A Similarity Mindset Matters on Social Media: Using Algorithm-Generated Similarity Metrics to Foster Assimilation in Upward Social Comparison

Kang, Jin U.; Liu, Bingjie

doi:10.1177/2056305119890884

Cited by 19 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 70 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…This may be explained by literature on assimilation/identification and contrast, which proposes that the implications of comparison behavior depend on whether the comparer identifies similarities to, or differences from, the comparison target (Buunk & Ybema, 1997). More precisely, upward comparisons are more likely to result in self-improvement motivations, and thus inspiration and positive affect, when the person focuses on similarities with the upward comparison target and envisions the targets' situation as their own future (i.e., upward assimilation/identification) and/or perceives that the displayed behavior is achievable (Kang & B. Liu, 2019;Meier et al, 2020). Yet, when the person focuses on differences with the upward comparison target and/or the displayed behavior is perceived unachievable (i.e., upward contrast), negative outcomes are more likely (Meier et al, 2020;Midgley et al, 2021).…”

Section: Covid-19 Lockdown and The Positive Self-portrayals Of Others...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the relations between exposure to the positive self-portrayals of others on social media and emerging adults’ mental health during a COVID-19 imposed lockdown

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social media fulfil emerging adults’ self-presentation needs, and young people often selectively present positive self-portrayals on social media (i.e., exciting social life, successful professional life, and being happy). Yet, being exposed to the positive self-portrays of others can sometimes relate to mental health pressures. In exceptional times of social deprivation (e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic), such relations may differ. This cross-sectional study among 415 emerging adults (Mage = 24.27, SD = 3.19; Women = 64.10%) examined the interrelations between exposure to the positive self-portrayals of others on social media and mental health during an intense COVID-19 lockdown period. The study revealed that exposure to such content related to lower levels of mental health. No support emerged for the moderating role of experiencing negative life events, specifically the experience with COVID-19 illnesses in one’s environment, or a three-way interaction with such experience and gender. These results provide evidence to suggest that specific social circumstances may lead exposure to positive self-portrayals on social media to relate to lower mental health. Specifying such circumstances can help the field to move away from the current inconsistent findings concerning social media/mental health relations.

show abstract

Section: Covid-19 Lockdown and The Positive Self-portrayals Of Others...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the relations between exposure to the positive self-portrayals of others on social media and emerging adults’ mental health during a COVID-19 imposed lockdown

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Moreover, not all upward social comparison is harmful. Unlike comparisons that foster contrast between oneself and others, comparisons that foster assimilation (ie, the belief that one can obtain the same status as someone else) are characterized by a selective focus on the similarities between oneself and others [ 25 ], which can motivate positive feelings about oneself [ 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intervening on Social Comparisons on Social Media: Electronic Daily Diary Pilot Study

Andrade¹,

Erwin²,

Burnell³

et al. 2023

JMIR Ment Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Literature has underscored the dark aspects of social media use, including associations with depressive symptoms, feelings of social isolation, and diminished self-esteem. Social comparison, the process of evaluating oneself relative to another person, is thought to contribute to these negative experiences such that people with a stronger tendency to compare themselves with others are particularly susceptible to the detrimental effects of social media. Social media as a form of social connection and communication is nevertheless an inevitable—and arguably integral—part of life, particularly for young adults. Therefore, there is a need to investigate strategies that could alter the manner in which people interact with social media to minimize its detrimental effects and maximize the feelings of affiliation and connection. Objective This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a brief web-based intervention designed to alter engagement with social media and promote psychological well-being by encouraging social savoring as an alternative to social comparison. Social savoring was operationalized as experiencing joyful emotions related to the happiness of someone else’s experiences (ie, feeling happy for someone else). Methods Following an intensive longitudinal design, 55 college students (mean age 19.29, SD 0.93 years; n=43, 78% women and n=23, 42% White) completed baseline measures (individual differences, psychological well-being, connectedness, and social media use) and then 14 days of daily surveys on their social media activity and well-being. On day 8, the group that was randomized to receive the intervention watched a video instructing them on the skill of social savoring and was asked to practice this skill during days 8 to 14. Results Overall, participants reported positive perceptions of the intervention. Participants who watched the intervention video reported significantly higher performance self-esteem (P=.02) at posttest than those in the control condition, after controlling for baseline levels. Participants also reported significantly higher state self-esteem (P=.01) on days in which they engaged in more social savoring while using social media, and the use of social savoring increased significantly (P=.01) over time, suggesting that participants found it helpful. Participants in both conditions reported significantly lower levels of social comparison (control: P=.01; intervention: P=.002) and higher levels of connectedness (control: P<.001; intervention: P=.001) at posttest than at baseline. Conclusions Initial evidence from this pilot study suggests that a web-based social savoring intervention may help minimize the potentially harmful consequences of social media use, at least in some domains. Future work is needed to examine the effectiveness and acceptance of this intervention in different age groups and in clinical samples that are in part characterized by higher levels of comparison with others (eg, people with eating disorders).

show abstract

“…1.Of course, a user might strategically adjust one’s News Feed to exclusively feature those who are less successful and valuable than oneself. Nonetheless, avoiding upward social comparison is not only extremely difficult on SMPs (Kang and Liu 2019, 1), but might also undermine the possibility of feeling genuinely recognized from downward social comparison. By excluding more valuable users from comparison, one would be aware that the predominance of downward social comparison is caused by deception rather than genuinely being better than others.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The discontents of competition for recognition on social media: Perfectionism, ressentiment, and collective narcissism

Ceilutka

2022

Philosophy & Social Criticism

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Individuals frequently utilize social media platforms (SMPs) to express their positive features and receive recognition. Axel Honneth proposes that recognition plays an essential role in social life, explaining both social conflicts and guiding normative social development. While SMPs appear as a perfect tool for the pursuit of recognition, they often fail to achieve the intended results. This paper argues that the failure to achieve recognition through SMPs occurs because SMPs operate according to the neoliberal principle of competition. Competition arises because several structural affordances (quantification, homogeneity, and availability of information) allow for comparing different expressions of recognition. I argue that the competitive pursuit of recognition on SMPs results in several problematic developments, causing the manifestation of perfectionism, ressentiment, and collective narcissism. I conclude that the normative potential of Honneth’s theory is compromised if recognition is pursued competitively.

show abstract

A Similarity Mindset Matters on Social Media: Using Algorithm-Generated Similarity Metrics to Foster Assimilation in Upward Social Comparison

Cited by 19 publications

References 70 publications

Understanding the relations between exposure to the positive self-portrayals of others on social media and emerging adults’ mental health during a COVID-19 imposed lockdown

Understanding the relations between exposure to the positive self-portrayals of others on social media and emerging adults’ mental health during a COVID-19 imposed lockdown

Intervening on Social Comparisons on Social Media: Electronic Daily Diary Pilot Study

The discontents of competition for recognition on social media: Perfectionism, ressentiment, and collective narcissism

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About