Keeping up with the e-Joneses: Do online social networks raise social comparisons?

Fabio Sabatini and Francesco Sarracino

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Online social networks, such as Facebook, disclose an unprecedented volume of personal information amplifying the occasions for social comparisons, which are a source of frustration. We test the hypothesis that the use of social networking sites (SNS) increases social comparisons as proxied by people’s dissatisfaction with their income. After controlling for the possibility of reverse causality, our results suggest that SNS users have a higher probability to compare their achievements with those of others. We conclude that SNS can be a strong engine of frustration for their users.

Keywords: social networks; social networking sites; social comparisons; satisfaction with income; relative deprivation. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D83 I31 O33 Z1 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-02-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hap, nep-ltv, nep-net and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/69201/1/MPRA_paper_69201.pdf original version (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Keeping up with the e-Joneses: Do online social networks raise social comparisons? (2018)
Working Paper: Keeping up with the e-Joneses: Do Online Social Networks Raise Social Comparisons? (2016)
Working Paper: Keeping up with the e-Joneses: Do Online Social Networks Raise Social Comparisons? (2016)
Working Paper: Keeping up with the e-Joneses: Do online social networks raise social comparisons? (2015)
Working Paper: Keeping up with the e-Joneses: Do online social networks raise social comparisons? (2015)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:69201

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