Look Up, Look Down: Articulating Inputs and Outputs of Social Media Social Comparison

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Benjamin K. Johnson

University of Florida (Correspondence: benjaminkjohnson@ufl.edu)

Citation: Johnson, B. K. (2021). Look up, look down: Articulating inputs and outputs of social media social comparison. Journal of Communication Technology, 4(1), 28-53. https://doi.org/10.51548/joctec-2021-003

Abstract: Computer-mediated social comparisons have been identified as a threat to psychological well-being. Because online friends selectively self-present, social comparisons may be biased upward, producing feelings of inadequacy. However, earlier evidence consistently confounded social comparative thoughts with causes or outcomes. A cross-sectional survey (N = 163) tested how traits, motivations, selectivity, and mood management influence computer-mediated downward and upward social comparison, and how comparison influences affect, self-esteem, and peer misperceptions. Results indicated age, social comparison orientation, mood modification, selectivity, and Facebook intensity produced social comparisons. Younger, frequent users made more upward comparisons, while mood modifiers made more downward comparisons. Comparing upward boosted negative affect, harmed self-esteem, and produced pluralistic ignorance. Downward comparisons enhanced self-esteem and reduced pluralistic ignorance about offline friends.

Keywords: social comparison, social networking site, mood management, self-esteem, pluralistic ignorance