Understanding The Interplay Between Social Media Use, False Self And Interpersonal Relationships: Social Comparison As A Mediator

Abstract

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the association between the use of social media, interpersonal dissatisfaction, the formation of false self and the mediating role of social comparison. The sample of 188 male and 187 female students, aged 18 to 35, was selected from the University of Peshawar. To gather data, the Social Networking Time Use Scale (Olufadi, 2015) was used along with the Interpersonal Relationship Questionnaire (Callaghan, 2006), Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure (Gibbons & Buunk, 1999), and Authenticity Scale (Wood et al., 2008). The outcome of the study showcases that extensive use of social media is positively associated with the formation of false selves (r = .33) and problems in interpersonal relationships (r = .40). Furthermore, results revealed partial mediation of socia[1]l comparison, between the use of social media and the formation of false self. Similar outcomes were reflected in interpersonal dissatisfaction, i.e., social comparison partially mediated between social media use and interpersonal dissatisfaction. The findings suggest that caution should be practiced while roaming on social media; keeping oneself from upward social comparison may protect one from developing inauthentic personalities and poor interpersonal relations.