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Social comparison on social networking sites
Open accessAbstract
Because of the rise of social networking sites (SNSs), social comparisons take place at an unprecedented rate and scale. There is a growing concern that these online social comparisons negatively impact people's subjective well-being (SWB). In this paper, we review research on (a) the antecedents of social comparisons on SNSs, (b) the consequences of social comparisons on SNSs for SWB and, (c) social comparison as a mechanism explaining (mediator) or affecting (moderator) the relationship between SNSs and SWB. The occurrence of social comparisons on SNSs depends on who uses the SNS and on how the SNS is being used with passive use in particular resulting in increased levels of social comparison. Moreover, social comparison on SNSs may occasionally result in an increase in SWB but typically negative effects are found as people tend to engage in contrasting upward social comparisons. Finally, several studies show that social comparison is a key mechanism explaining the relationship between use of SNSs and SWB and that users with a tendency to engage in social comparison are especially likely to be negatively impacted by SNSs. The dynamic, cyclical processes that result from this pattern of findings are discussed.
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“Recent work suggests that the relationship between SNSs use and wellbeing is highly context-dependent and may vary based on user motivations, content type, and platform engagement styles”
From The associations between social comparison on social media and young adults’ mental health (2025) · cites this paper as Verduyn et al., 2020
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“the information that is shared on social networking sites gives rise to upward social comparisons, which can have negative effects on well-being and mental health (Verduyn et al., 2020; for meta-analyses, see Yang et al., 2019;Yoon et al., 2019).”
From Understanding Autobiographical Memory in the Digital Age: The AMEDIA-Model (2024) · cites this paper as Verduyn et al., 2020
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“Some studies further indicate that digital engagement on social media can trigger upward social comparison in virtual spaces, potentially even generating negative affect (Ding et al., 2025; Pang, 2021; Verduyn et al., 2020).”
Alharthi, S. S., Alharbi, H., Qrmli, A. A., Yousef, K. H., Abudasser, A. M., Abanmi, S. N., Almutairi, A., Albarkheel, L. B., Alotaibi, A. S., Almutairi, S., et al. (2026) · BMJ public health · doi:10.1136/bmjph-2026-005365
“…this theory posits that individuals with low self-esteem are more susceptible to cognitive biases that reinforce negative beliefs about the self and others, increasing their vulnerability to psychological distress, particularly in response to triggering situations such as social media interactions.”
Benefit framing, personality traits and intention to adopt a flexitarian diet
Barile, L., Kollmar, F., & Markoulakis, A. (2026) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2026.1848757
“Neuroticism and extraversion have likewise been linked to eating behaviour, although these relationships appear more complex and may operate through emotional eating, sensitivity to external food cues, and social influences (33, 34).”
Smartphone Devices, Intelligent Algorithms and Rigid Cognitive Schemas
Petropoulos-Petalas, D. (2026) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-52643-5_253-1
Moravec, V., Gavurová, B., Rigelský, M., & Miovský, M. (2026) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107985
Problematic Social Media Use and Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents
Nagata, J. M., Otmar, C. D., Li, E. J., Ganson, K. T., Lavender, J. M., Testa, A. M., He, J., Christakis, D., & Baker, F. C. (2026) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2025-075060
Ávila, A. C., Noriega, M. D. L., & Hernández, L. Z. (2026) · Rastros Rostros · doi:10.16925/2382-4921.2026.02.04
“…que advierten sobre el «doble filo» de las redes sociales, al combinar oportunidades de información y conexión con desafíos como la desinformación, la comparación social o la distracción académica (Verduyn et al., 2020; McComb et al., 2023; Efstratiou & De Cristofaro, 2022; Baqir et al., 2024).”
The Relationship Between Sports Volunteers’ Authenticity, Social Media Attitudes And Commitment
Kaya, A., Yurtseven, C. N., & Keskin, B. (2026) · Yalova Üniversitesi spor bilimleri dergisi. · doi:10.70007/yalovaspor.2040481
TUNCER, B. (2026) · Bucak İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi · doi:10.38057/bifd.1977217
Metadata
- Authors
- Verduyn, P., Gugushvili, N., Massar, K., Täht, K., & Kross, E.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University (NL)
- University of Tartu (EE)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Corresponding author
- Verduyn, Philippe
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-12
- Volume
- 36
- Pages
- 32-37
- ISSN
- 2352-250X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3022958855
- Cited by
- 500
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 96 · 2025: 107 · 2024: 115 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 56 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 5
- FWCI
- 7.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
- Keywords
- social comparison, social networking sites, subjective well-being, upward social comparison, passive social media use
- MeSH terms
- Social Comparison, Humans, Social Networking
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