The Effects of Virtual Likes on Self-Esteem: A Discussion of Receiving and Viewing Likes on Social Media

The Effects of Virtual Likes on Self-Esteem: A Discussion of Receiving and Viewing Likes on Social Media

Malinda Desjarlais
Copyright: © 2022 |Pages: 18
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-6684-6307-9.ch007
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Abstract

Social networking sites offer opportunities for users to express themselves and receive immediate feedback in the form of virtual likes. Adolescents place a great deal of value on the number of likes, regarding them as indicators of peer acceptance and support. Since peer feedback and social comparison are integral to adolescents' self-evaluations, the aim of the current chapter is to determine whether self-esteem is sensitive to the number of likes associated with their own (peer feedback) and others' posts (social comparison). The synthesis of literature indicates that self-esteem is responsive to indicators of one's value to others as well as the value of others, supporting the sociometer and social comparison theories. Indications of liking online serve to enhance self-esteem, whereas rejection deflates it. In addition, seeing others get many likes negatively impacts viewers' self-esteem. The gaps in the literature are discussed and future research is suggested.
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Self-Esteem Background

Self-esteem can be conceptualized as the extent to which individuals accept, approve of, or value themselves. While state self-esteem represents the momentary fluctuations in one’s feelings about him/herself, trait self-esteem captures one’s global appraisal of his/her value (Leary, 1999). Researchers agree that low self-esteem is associated with a variety of psychological challenges, including depression, loneliness, substance abuse, and academic failure (Henriksen, Ranøyen, Indredavik & Stenseng, 2017; Leary, 1999; Rosenberg, Schooler, & Schoenbach, 1989; Silverstone & Salsali, 2003). According to Argyle (2008), the following four major factors influence self-esteem: the reactions of others, comparison with others, one’s social roles, and one’s identification with social roles. The current chapter focuses on the first two factors, which are most relevant for the effect of virtual likes on self-esteem.

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