Use of Social Networking Sites and Subjective Well-Being

Abstract

The aim of this article is to review the empirical studies on the relationship between the social networking sites use and subjective well-being of its users. Firstly, it has been pointed out that the outcomes of social networking sites use depend on the type of usage (active or passive). Next, the studies attempting to explain why passive social networking sites use is related to reduced subjective well-being have been compiled, and specifically, the studies in which social comparisons and feeling of envy has been offered as an explanatory mechanism have been summarized. A need for researching about which emotions other than envy may potentially be triggered by the passive social networking sites use and how subjective well-being changes depending on those emotions has been brought forward. In addition, answers given to the questions of whether the relationships between the passive social networking sites use and the users’ emotions and subjective well-being depended on who have been contacted through social networking sites were sought.

Keywords

• uses of social networking sites
• subjective well-being
• social comparisons
• envy