Effects of social media use on subjective well-being in Latin America

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/economia/a.15552

Article Sidebar

PDF (Español (España)) HTML (Español (España)) XML (Español (España))

Published: Nov 6, 2025
Issue: Vol. 27 No. 2 (2024):
Section Articles


Keywords: Happiness well-being social networks digital addiction covid-19

Main Article Content

Authors

Leonardo Caravaggio

Abstract

The covid-19 pandemic accelerated the digitalization of daily life due to various restrictive measures and precautionary decisions. The impact of social media use on wellbeing depends on context and usage patterns. This paper analyzes the causal effect of social media use on the subjective well-being of the Latin American population during the pandemic. Pre- and post-pandemic periods are also examined for comparison. An instrumental variable regression model is used to address endogeneity, employing internet access quality as an instrument. A negative effect of social media on well-being is found, which worsens over time, especially for women and urban residents.

How to Cite
Caravaggio, L. (2025). Effects of social media use on subjective well-being in Latin America. Revista Economía Del Rosario, 27(2). https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/economia/a.15552
References

Allcott, H., Braghieri, L., Eichmeyer, S., & Gentzkow, M. (2020, marzo). The welfare effects of social media. American Economic Review, 110(3), 629-676. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20190658 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20190658

Allcott, H., Gentzkow, M., Mason, W., Wilkins, A., Barberá P., Brown, T., Cisneros, J. C., Crespo-Tenorio, A., Dimmery, D., Freelon, D., Gonalez-Bailón, S., Guess, A. M., Kim, Y. M., Lazer, D., Malhotra, N., Moehler, D., Nair-Desai, S., El Barj, H. N., Nyhan, B., Paixao de Queiroz, A. C., . . . & Tucker, J. (2024). The effects of Facebook and Instagram on the 2020 election: A deactivation experiment. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(21). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2321584121 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2321584121

Antoci, A., & Sabatini, F. (2018). Online networks, social interaction and segregation: An evolutionary approach. Journal of Evolutionary Economics, 28(4), 859-883. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-018-0556-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-018-0556-6

Bekalu, M. A., McCloud, R. F., y Viswanath, K. (2019). Association of social media use with social well-being, positive mental health, and selfrated health: Disentangling routine use from emotional connection to use. Health Education & Behavior, 46(2 suppl), 69S-80S. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198119863768 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198119863768

Brasil, K. M., Mims, C. E., Pritchard, M. E., & McDermott, R. C. (2024, diciembre). Social media and body image: Relationships between social media appearance preoccupation, self- objectification, and body image. Body Image, 51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101767 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2024.101767

Bruni, L., & Porta, P. (2007). Handbook on the economics of happiness. Edward Elgar Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781847204158

Bruni, L., & Stanca, L. (2008). Watching alone: Relational goods, television and happiness. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 65(3-4), 506-528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2005.12.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2005.12.005

Cambronero-Saiz, B., Gómez-Nieto, B., & Segarra-Saavedra, J. (2023). Efectos de las redes sociales en la salud mental durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Una revisión bibliográfica. Revista Española de Comunicación en Salud, 14(2), 74-84. https://doi.org/10.20318/recs.2023.7703 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20318/recs.2023.7703

Choi, S., & Lehto, X. Y. (2009). Internet use as a leisure pastime. International Journal of Tourism Sciences, 9(3), 49-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/15980634.2009.11434618 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15980634.2009.11434618

Chou, H.-T. G., & Edge, N. (2012). “They are happier and having better lives than I am”: The impact of using Facebook on perceptions of others’ lives. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(2), 117-121.https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2011.0324 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2011.0324

Clark, J., Algoe, S., & Green, M. (2017, 12). Social network sites and wellbeing: The role of social connection. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27, https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417730833 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417730833

Diener, E., & Chan, M. Y. (2011, marzo). Happy people live longer: Subjective well-being contributes to health and longevity. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 3(1), 1-43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2010.01045.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-0854.2010.01045.x

Easterlin, R. (2021). An economist’s lessons on happiness, farewell dismal science! Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61962-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61962-6

Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood caused an epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56315/PSCF9-25Haidt

Han, S. (2024). Mining causality: Ai-assisted search for instrumental variables. https://arxiv.org/abs/2409.14202 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5668511

Ho, H., & Ito, K. (2019). Consumption-oriented engagement in social network sites: Undesirable influence on personal well-being. European Journal of Marketing, 53(7), 1355-1377. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-11-2017-0809. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-11-2017-0809

Horan, T. (2024, enero). The effects of urbanization and social media use on individuals’ perceived social isolation. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/14171 DOI: https://doi.org/10.30935/ojcmt/14171

Khalaila, R., & Vitman-Schorr, A. (2018). Internet use, social networks, loneliness, and quality of life among adults aged 50 and older: mediating and moderating effects. Quality of Life Research, 27, 479-489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1749-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-017-1749-4

Kim, B., & Kim, Y. (2017, agosto). College students’ social media use and communication network heterogeneity: Implications for social capital and subjective well-being. Computers in Human Behavior, 73, 620-628. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.03.033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.03.033

Krasnova, H., Wenninger, H., Widjaja, T., & Buxmann, P. (2013). Envy on Facebook: A hidden threat to users’ life satisfaction? Wirtschaftsinformatik Proceedings wa2013/92. https://aisel.aisnet.org/wi2013/92

Lambert, J., Barnstable, G., Minter, E., Cooper, J., & McEwan, D. (2022). Taking a one-week break from social media improves well-being, depression, and anxiety: A randomized controlled trial. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(5), 287-293. https://doi.org/10.108/cyber.2021.0324 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2021.0324

Latinobarómetro. (2019). Informe 2018. Corporación Latinobarómetro. https://www.latinobarometro.org/latContents.jsp

Latinobarómetro. (2021a). Informe 2020. Corporación Latinobarómetro. https://www.latinobarometro.org/latContents.jsp

Latinobarómetro. (2021b). Informe metodológico Latinobarómetro 2020 por países. Corporación Latinobarómetro. https://www.latinobarometro.org/latContents.jsp

Latinobarómetro. (2024). Informe 2023. Corporación Latinobarómetro. https://www.latinobarometro.org/latContents.jsp

Lee, D. S., McCrary, J., Moreira, M. J., & Porter, J. (2022, octubre). Valid t-ratio inference for iv. American Economic Review, 112(10), 3260-3290. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20211063 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20211063

Lelkes, O. (2013). Happier and less isolated: Internet use in old age. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 21(1), 33-46. https://doi.org/10.1332/175982713X664047 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1332/175982713X664047

Lu, H., & Kandilov, I. (2021). Does mobile internet use affect the subjective well-being of older chinese adults? an instrumental variable quantile analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22, 3137-3156. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00365-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00365-6

Mahon, C., & Hevey, D. (2021). Processing body image on social media: Gender differences in adolescent boys’ and girls’ agency and active coping. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.626763 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.626763

McDool, E., Powell, P., Roberts, J., & Taylor, K. (2016, diciembre). Social media use and children’s wellbeing. Sheffield Economics Research Papers (serps). https://ssrn.com/abstract=2886783 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2886783

Megías Quirós, I, & Rodríguez San Julián, E. (2014). Jóvenes y comunicación. La impronta de lo virtual. Centro Reina Sofía sobre Adolescencia y Juventud. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3667597

Ögel-Balaban, H. (2022). The use of online social network sites during the Covid-19 pandemic as a protective or risk factor for well-being of university students. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 16(3), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2022-3-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2022-3-4

Orben, A., & Przybylski, A. (2019). The association between adolescent wellbeing and digital technology use. Nature Human Behaviour, 3, 173-182.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0506-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0506-1

Oswald, A., Proto, E., & Sgroi, D. (2009). Happiness and productivity [Discussion Papers, N.o 4645]. Institute for the Study of Labor (iza). https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1526075 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1526075

Panzitta, M., Labory, J., Anger, V., Chulibert, M., Mayer, M., & Kalfaian, L. (2023, abril-junio). Influencia del uso de redes sociales sobre la conformidad con la imagen corporal. Actualización en Nutrición, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.48061/SAN.2022.24.2.109 DOI: https://doi.org/10.48061/SAN.2022.24.2.109

Papageorgiou, A., Fisher, C., & Cross, D. (2022, 06). “Why don’t I look like her?” How adolescent girls view social media and its connection to body image. bmc Women’s Health, 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01845-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01845-4

Reyes, M. E. S., Morales, B. C. C., Javier, G. E., Ng, R. A. E., & Zsila, A. (2022). Social networking use across gender: Its association with social connectedness and happiness amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 7, 396-405. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:256557186 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-022-00262-6

Richter, D., Bannier, S., Glott, R., Marquard, M., & Schwarze, T. (2013). Are internet and social network usage associated with wellbeing and social inclusion of seniors? – The third age online survey on digital media use in three European countries. En C. Stephanidis, & M. Antona (Eds.), Universal access in human-computer interaction. User and context diversity (pp. 211-220). Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-39191-0_24

Rojas, M. (Ed.). (2019). The economics of happiness: How the Easterlin paradox transformed our understanding of well-being and progress. Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15835-4

Ruiz, M. J., Sáez, G., Villanueva-Moya, L., & Expósito, F. (2021). Adolescent sexting: The role of body shame, social physique anxiety, and social networking site addiction. Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:235697365 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0719

Schemer, C., Masur, P. K., Geiß, S., Mu¨ller, P., & Schäfer, S. (2020). The Impact of Internet and Social Media Use on Well-Being: A Longitudinal Analysis of Adolescents Across Nine Years. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 26 (1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmaa014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmaa014

Schønning, V., Hjetland, G., Aarø, L., & Skogen, J. (2020). Social media use and mental health and well-being among adolescents–A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01949 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01949

Steptoe, A., Deaton, A., & Stone, A. A. (2015). Subjective wellbeing, health, and ageing. The Lancet, 385(9968), 640-648. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61489-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61489-0

Valkenburg, P. M. (2022, junio). Social media use and well-being: What we know and what we need to know. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.006

Verduyn, P., Ybarra, O., Résibois M., Jonides, J., & Kross, E. (2017, enero). Do social network sites enhance or undermine subjective well-being? a critical review. Social Issues and Policy Review, 11(1), 274-302. https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/sipr.12033

Wadhwa, V., & Palvia, S. (2019). Is information technology hacking our happiness? Journal of Information Technology Case and Application Research, 20(3-4), 151-157. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228053.2018.1560954 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15228053.2018.1560954

Webster, D., Dunne, L., & Hunter, R. (2021). Association between social networks and subjective well-being in adolescents: A systematic review. Youth & Society, 53(2), 175-210. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X20919589 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X20919589

Wenninger, H., Cheung, C., & Krasnova, H. (2019, agosto). College-aged users behavioral strategies to reduce envy on social networking sites: A cross-cultural investigation. Computers in Human Behavior, 97, 10-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.02.025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2019.02.025

Winstead, V., Anderson, W., Yost, E., Cotten, S., Warr, A., & Berkowsky, R. (2013). You can teach an old dog new tricks a qualitative analysis of how residents of senior living communities may use the web to overcome spatial and social barriers. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 32(5), 540-560. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464811431824 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464811431824

Wirtz, D., Tucker, A., Briggs, C., & Schoemann, A. (2021). How and why social media affect subjective well-being: multi-site use and social comparison as predictors of change across time. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22, 1673-1691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00291-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-020-00291-z

Yang, Q., Liu, J., & Rui, J. (2022, Feb.). Association between social network sites use and mental illness: A meta-analysis. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2022-1-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5817/CP2022-1-1

Zhou, M., y Zhang, X. (2019, octubre). Online social networking and subjective well-being: Mediating effects of envy and fatigue. Computers & Education, 140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103598 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103598

Query Statistics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Publcation metrics

0




 

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Los autores conservan los derechos de autor y garantizan a la revista el derecho de ser la primera publicación del trabajo al igual que licenciado bajo una Creative Commons Attribution License que permite a otros compartir el trabajo con un reconocimiento de la autoría del trabajo y la publicación inicial en esta revista.