Cited by 451Impact of Technology on AdolescentsMedia and Digital CommunicationDigital Media and Philosophy

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Social Network Sites and Well-Being: The Role of Social Connection

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Clark, Jenna L., Algoe, Sara B., Green, Melanie C.·2018·Current Directions in Psychological Science

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Abstract

In the early days of the Internet, both conventional wisdom and scholarship deemed online communication a threat to well-being. Later research has complicated this picture, offering mixed evidence about how technology-mediated communication affects users. With the dawn of social network sites, this issue is more important than ever. A close examination of the extensive body of research on social network sites suggests that conflicting results can be reconciled by a single theoretical approach: the interpersonal-connection-behaviors framework. Specifically, we suggest that social network sites benefit their users when they are used to make meaningful social connections and harm their users through pitfalls such as isolation and social comparison when they are not. The benefits and drawbacks of using social network sites shown in existing research can largely be explained by this approach, which also posits the need for studying specific online behaviors in future research.

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“Additionally, passive SMU allows for many activities that feel social but are not interactive (Clark, Algoe, and Green 2018), such as browsing pro ﬁ les (Carpenter, Green, and LaFlam 2011).”
Background
Cybercrime Victimization and Problematic Social Media Use: Findings from a Nationally Representative Panel Study
Marttila, E., Koivula, A., & Räsänen, P. (2021) · American Journal of Criminal Justice · doi:10.1007/s12103-021-09665-2 · Cited by 53
“In general, it appears that the type of use that does not facilitate interpersonal connection is more detrimental to users’ health and well-being (Clark et al., 2018).”
Background
Social media use and adolescents’ well-being: A note on flourishing
Marciano, L., & Viswanath, K. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1092109 · Cited by 60
“Indeed, according to the interpersonal-connectionbehaviors framework (Clark et al., 2018), the quality of the social connection experienced through social media depends on the capacity of the user to build meaningful social connections or not.”
Background
The association between self-esteem and dimensions and classes of cross-platform social media use in a sample of emerging adults - Evidence from regression and latent class analyses
Tibber, M., Zhao, J., & Butler, S. (2020) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106371 · Cited by 33
Reciprocal Relationships between Trajectories of Loneliness and Screen Media Use during Adolescence
Lawrence, D. M., Hunter, S. C., Cunneen, R., Houghton, S. J., Zadow, C., Rosenberg, M., Wood, L. J., & Shilton, T. (2021) · Journal of Child and Family Studies · doi:10.1007/s10826-021-02066-3 · Cited by 49
Social Media as a Pathway to Leisure: Digital Leisure Culture among New Mothers with Young Children in Taiwan
Ho, C.-H., & Cho, Y.-H. (2021) · Leisure Sciences · doi:10.1080/01490400.2021.2007823 · Cited by 36
“…of social media has become an effective means of fostering social capital (Ellison et al., 2007; Steinfield et al., 2012), attaining social support (Archer & Kao, 2018; Haslam et al., 2017; Kim, 2014; Utz & Breuer, 2017), and decreasing feelings of loneliness (Clark et al., 2018; Pittman, 2015).”
Background
Experimental effects of social behavior on well-being
Regan, A., Radošić, N., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2022) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2022.08.006 · Cited by 46
“well-being and reduced loneliness [97,98].”
Loneliness Shapes the Relationship between Information and Communications Technology Use and Psychological Adjustment among Older Adults
Fang, Y., Chau, A. K. C., Fung, H. H.-L., & Woo, J. (2019) · Gerontology · doi:10.1159/000495461 · Cited by 34
Peer Connectedness and Social Technology Use During COVID-19 Lockdown
James, K. M., Silk, J. S., Scott, L. N., Hutchinson, E., Wang, S., Sequeira, S. L., Lu, C., Oppenheimer, C. W., & Ladouceur, C. D. (2023) · Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology · doi:10.1007/s10802-023-01040-5 · Cited by 42
“Yet, social technology (particularly social media) is also a common source of interpersonal stress (e.g., social comparison, rejection; Clark et al., 2018; Lee et al., 2020; Nesi & Prinstein, 2015; Riehm et al., 2019) and may have negative effects on emotional health (Alonzo et al.”
Background
A Lifespan Development Theory of Insecure Attachment and Internalizing Symptoms: Integrating Meta-Analytic Evidence via a Testable Evolutionary Mis/Match Hypothesis
Dagan, O., Groh, A. M., Madigan, S. L., & Bernard, K. (2021) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci11091226 · Cited by 47
Exploring determinants of social media addiction in higher education through the integrated lenses of technology acceptance model (TAM) and usage habit
Paiman, N., & Fauzi, M. A. (2023) · Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education · doi:10.1108/jarhe-03-2023-0114 · Cited by 39
How to Make Digitalization Better Serve an Increasing Quality of Life?
Kryzhanovskij, O. A., Baburina, N., & Ljovkina, A. O. (2021) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su13020611 · Cited by 61
“Clark, the vector of the influence of social networks on subjective well-being is determined by the structure of interpersonal connections and behavior [35].”
Background
The beauty and the beast of social media: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the impact of adolescents' social media experiences on their mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic
Keles, B., Grealish, A., & Leamy, M. C. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-023-04271-3 · Cited by 35
“Collectively, beneficial effects of social media are linked to its use as a means of connecting with others, especially though enabling easier connection and communication with families, friends, and new people (Anderson & Jiang, 2018a, b; Clark et al., 2018).”
Emotions, relationships, health and illness into old age
Uchino, B. N., & Rook, K. S. (2020) · Maturitas · doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.05.014 · Cited by 41
“Although there was initial concern that high levels of social media use might be harmful, the beneficial impact of internet use seems to depend on whether it is used to foster meaningful social connections [98].”
Background
Effect of Social Media Adoption and Media Needs on Online Purchase Behavior: The Moderator Roles of Media Type, Gender, Age
Janavi, E., Soleimani, M., Gholampour, A., Friedrichsen, M., & Ebrahimi, P. (2021) · DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) · doi:10.22059/jitm.2020.300799.2501 · Cited by 32
“…and Gazit 2016; Alkhalaf et al. 2018), Facebook (Cheung et al. 2011; Chen and Widjaja 2016), Twitter (Ortega 2017), to websites and weblogs (Clark et al. 2018), YouTube (Koller et al. 2016; Bärtl 2018), and mass media such as radio and television (Scannell 1995; Drinkwater and Uncles 2007)…”
Background
A trans-diagnostic cognitive behavioural conceptualisation of the positive and negative roles of social media use in adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing
Tibber, M. S., & Silver, E. (2022) · The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist · doi:10.1017/s1754470x22000034 · Cited by 39
“The interpersonal–connections–behaviour framework proposes a simple but powerful idea: that SM use is (in large part) beneficial or harmful to the individual to the extent that it promotes or frustrates core desires for acceptance and belonging, respectively (social gratifications obtained) (Clark et al., 2018) [see V…”
Influential
To use or be used? The role of agency in social media use and well-being
Lee, A. Y., Ellison, N. B., & Hancock, J. T. (2023) · Frontiers in Computer Science · doi:10.3389/fcomp.2023.1123323 · Cited by 34
“Why is it important for people to have such a particular mindset toward their social media use? At a high level, mindsets guide people toward certain pathways of understanding and engaging with social media–mechanisms that have been explored in the context of appraisal effects and behavioral change (Claro et al., 2016…”
Background
The feasibility and impact of online peer support on the well-being of higher education students
Drysdale, M., McBeath, M. L., & Callaghan, S. A. (2021) · The Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice · doi:10.1108/jmhtep-02-2021-0012 · Cited by 35
Loneliness and social media
Hall, J. A. (2024) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/nyas.15275 · Cited by 35
“One of the first investigations 24 to use experience sampling found no association between social media use and momentary feelings of connection.”
Influential
The Relationship Between Engagement in Online Support Groups and Social Isolation Among Military Caregivers: Longitudinal Questionnaire Study
Trail, T. E., Friedman, E. M., Rutter, C. M., & Tanielian, T. (2020) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/16423 · Cited by 34
“with a decrease in depression, our results support the theory that engaging with online social networks might help reduce social isolation, particularly when they enable users to make meaningful connections with others [39], which suggests that programs implementing online support groups should use strategies to encou…”
BackgroundResult
Reflective smartphone disengagement: Conceptualization, measurement, and validation
Matthes, J., Karsay, K., Hirsch, M., Stević, A., & Schmuck, D. (2021) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2021.107078 · Cited by 30
Social media paradox: Utilizing social media technology for creating better value for better social outcomes: Case of developing countries
Sarwar, B., Sarwar, A., Al-Rahmi, W. M., Almogren, A. S., Salloum, S. A., & Habes, M. (2023) · Cogent Business & Management · doi:10.1080/23311975.2023.2210888 · Cited by 38
“It frequently connects the members of society to find opportunities to work for social virtue and mutual benefits (Clark et al., 2018).”
Background
The associations of use of social network sites with perceived social support and loneliness
Caba‐Machado, V., McIlroy, D., Adamuz, F. M. P., Murphy, R., & Palmer-Conn, S. (2022) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-021-02673-9 · Cited by 42
Exploratory Study of the Relationship Between Happiness and the Rise of Media Consumption During COVID-19 Confinement
Velázquez, J. A. M., Gómez‐Baya, D., & Delmar, J. L. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.566517 · Cited by 30
Inspiration on social media: Applying an entertainment perspective to longitudinally explore mental health and well-being
Janicke‐Bowles, S. H., Raney, A. A., Oliver, M. B., Dale, K. R., Zhao, D., Neumann, D., Clayton, R. B., & Hendry, A. A. (2022) · Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace · doi:10.5817/cp2022-2-1 · Cited by 33
“It thus did not consider the interpersonal interactions (Clark et al., 2018) people engage in regularly on Facebook or other people’s interactions with the content (comments, likes) they consumed or shared.”
Background
COVID-19-related fears, stress and depression in adolescents: The role of loneliness and relational closeness to online friends
Boursier, V., Gioia, F., Musetti, A., & Schimmenti, A. (2023) · Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment · doi:10.1080/10911359.2022.2059605 · Cited by 25
“increases well-being and helps to maintain personal relationships (Clark et al., 2018).”
Background
Media Exposure and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms in the Wake of the November 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks: A Population-Based Study in France
Robert, M., Stene, L. E., Garfin, D. R., Vandentorren, S., Motreff, Y., du Roscoat, E., & Pirard, P. (2021) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.509457 · Cited by 25
Are online behaviors damaging our in-person connections? Passive versus active social media use on romantic relationships
Quiroz, S. I., & Mickelson, K. D. (2021) · Cyberpsychology Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace · doi:10.5817/cp2021-1-1 · Cited by 32
“The results regarding active use were surprising considering previous research has indicated that active use either has no effect on well-being or a positive effect (Clark et al., 2018; Shaw et al., 2015; Verduyn et al., 2015; Wang et al., 2018).”
Result
Persuasive social features that promote knowledge sharing among tertiary students on social networking sites: An empirical study
Wiafe, I., Koranteng, F. N., Owusu, E., Ekpezu, A. O., & Gyamfi, S. A. (2020) · Journal of Computer Assisted Learning · doi:10.1111/jcal.12433 · Cited by 32
Passive social networking sites use and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents: The roles of upward social comparison and body dissatisfaction and its sex differences
Xiang, K., & Kong, F. (2024) · Appetite · doi:10.1016/j.appet.2024.107360 · Cited by 31
Acquaintanceships (weak ties): Their role in people's web of relationships and their formation
Sprecher, S. (2022) · Personal Relationships · doi:10.1111/pere.12430 · Cited by 30
Social media use and well-being: testing an integrated self-determination theory model
Sheldon, K. M., & Titova, L. (2023) · Media Psychology · doi:10.1080/15213269.2023.2185259 · Cited by 23
“In the current research, we administered measures of all three SDT needs, to test our belief that relatedness satisfaction may be a particularly important reinforcer of SMU (Clark et al., 2018; Sheldon et al., 2011).”
BackgroundMethodInfluential
Social media attachment: Conceptualization and formative index construction
Baboo, S., Nunkoo, R., & Köck, F. (2021) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.064 · Cited by 28
The Impact of Digitalization on Happiness: A European Perspective
Ionescu-Feleagă, L., Ionescu, B. Ș., & Stoica, O. C. (2022) · Mathematics · doi:10.3390/math10152766 · Cited by 49

Authors: Clark, J. L., Algoe, S. B., & Green, M. C.
Affiliations: Duke University (US)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
Corresponding author: Clark, Jenna L.
ORCID: Clark, Jenna L.
Algoe, Sara B.
Green, Melanie C.
Venue: Current Directions in Psychological Science
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2017-12-19
Volume: 27
Issue: 1
Pages: 32-37
ISSN: 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
1467-8721
DOI: 10.1177/0963721417730833
OpenAlex: W2776212678
Cited by: 451
References: 35
Citations by year: 2026: 42 · 2025: 65 · 2024: 48 · 2023: 67 · 2022: 85 · 2021: 79 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 2
FWCI: 44.83
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Social Sciences › Communication › Media and Digital Communication
Social Sciences › Communication › Digital Media and Philosophy
Keywords: social network sites, well-being, social connectedness, social isolation, social comparison, online communication, technology-mediated communication, online behavior

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Social Network Sites and Well-Being: The Role of Social Connection

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