Examining the Effect of Use of Social Media on Self-Esteem of Young Adults

Abstract

Internet and social media have become an important part of our day-to-day life. Objective was to investigate the relation between hours spend on social media and individual’s self-esteem level, taking into account both positive and negative self-evaluation. Hypothesis assumed that there is no significant relation between use of social media and self-esteem. Researcher was curious to explore how social media engagement influences the self-esteem of young adults aged 18-25, drawing from a Sample of 150 individuals equally divided between genders from Uttaranchal University. The tools used, where Internet Addiction Test and Self-esteem Inventory were used, the study investigates the relationship between social media use and self-esteem. Results reveals a significant detrimental correlation between social media activity and self-esteem among young adults. Regardless of gender, higher level of social media engagement is associated with lower self-esteem scores. The findings underscore the importance of promoting critical media literacy skills and cultivating healthy online behaviours to mitigate negative consequences. This research highlights the need for interventions and educational initiatives aimed at fostering positive self-perception the face of social media influences.