTP-naïve youth with subsequent CTP initiation (new experimentation; W1 n=519; W4 n=538), we assessed baseline characteristics associated with subsequent initiation with flavored CTPs versus non-flavored. ResultsMost youth reporting new CTP experimentation initiated with flavored CTPs (W1:67.8%; W4:74.2%). Household norms, susceptibility, baseline experimentation with vaping, alcohol, and/or cannabis; and White race were associated with CTP experimentation. For both cohorts, frequent social media use was associated with flavored CTP initiation (W4 AOR:2.50, 95%CI:1.22,5.12) and Black youth (W4 AOR:0.12, 95%CI:0.06,0.25) were less likely to initiate with flavored CTPs than White youth. Among W1 Cohort youth, perceiving flavored product use as easier was positively associated with flavored CTP initiation (AOR:1.48, 95%CI:1.01,2.17). Among W4 Cohort youth, baseline vaping was negatively associated with flavored CTP initiation (AOR:0.10, 95%CI:0.05,0.20). ConclusionFrequent social media use was associated with flavored CTP initiation among youth who used CTPs. Youth who had ever vaped and Black youth were less likely to initiate with flavored CTPs.

Exploring social media usage among different generations of Thai farmers

Social media’s pervasive influence extends to the agricultural sector, driving transformative changes. The purpose of this study aims to comprehensively overview how different generations of Thai farmers utilize social media. It has two principal objectives: first, to explore farmers’ behavior in relation to the frequency of social media use, their preferred platforms, and engaging advertising formats; and second, to examine the correlation between different generations of farmers and their choice of social media platforms. The study employed purposive sampling and quantitative methodologies to survey Thai farmers, utilizing questionnaires for data collection and analyzing the data with descriptive statistics. A total of 150 participants took part, evenly distributed across rice cultivation, gardening, and arable crop cultivation. The findings of this study showed that social media platform usage among farmers was found to vary by generation, with each cohort demonstrating distinct preferences for different platforms. It was observed that older generations, such as Baby Boomers and Gen X, tended to concentrate their social media usage on a select few platforms, while younger generations, including Gen Y and Gen Z, exhibited more diversified usage patterns. Therefore, understanding generational differences in social media platform usage among farmers remains crucial for developing targeted communication strategies, facilitating knowledge dissemination, and enhancing market engagement within the agricultural sector. Encouraging the utilization of social media in agricultural promotion initiatives maximizes benefits for farmers and aids in adapting to the changing landscape of the agricultural industry in Thailand in the digital era.

Psychological distress, social media use, and academic performance of medical students: the mediating role of coping style

BackgroundGiven that social media use (SMU) is an increasingly widespread activity among university students, more information is needed to evaluate its relationship with students’ mental health, particularly medical students.ObjectiveThe present study assessed the relationships between SMU and coping style with psychological distress and academic performance of medical students.MethodsAn offline cross-sectional survey conducted with 398 undergraduate medical students. The survey collected data on demographics, psychological distress (DASS-21), coping strategies (Brief COPE Scale), academic performance (grade point average) and estimated average time spent on social media per day. Structural equation modeling was used to clarify relationships between the main study variables. The study also examined the mediating effect of maladaptive coping between SMU and psychological distress.ResultsStudents with higher levels of psychological distress were more likely to be engaged in frequent social media use. Spending more than two hours a day on social media use had a positive association with maladaptive coping (p < 0.001), particularly with substance use and behavioral disengagement both of which could negatively affect academic performance. Maladaptive coping mediated the relationship between students’ SMU and psychological distress.ConclusionThe findings suggest that medical students commonly use social media as a maladaptive coping tool to deal with psychological distress. Empowering students to adopt and foster appropriate coping strategies could help them to enhance resilience against life stresses and ameliorate potential long-term mental health consequences associated with maladaptive behaviors.

Perception, use of social media, and its impact on the mental health of Indian adolescents: A qualitative study.

Mental illness is a health challenge faced by adolescents that has grown worse after the Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Research on social media and young people's mental health has recently increased, and numerous studies have examined whether frequent use of social media is linked to issues such as anxiety, stress, depression, eating disorders, insomnia, frustration, feeling alone, and externalizing problems among adolescents. This influence of social media on adolescents' lives is clear, with many platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube playing an important role in daily interactions and self-expression. Even though social media offers numerous benefits, such as connectivity and information sharing, excessive usage can have detrimental effects on mental health, particularly among adolescents. To study the impact of social media on the mental wellbeing of adolescents, and the associated potential dangers in India. A total of 204 adolescents aged 14 years to 23 years were included in the study. This study explored the intricate relationship between social media usage and adolescent mental health in India. The study employs a cross-sectional survey design to capture a snapshot of adolescent mental health and social media usage patterns. Data collection involved administering structured questionnaires and the analysis utilized quantitative methods, including descriptive statistics. Excessive use of social media is correlated with increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Adolescents engage in compulsive behaviors such as scrolling in the middle of the night, which negatively impacts their mental and physical health, and leads to significant sleep disruption. Findings from the study aim to provide insights into the current state of adolescent mental health and inform strategies to promote positive wellbeing in the Indian population. The study underscores the need for further research to better understand the complex interplay between social media and adolescent mental health, and need for effective strategies to combat online harassment.

The mediating and moderating effects of psychological distress on the relationship between social media use with perceived social isolation and sleep quality of late middle-aged and older adults

ObjectivesOlder adults are more likely to have poor sleep quality and be socially isolated. The present study examined the potential benefits and disadvantages of social media use (SMU) with respect to sleep quality and perceived social isolation among Iranian late-middle-aged and older adults with focus a on both the mediating and moderating role of psychological distress.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 900 older community-dwellers living in Shiraz using a structured questionnaire. Social media use was assessed by estimating the frequency of social networking site visits per week. Data concerning self-rated physical health, chronic medical and mental health conditions, perceived social isolation, sleep quality, and psychological distress were also collected. Multiple linear regression was used to identify independent variables associated with outcomes. Then, mediation and moderation models were used to examine the potential mediating and moderating effects of psychological distress and SMU on their relationships with the study variables.ResultsHigher social media use was associated with better sleep quality and less perceived social isolation. Nevertheless, the relationships between SMU and participants’ sleep quality and perceived social isolation were largely mediated by their level of psychological distress. Furthermore, SMU had a significant moderating effect in the relationship between the psychological distress and the levels of perceived social isolation, so that participants with higher frequency of SMU per week felt less loneliness.ConclusionsThe study findings suggest that SMU has a positive buffering effect regarding late middle-aged and older adults’ mental health mainly through moderation of their perceived social isolation. The mediating role of psychological distress in research examining the relationship between SMU and older adults’ mental health outcomes should be considered in future research.

Exploring the Influence of Academic Self-Efficacy on Students' Professional Identity: The Intermediary Role of Social Media Frequency

In recent years, social media has become more and more integral to Chinese daily life as new media has grown and developed. Previously, there were a number of challenges because of the lack of knowledge regarding social media usage and the problems of university students' majors. These challenges include whether the frequency of social media use affects daily learning, the extent to which university students in the new era understand the current state of their majors, whether frequent use of social media supports their studies and the mediating role of social media in these processes. Given these issues, the existing literature lacks comprehensive reference materials. In order to further examine students' learning habits, this study uses a questionnaire survey and a five-point Likert scale to investigate how ASE affects university students' major identification and how social media usage frequency acts as a mediating factor. Based on participants' moderate social media usage frequency, the results suggest a reasonable association between the frequency of social media use and its impact. There is a modest mediation influence of social media, variations in the academic self-efficacy (ASE) of participants, and a substantial positive association between the major identity and self-efficacy of university students.

Social media use is predictable from app sequences: Using LSTM and transformer neural networks to model habitual behavior

The present paper introduces a novel approach to studying social media habits through predictive modeling of sequential smartphone user behaviors. While much of the literature on media and technology habits has relied on self-report questionnaires and simple behavioral frequency measures, we examine an important yet understudied aspect of media and technology habits: their embeddedness in repetitive behavioral sequences. Leveraging Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and transformer neural networks, we show that (i) social media use is predictable at the within and between-person level and that (ii) there are robust individual differences in the predictability of social media use. We examine the performance of several modeling approaches, including (i) global models trained on the pooled data from all participants, (ii) idiographic person-specific models, and (iii) global models fine-tuned on person-specific data. Neither person-specific modeling nor fine-tuning on person-specific data substantially outperformed the global models, indicating that the global models were able to represent a variety of idiosyncratic behavioral patterns. Additionally, our analyses reveal that individual differences in the predictability of social media use were not substantially related to differences in the frequency of smartphone use in general or the frequency of social media use, indicating that our approach captures an aspect of habits that is distinct from behavioral frequency. Implications for habit modeling and theoretical development are discussed.

Variations in Unmet Health Care Needs by Perceptions of Social Media Health Mis- and Disinformation, Frequency of Social Media Use, Medical Trust, and Medical Care Discrimination: Cross-Sectional Study.

Unmet need for health care is defined as choosing to postpone or completely avoid necessary medical treatment despite having a need for it, which can worsen current conditions or contribute to new health problems. The emerging infodemic can be a barrier that prevents people from accessing quality health information, contributing to lower levels of seeking medical care when needed. We evaluated the association between perceptions of health mis- and disinformation on social media and unmet need for health care. In addition, we evaluated mechanisms for this relationship, including frequency of social media use, medical trust, and medical care discrimination. Data from 3964 active adult social media users responding to the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey 6 (HINTS 6), a nationally representative survey, were analyzed. The outcome was unmet need for medical care, defined as delaying or not getting the necessary medical care. The predictor variables were perception of social media health mis- and disinformation, frequency of social media use, level of trust in the health care system, and perceived racial and ethnic discrimination when receiving health care. Multivariable logistic regression models indicated that perception of substantial social media health mis- and disinformation (odds ratio [OR] 1.40, 95% CI 1.07-1.82), daily use of social media (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.01-1.79), low medical trust (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.06-2.01), and perceived discrimination (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.44-3.50) were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of unmet need for medical care. Unmet need among adults who did not use social media daily and who did not perceive substantial mis- and disinformation (24%; 95% CI 19%-30%) was lower compared to daily social media users who perceived substantial mis- and disinformation (38%; 95% CI 32%-43%). Adults who perceived substantial mis- and disinformation and had low trust in health care had the highest probability of reporting unmet need (43%; 95% CI 38%-49%) compared to the other three groups. Adults who perceived substantial mis- and disinformation and experienced medical care discrimination had a statistically significant higher probability of reporting unmet need (51%; 95% CI 40%-62%) compared to adults who did not experience medical care discrimination and did not perceive substantial mis- and disinformation (29%; 95% CI 26%-32%). Unmet need for medical care was higher among individuals who perceived a substantial degree of social media mis- and disinformation, especially among those who used social media daily, did not trust the health care system, and experienced racial or ethnic discrimination when receiving health care. To counter the negative effects of social media mis- and disinformation on unmet need for health care, public health messaging must focus on daily social media users as well as improving trust and reducing structural racism in the health care system.

Prospective longitudinal relations among frequent social media use, nicotine vaping and experiencing internalizing mental health problems.

To compare four a priori rival mediated pathways of frequent social media use, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use and internalizing mental health (MH) problems across five waves of nationally representative data. This was a longitudinal study using data drawn from waves 2-5 (October 2014-November 2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study, a nationally representative cohort study spanning approximately 5years, conducted in the United States. The analytical sample of participants included those who were aged 12-14 years at wave 2 and who provided data in subsequent waves until wave 4.5 (n = 4627, 69.7% were White and 51.4% were male). Frequent social media use (several times a day), ENDS use (past 30-day use) and internalizing MH problems (endorsed symptoms on four items in the past year) were dichotomized for analysis. The weighted proportions of the three key variables increased over time. From wave 2 to wave 5, frequent social media use grew from 56.9 to 77.2%; internalizing MH problems from 18.9 to 29.0%; and ENDS use from 1.4 to 11.4%. In weighted logistic regressions using generalized linear mixed models with random effects, there was a significant within-person association between frequent social media use at time t and greater ENDS use at t +1 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.87; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.47, 2.37] and worsened internalizing MH problems at t +1 (aOR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.37). A model-based causal mediation analysis and marginal structural models were fitted to estimate the average causal mediation effect. Among all four examined mediation pathways throughout the three constructs, partial mediation was observed, and all the pathways were significant for both boys and girls. Sex differences did not emerge in the examined prospective mediated pathways. Among youth in the United States, frequent social media use appears to mediate the prospective association between experiencing internalizing mental health problems and using electronic nicotine delivery systems.

Perceived functions and importance of digital media use and adolescent depression and suicidal ideation.

Although social media (SM) use is nearly ubiquitous among adolescents, there is a lack of clarity concerning the relationship between SM use and mental health outcomes like depression and suicidal ideation (SI), which increase during adolescence. Much of the previous literature has focused on the frequency of SM use; however, the current study examined the relationship between the perceived importance of three types of interactions and functions of SM use and depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. A sample of 4057 adolescents (M age = 14.6; 47.0% girls; 69.0% Non-Hispanic/Latine White) were recruited via an online survey manager between February and March 2019. Participants completed the Adolescent Digital Technology Interactions and Importance (ADTI) Scale, which assessed the perceived importance of bridging online and offline experiences (bridging), going outside one's identity or offline experience (identity), and facilitating social connections (social). Participants also completed measures of depressive symptoms and SI and a self-report measure of SM use. A series of path analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between bridging, identity, social, and depressive symptoms and SI. After accounting for covariates (gender identity, racial identity, age, and SM use), bridging was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, whereas identity was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Bridging and social connection were negatively associated with SI, whereas identity was positively associated with SI. Gender moderated these relationships; however, racial identity did not. The results highlight the importance of understanding adolescent SM use beyond screen time in relation to depression and SI.

Pengaruh Media Sosial Terhadap Keterampilan Komunikasi Interpersonal Pada Remaja Kota Bandung

This study aims to analyze the effect of social media use on interpersonal communication skills among adolescents in Bandung City. This research uses quantitative method with survey approach. The research sample consisted of 100 randomly selected teenagers. Data were collected through a questionnaire that measured the frequency, duration, type, and purpose of social media use as well as interpersonal communication skills.The results of multiple regression analysis showed that frequency of social media use (B = 0.432, p &lt; 0.001), duration of social media use (B = 0.298, p &lt; 0.01), type of social media used (B = 0.215, p &lt; 0.05), and purpose of social media use (B = 0.148, p &lt; 0.05) all had a positive and significant influence on interpersonal communication skills. The resulting regression model has a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.572, which indicates that 57.2% of the variability in interpersonal communication skills can be explained by the independent variables used in this study.The findings indicate that social media use significantly affects adolescents' interpersonal communication skills. Frequency of social media use has the greatest influence, followed by duration, type, and purpose of social media use. Therefore, it is important for adolescents to utilize social media wisely in order to improve their interpersonal communication skills.

Association of time spent on social media with youth cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use in the UK: a national longitudinal study

BackgroundSocial media may influence children and young people’s health behaviour, including cigarette and e-cigarette use.MethodsWe analysed data from participants aged 10–25 years in the UK Household Longitudinal Study 2015–2021. The...

The Impact of Teachers' Use of Social Media Platforms in Improving the Quality of Learning in Schools

This study aims to examine the impact of teachers' use of social media platforms in improving the quality of learning in schools. The results of the study show that the use of social media by teachers can increase the interaction between teachers and students, but also cause distractions in learning focus for students. The purpose of this study is to analyze the positive and negative impacts of teachers' use of social media platforms on the quality of learning in schools. All the results of this research are expected to formulate recommendations for teachers and stakeholders related to the use of social media in education, so that it can help improve the effectiveness of learning in schools. The research methodology used in this study is a type of quantitative research. The data collection instrument used is a questionnaire that includes questions related to the frequency of social media use, its impact on the interaction between students and teachers, and its effectiveness in learning. The validity of the questionnaire has been tested using content validity tests and reliability using the Cronbach alpha test. The data collection technique was carried out by distributing questionnaires online to respondents. The results of the study show that the use of social media platforms by teachers can have a positive and negative impact on the quality of learning in schools. Positive impacts include increased interaction between students and teachers, easier access to learning resources, and higher learning creativity. These findings suggest that the use of social media in education can provide great benefits, but it also poses some risks that need to be considered.

Digital shadows: confronting the rise of technology-facilitated sexual violence and the quest for systemic solutions

ABSTRACT This article explores Technology Facilitated Sexual Violence (TFSV), a rising issue in the digital era. TFSV encompasses online harassment, cyberstalking, and image-based exploitation via digital technologies. Unlike previous studies focusing on youth, this one includes adults. Surveys in Australia and the U.S. show TFSV’s high occurrence in adults. Using a qualitative method, the study involves legal and mental health experts to discuss TFSV’s effects, challenges, and solutions. Findings indicate frequent use of social media for abuse, causing victims significant mental distress like fear and trauma. The study points out the gap between fast-paced technological growth and the slower response of legal systems, resulting in ill-prepared professionals for handling digital abuse. It urges immediate, multi-pronged action against TFSV, including training for legal and law enforcement, education for practitioners and victims, and cross-sector collaboration. The article emphasizes the necessity of a better, comprehensive response to TFSV, advocating for an informed and inclusive approach in addressing digital sexual violence.

Social media use and mental health indicators among US adolescents: A population-based study

Social media use among young people has raised concerns about its potential impact on mental health. However, research is limited regarding whether certain subgroups may be differently affected. This study uses data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students aged approximately 11–18 years (n = 23,366). Mental health conditions were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, and social media use was categorized by frequency levels. We employed multinomial logistic regression and a finite mixture Poisson model to explore the relationship between social media use, sexual identity, and mental health status. The study found a consistent association between social media use and mental health conditions, particularly among frequent users. The finite mixture model revealed two latent groups based on mental health status: a ‘better’ group with minimal or no poor mental health indicators and a ‘worse’ group with more indicators. For both groups, social media use was associated with mental health conditions, with a stronger association among frequent users. Notably, sexual minorities, especially bisexual students, were more likely to report poor mental health indicators. This study suggests that frequent social media use may adversely affect young people's mental health and that different youth subgroups may respond differently to social media use and mental health conditions.

Social Media Use and Its Effects on Self-Esteem among Young Adult in Brazil

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the social media use and its effects on self-esteem among young adult in Brazil. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: A study in Brazil found that frequent social media use was linked to lower self-esteem among young adults. Comparing themselves with others online, especially in appearance and lifestyle, negatively affected participants' self-perceptions. Social media use was associated with feelings of inadequacy and social isolation, although positive interactions could mitigate self-esteem issues. Overall, the study highlighted the intricate relationship between social media and self-esteem in Brazilian youth. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social comparison theory, self-presentation theory &amp; uses and gratifications theory may be used to anchor future studies on the social media use and its effects on self-esteem among young adult in Brazil. Educational programs and interventions should be developed to promote healthy social media use and enhance self-esteem among young adults in Brazil. Government agencies could collaborate with social media companies to develop and enforce policies that address harmful content, cyberbullying, and unrealistic beauty standards on online platforms.