Do you dare to compare?: the key characteristics of social media users who frequently make online upward social comparisons
Abstract
Social media platforms and social networking sites are heavily focused on self-presentation and impression management. The present study aimed to identify salient social media behaviors and psychosocial factors most associated with high levels of upward online social comparisons. An online survey was administered through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to assess demographics, psychosocial factors, and social media behaviors, including tendencies to make upward social comparisons online. Results revealed key factors related to high upward social comparisons: those with low quality of life, low perceived social support, high in fear of missing out, high levels of social media addiction, frequent censorship to avoid judgment, and feelings of safety while using social media. The overall findings of this study suggest an association between negative well-being and making online upward social comparisons.
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Frequent use of SNSs is linked to an increase in upward comparisons.
“Studies have consistently shown that frequent use of SNSs is linked to an increase in these upward comparisons (Gomez et al., 2022; Schmuck et al., 2019; Vogel et al., 2014).”
From The associations between social comparison on social media and young adults’ mental health (2025) · cites this paper as Gomez et al., 2022
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Social comparisons on social media and mental health: A systematic review and meta-analysisPreprint
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- Authors
- Gomez, M., Klare, D., Ceballos, N., Dailey, S., Kaiser, S., & Howard, K.
- Affiliations
- Texas State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Howard, Krista
- Venue
- International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2021-09-09
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 938-948
- ISSN
- 1044-7318 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7590
- OpenAlex
- W3200853408
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 8.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Body Image and Dysmorphia Studies
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Media and Digital Communication
- Keywords
- upward social comparison, social media use, self-presentation, impression management, fear of missing out, social media addiction, perceived social support, quality of life, censorship, online safety, negative well-being
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