Differences among adolescents in social media use related to authenticity: lessons from COVID-19

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescents’ social media use increased. Its association with authenticity is mixed: social media may undermine authenticity through social comparison, but also support it via self-expression. Younger adolescents, females, those with less social support, higher stress and loneliness, lower socioeconomic status, poorer physical and mental health, and those negatively affected by the pandemic on various domains may be more susceptible to negative social media effects. Given that authenticity is important for adolescents’ well-being and that crises may disrupt this, we examined whether the aforementioned factors moderate the relationship between social media use and authenticity during the pandemic.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from the Dutch Corona Public Health Youth Monitor 2021 were used. Social media use was assessed using six questions reflecting problematic use, and authenticity with eight questions, with sum scores computed. Structural equation modelling was used to examine whether the association of social media use with authenticity is modified by interactions between social media use and the aforementioned moderators.

Results

In 147,569 Dutch adolescents aged 12–17, problematic social media use was reported (very) often by 5%, sometimes by 32%, and almost never by 39%. Problematic social media use was adversely associated with authenticity across all levels of moderators, being less adverse at higher levels of negative pandemic impact, poorer mental health, lower education, and lower social support, and more adverse at higher levels of stress and physical complaints.

Discussion

Some findings differed from the hypotheses, which may be due to the complexity of the model with multiple interactions. Nevertheless, these findings highlight the need for prevention efforts on social media targeting all adolescents during disruptive crises, even though susceptibility to negative social media effects on authenticity varies.

Key messages

• Social media is adversely associated with adolescents’ authenticity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Although differences among adolescents are important, prevention efforts on social media should focus on all adolescents.