Cited by 290Impact of Technology on AdolescentsDigital Media and PhilosophyPersonality Traits and Psychology

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Are Social Media Ruining Our Lives? A Review of Meta-Analytic Evidence

Appel, Markus, Marker, Caroline, Gnambs, Timo·2020·Review of General Psychology

DOI 10.1177/1089268019880891

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Abstract

A growing number of studies have examined the psychological corollaries of using social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter (often called social media). The interdisciplinary research area and conflicting evidence from primary studies complicate the assessment of current scholarly knowledge in this field of high public attention. We review meta-analytic evidence on three hotly debated topics regarding the effects of SNSs: well-being, academic achievement, and narcissism. Meta-analyses from different laboratories draw a rather equivocal picture. They show small associations in the r = .10 range between the intensity of SNS use and loneliness, self-esteem, life satisfaction, or self-reported depression, and somewhat stronger links to a thin body ideal and higher social capital. There is no indication for potential devastating effects of social media on school achievement; social media use and school grades are unrelated for adolescents. The meta-analyses revealed small to moderate associations between narcissism and SNS use. In sum, meta-analytic evidence is not in support of dramatic claims relating social media use to mischief.

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See all 290

Authors: Appel, M., Marker, C., & Gnambs, T.
Affiliations: University of Würzburg (DE)
Johannes Kepler University of Linz (AT)
Corresponding author: Appel, Markus
ORCID: Appel, Markus
Gnambs, Timo
Venue: Review of General Psychology
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2019-10-16
Volume: 24
Issue: 1
Pages: 60-74
ISSN: 1089-2680 (ISSN-L)
1939-1552
DOI: 10.1177/1089268019880891
OpenAlex: W2981075629
Semantic Scholar: cbd4f71d3c79a5521394000d393dd6917cb231b8
Cited by: 290
References: 111
Citations by year: 2026: 43 · 2025: 48 · 2024: 54 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 14
FWCI: 48.71
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Review of General Psychology (publishedVersion)
Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (AP 207/2-1)
Topics: Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Social Sciences › Communication › Digital Media and Philosophy
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Keywords: social media use, social networking sites, well-being, loneliness, self-esteem, life satisfaction, depression, thin ideal, social capital, academic performance, narcissism, adolescents, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

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Are Social Media Ruining Our Lives? A Review of Meta-Analytic Evidence

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