Romantic Motivations for Social Media Use, Social Comparison, and Online Aggression Among Adolescents

• In Event: Growing Up With Media: Gender, Sexuality, and Romance During the Teen & Young Adult Years (HHD Session)

Abstract

This study examines the association among adolescent motivations for social media use, social comparison tendencies and gender on whether adolescents report online aggression victimization and/or perpetrate cyberbullying. Results of a hierarchical multiple regression conducted on data from a national online panel survey of middle adolescents (N = 340) reveals that social media use, romantic motivations, social belongingness motivations and greater social comparison tendencies predicted online aggression victimization (R2 = .38). Information motivations and entertainment motivations negatively predict online aggression perpetration, but romantic motivations, social comparison, and social media use were positive predictors of online aggression perpetration (R2 = .34). Further examination of interactions and indirect effects reveal that romantic motivations for social media use are an important predictor of involvement in online aggression among adolescents.

Authors

• Rachel Young, U of Iowa

• Maria E. Len-Rios, The U of Georgia

• Henry Young, U of Georgia