Nowhere is it easier to compare yourself to others than on social media. It’s not good for you.
Clothes, cars, travel, followers: people with a materialistic mindset always want more and more than others. Social media provides an ideal opportunity to compare yourself to others, making it easy to fall into passive and addictive user behavior. This causes them stress and ultimately leads to decreased life satisfaction. This downward spiral that turns materialistic people into less happy people was identified by Bochum researchers in an online survey of more than 1,200 participants. They published their findings in the journal Telematics and Informatics Reports on January 8, 2024.
6 surveys answered by over 1,200 people
A research team led by Dr. Philipp Ozimek from the Department of Psychology at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany recruited 1,230 people for an online survey. To participate, the respondent had to use one or more social media channels at least once a week. On average, participants said that per day he spends just over two hours on social media.
The research team used six different questionnaires to assess the extent to which participants had materialistic attitudes, tended to compare themselves to others, and whether they used social media more actively or passively. We determined whether they used social media, whether they were addicted to social media, and their level of stress and satisfaction. They were with life.
a downward spiral begins
The data showed that people with a strong materialistic approach tend to compare themselves to others. ā
Dr. Philip Ozimek, Department of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
This comparison can be made very easily on social media, primarily through passive use, i.e. by looking at content posted by other users. Materialism and passive use are also associated with social media addiction. āThis means, for example, that users are constantly thinking about their respective channels and worrying that they are missing out on something if they are not online,ā says Filip Ozimek. explain. This causes symptoms of poor mental health, or stress. The final part of the chain is decreased life satisfaction. “Social media is one of the six stepping stones to unhappiness,” concludes Filip Ozimek.
Social media attracts and nurtures materialists
“Overall, this study provides further evidence that social media use is associated with risk, especially for people with a materialistic mindset,” the psychologists said. This is particularly worrying because social media can provoke and increase material values, such as through (influencer) marketing. At the same time, the platform attracts materialists anyway, as it is the perfect way to satisfy many materialistic needs.
“Being conscious of and reducing the amount of time you spend on social media is definitely a good idea,” recommends Filip Ozimek. He advises against giving up social media completely. “If you do, you’re likely to overcompensate.” The research team also suggests documenting materialism and social media use in patients being treated for mental disorders. āWhile these factors are often unrelated, they can be a starting point for additional interventions that patients can try at home.ā
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Reference magazines:
Ozimek, P. other. (2024). Materialism in social media ā Increases social media addiction and stress symptoms, and decreases life satisfaction. Telematics and informatics report. doi.org/10.1016/j.teler.2024.100117.