Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
The link between social media browsing and emerging adults’ momentary affective well-being: unraveling levels of analysis, underlying reasons, and content valence
2025-07-17
Social media browsing has been linked to both declines and improvements in affective well-being, with recent research suggesting its effects depend on key factors. This experience sampling study among emerging adults (N = 108, Mage = 22.29, 61 female) examines three such factors: levels of analysis, underlying reasons, and content valence. Results reveal no significant between-person associations, but a small average within-person association, suggesting that, on average, social media browsing slightly reduces positive affect. However, this effect was only statistically significant in one model, and person-specific analyses showed no significant individual-level effects, underscoring the high statistical uncertainty. Additionally, when examining the underlying factors, browsing was modestly linked to lower affective well-being when driven by habit and when individuals encountered positive content. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between social media browsing and well-being, emphasizing the importance of considering key underlying factors when interpreting these effects.