Mirror, Mirror on My Facebook Wall: Effects of Exposure to Facebook on Self-Esteem

CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING Volume 14, Number 1-2, 2011 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2009.0411

Mirror, Mirror on my Facebook Wall: Effects of Exposure to Facebook on Self-Esteem
Amy L. Gonzales, M.A., and Jeffrey T. Hancock, Ph.D.

Abstract

Contrasting hypotheses were posed to test the effect of Facebook exposure on self-esteem. Objective SelfAwareness (OSA) from social psychology and the Hyperpersonal Model from computer-mediated communication were used to argue that Facebook would either diminish or enhance self-esteem respectively. The results revealed that, in contrast to previous work on OSA, becoming self-aware by viewing one’s own Facebook profile enhances self-esteem rather than diminishes it. Participants that updated their profiles and viewed their own profiles during the experiment also reported greater self-esteem, which lends additional support to the Hyperpersonal Model. These findings suggest that selective self-presentation in digital media, which leads to intensified relationship formation, also influences impressions of the self.

Introduction

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ver a decade ago, Internet use was thought to promote negative psychosocial well-being, including depression and loneliness.1 Having attracted attention in and out of the research community, these findings prompted researchers to take a more nuanced look at the relationship between Internet use and psychosocial health,2,3 at times finding evidence that Internet use could be beneficial.3,4 The present study extends this research by examining the effects of the social-networking site Facebook (http://facebook.com), which represents a popular new form of Internet communication, on self-esteem. Previous work has addressed the role of Facebook and the ability to socialize, and the role that socializing online plays in supporting self-esteem and various forms of social capital.5,6 For example, one recent study found that Facebook can enhance ‘‘social self-esteem,’’

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