High Social Media Use and Wellbeing, by Country Income
Adjusted differences for high use compared with moderate use
Table compares adjusted differences in wellbeing between adults with high social media use of two hours or more daily and moderate use of 30 minutes to less than two hours, across high-income and non-high-income countries. High use is associated with significantly greater anger, loneliness and sadness in both country groups, with increases ranging from 1.7 to 2.9 percentage points. In non-high-income countries, high use is also associated with greater stress and worry, but greater smiling or laughing and feeling well-rested. In high-income countries, high use is associated with significantly lower life evaluation, while the difference in non-high-income countries is minimal.
* Statistically significant at p<.05
Low use includes nonusers and adults who spend less than 30 minutes per day. Moderate use is 30 minutes to less than two hours, and high use is two hours or more.
Binary outcomes are percentage-point differences; life evaluation is based on Gallup’s 0-to-10 scale. Positive values indicate higher reported levels than moderate use; negative values indicate lower reported levels.
Low use includes nonusers and adults who spend less than 30 minutes per day. Moderate use is 30 minutes to less than two hours, and high use is two hours or more.
Binary outcomes are percentage-point differences; life evaluation is based on Gallup’s 0-to-10 scale. Positive values indicate higher reported levels than moderate use; negative values indicate lower reported levels.
