Dynamic or Stable? The Stability of the Effects of Adolescents’ Social Media Use on Psychosocial Functioning

Abstract

To better understand among whom, when, and why social media use affects psychosocial functioning, this study examined the temporal stability of social media effects across two separate three-week experience sampling methodology (ESM) studies with a six-month gap between them. Participants were 297 adolescents (Mage = 14.08 years, SD = .70, 59% girls; 97% Dutch) who completed 126 momentary questionnaires on social media use, affective well-being, self-esteem, and friendship closeness in each of the two ESM studies. The social media effects on psychosocial functioning were unstable among 49% to 68% of the adolescents. Whether or not social media use affects adolescents positively or negatively not only varies between individuals but may also change within an individual over time.