This study aims at finding out the influence that the use of Facebook will have on self-esteem. That is, to know whether self-esteem could be downgraded or upgraded by presenting oneself to the world through Facebook activities. Self-esteem is a critical aspect of an individual’s well-being, and understanding the factors that influence it can help in developing better social and psychological interventions.
Results and Discussion
Results from this study show that the frequent activities that the participants perform when they are on Facebook are chatting with a score of 73 or 60.83%, viewing with 53 or 44.17%, posting with a score of 13 or 10.83%, and playing games with 12 or 10%. This means that the more people use Facebook activities as a means of social interaction, the greater the frequency of their interaction, which will have a positive impact on their self-esteem and life satisfaction. This explains why most university students, especially the first-year students, engage in chatting and viewing with their friends on the Facebook platform. It also explains why the use of Facebook has increased among young individuals. The finding is that the use of Facebook brings satisfaction and well-being to the users because they have friends to share their feelings, emotions, joy, and pain with whenever the need arises. The users could also seek professional advice from their professional friends on Facebook. The communication and sharing information with others may find difficult to do in face-to-face interaction. These findings support the previous findings of Kalpidou et al. (2011), Kim & Davis (2008), Lee et al. (2006), and Gross (2009).
Self-Esteem and Facebook Usage
Moreover, the results in the level of self-esteem indicated an average score of 82 or 68.3% of the participants. In the research by Gonzales and Hancock (2011), it was found that spending time on Facebook boosts self-esteem measures. The results do, however, interlink with Gonzales et al.’s study which stated that self-presentation is linked to Facebook use. It can be said that those people with a low level of self-esteem are taking their posting information about themselves to boost their social self-esteem. Therefore, people who spend longer time on Facebook are often those with lower self-esteem trying to enhance their self-image. Ellison et al. (2007) found that Facebook use was related to bridging, bonding, and maintaining social capital. So it can be said that those with low self-esteem are more often to maintain relationships and boost social self-esteem.
Social Capital and Networking
In the present study, self-esteem was found to be relatively high among participants. However, even though the results were not significant, there was still a correlation found between self-esteem and Facebook use. This is in contrast to Wilson et al.’s study (2010) where their results indicated no link between self-esteem and social networking sites. Academic supporters of these findings were Mehdizadeh (2010), Wilson et al. (2010), Ellison et al. (2007), Kalpidou et al. (2011), and Gonzales et al. (2011) all of whom expressed shared and contrasting views on the subject matter which were imperative to the study so the researcher could obtain a general overview of this important area.
Implications for Social Adjustment
The findings of this study suggest that Facebook has a great impact not only on creating new and maintaining old relationships but also on informing people about social events that occur on campus. The relationship between social college adjustment and Facebook use implies that colleges could use social networking sites to their benefits by creating opportunities to connect with their students with each other and campus life activities. This connection can foster a sense of belonging and community among students, which is crucial for their overall adjustment and success in college.
Theories of Self-Esteem and Social Interaction
To further understand the impact of Facebook on self-esteem, it is essential to consider several academic theories. Social Comparison Theory (Festinger, 1954) suggests that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. On Facebook, users often engage in upward social comparisons, which can sometimes lower self-esteem if individuals feel they do not measure up to the perceived success or happiness of others. However, Self-Affirmation Theory (Steele, 1988) posits that individuals can maintain self-esteem by focusing on and affirming their own values and accomplishments. Facebook provides a platform for self-affirmation through positive feedback on posts and the ability to share achievements.
Positive Psychology and Online Interaction
Positive Psychology (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000) also offers insight into how Facebook use can enhance well-being. Positive interactions and the sharing of positive experiences on Facebook can contribute to a user’s overall happiness and life satisfaction. The broaden-and-build theory (Fredrickson, 2001) of positive emotions suggests that positive emotions broaden one’s awareness and encourage novel, varied, and exploratory thoughts and actions. This theory can be applied to Facebook interactions, where positive social exchanges can build social resources and improve emotional well-being.
Potential Negative Effects
While the study highlights the positive aspects of Facebook use, it is also important to consider potential negative effects. Cyberpsychology research indicates that excessive Facebook use can lead to Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD), characterized by an inability to log off, a preoccupation with the site, and using Facebook to escape from real-life problems. FAD can negatively impact mental health, leading to issues such as anxiety, depression, and decreased self-esteem (Andreassen et al., 2012). Displacement Hypothesis (Kraut et al., 1998) suggests that time spent on Facebook might displace time spent on more meaningful offline activities, potentially leading to a decrease in overall well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the complex relationship between Facebook use and self-esteem. While Facebook can enhance self-esteem through increased social interaction, self-affirmation, and positive feedback, it can also have potential negative effects if used excessively. The findings suggest that Facebook has a significant impact on creating and maintaining relationships and informing users about social events. Colleges and universities can harness the power of social networking sites to improve social adjustment and foster a sense of community among students. Future research should continue to explore the nuanced effects of Facebook use on psychological well-being, considering both the benefits and potential drawbacks.