<p>I have been seeing many conflicting studies saying that facebook usage increases or decreases self-esteem. </p>

<ul>
<li>What is the current consensus regarding the effect of facebook usage on self-esteem? </li>
<li>Has there been a meta-analysis?</li>
</ul>

<p>I can see that looking at facebook would make one compare himself to another (upward comparison). This could induce jealousy. Likewise, seeing your own facebook profile reaffirms who you are. This would increase self esteem.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-18T04:40:13.787Z
not a duplicate, but see [this related question on the effect of social media on social skills](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/3252/what-effects-does-spending-a-lot-of-time-in-online-communities-have-on-interpers/3264#3264)
Jeromy Anglim
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-20T06:02:33.203Z
@guest43434: Of course. Since it is all based on pictures, I would imagine more photogenic people will get a self-esteem boost and less photogenic will get less. I got no scientific proof but it is obviously human nature likes to compare to others...and with social media we have a lot more to compare with. Especially among youth where image is everything, I really worry about the effects there....
Greg McNulty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-18T19:58:59.483Z
also depends if you view your self as photogenic or not....
Greg McNulty
<social-psychology><well-being><internet><social-networks>
What is the effect of Social Media consumption on self-esteem?
NebulousReveal
# What is the effect of Social Media consumption on self-esteem?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-04-17)

I have been seeing many conflicting studies saying that facebook usage increases or decreases self-esteem.

* What is the current consensus regarding the effect of facebook usage on self-esteem?
* Has there been a meta-analysis?

I can see that looking at facebook would make one compare himself to another (upward comparison). This could induce jealousy. Likewise, seeing your own facebook profile reaffirms who you are. This would increase self esteem.

**Tags:** social-psychology, well-being, internet, social-networks

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: not a duplicate, but see [this related question on the effect of social media on social skills](http://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/3252/what-effects-does-spending-a-lot-of-time-in-online-communities-have-on-interpers/3264#3264)  
> **username_2**: @guest43434: Of course. Since it is all based on pictures, I would imagine more photogenic people will get a self-esteem boost and less photogenic will get less. I got no scientific proof but it is obviously human nature likes to compare to others...and with social media we have a lot more to compare with. Especially among youth where image is everything, I really worry about the effects there....  
> **username_2**: also depends if you view your self as photogenic or not....  

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## 0 answers

