Two Tests of Social Displacement Through Social Media Use

• In Event: Social Media, Interactions, and Relationships

Abstract

The present manuscript presents two tests of the hypothesis that social media use decreases social interaction, leading to decreased well-being. Study One used experience sampling over five days with a combined community and undergraduate sample (N = 116). Social media use at prior times did not predict future social interaction with close others, future face-to-face interaction, or future well-being. Study Two used the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (N = 2,774) to test associations among new media adoption in 2009, new media use in 2011, social contact frequency across years, and change in well-being. Although new media adoption in 2009 predicted less social contact in 2011, increasing social media use positively predicted well-being. Neither study supported the social displacement hypothesis.

Authors

• Jeffrey A. Hall, U of Kansas

• Chong Xing, U of Kentucky

• Michael W Kearney, Missouri School of Journalism