Original research

SOCIAL MEDIA USE AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING: EXAMINING EFFECTS ON SOCIAL INTERACTION, SELF-ESTEEM, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

Pages 1-14

10.61552/sjss.2027.01.001

Grace Gift Rotimi, Dare Joseph Enimola, Chinomso Oru Osim

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Abstract This study explores the connection between social media and human behaviour, situating individual-level outcomes such as self-esteem, social interaction, and mental health within the broader process of digital social transformation. Beyond examining effects on the individual, the study considers how social media use relates to patterns of technology-mediated social interaction, digital community formation, and social adaptation among young adults, with implications extending to educational institutions, community organisations, and business settings that increasingly depend on digital platforms for engagement and communication. The specific objectives of the study were to examine the association between social media usage and self-esteem, the association between social media usage and social interaction, and the association between social media usage and mental health, while also considering how these patterns relate to broader digital communication and community dynamics. The study utilized a survey research design. The participants in the study were young adult users who had been regularly using social media for at least five years. 200 participants were chosen using a purposive sampling technique. The study employed content validity to ensure the questionnaire adequately captured all pertinent variables. The test-retest method was used to determine reliability of the instrument. The study utilized both descriptive and inferential statistics for analyzing the data. Regression analysis was employed to test the established hypotheses. Findings indicate that Instagram usage is positively associated with self-esteem, and that Instagram and Twitter usage are positively associated with social interaction. The study recommends that young adults, educational institutions, and organisations engage with Instagram and Twitter in ways that support self-esteem and social connection, while monitoring Facebook and TikTok usage given their association with reduced social interaction in this sample.

Keywords: Social Media, Self-Esteem, Social Interaction, Mental Health, Digital Transformation, Social Capital, Digital Citizenship. .

Received: 01.05.2026 Revised: 12.08.2026 Accepted: 01.09.2026