Knowing who you are in a digital age: Researching the associations between (problematic) social media use behaviors, identity synthesis, negative social comparison and gender differences among Dutch adolescents

Abstract

Social media use (SMU) has increasingly been linked to adolescent well-being, yet its relationship with identity development remains underexplored. The present study aimed to examine whether different types of SMU, specifically SMU intensity and problematic SMU (PSMU), are associated with identity synthesis among Dutch adolescents and whether these associations are mediated by negative social comparison and moderated by gender. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 2.052 Dutch adolescents (M age = 13.6, 56.5% girls, 43.5% boys) Participants completed questionnaires assessing SMU intensity, PSMU, identity synthesis and negative social comparison. The data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analyses, mediation analyses, and moderation analyses. The results showed that only PSMU, and not SMU intensity, was significantly negatively associated with identity synthesis. This relationship was partially mediated by negative social comparison, suggesting that adolescents showing symptoms of PSMU may be more prone to comparing themselves negatively with others on social media, which may impact their identity development. Additionally, the negative association between PSMU and identity synthesis was found to be stronger for girls than for boys. These findings highlight that it is not the merely the amount of SMU, but its problematic nature, that is associated with less identity synthesis. Future longitudinal research should explore the bidirectionality and development of these associations over time. From a practical perspective, these results underscore the importance of early detection and prevention of PSMU among adolescents, as well as the integration of media literacy education that addresses social comparison and developing healthy digital habits.