Social Media Use and Adolescents’ Self-Esteem: Heading for a Person-Specific Media Effects Paradigm

Abstract Eighteen earlier studies have investigated the associations between social media use (SMU) and adolescents’ self-esteem, finding weak effects inconsistent results. A viable hypothesis for these mixed findings is that effect of SMU differs from adolescent to adolescent. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a preregistered three-week experience sampling study among 387 adolescents (13–15 years, 54% girls). Each reported on his/her self-esteem six times per day (126 assessments participant; 34,930 in total). Using person-specific, N = 1 method analysis (Dynamic Structural Equation Modeling), found majority (88%) experienced no or very small (−.10 < β .10), whereas 4% positive (.10 ≤ .17) 8% negative (−.21 −.10). Our results suggest person-specific can longer be ignored future theories research.