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Research Note—Why Following Friends Can Hurt You: An Exploratory Investigation of the Effects of Envy on Social Networking Sites among College-Age Users

Author

Listed:
  • Hanna Krasnova

    (Institute of Information Systems, Universität Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland)

  • Thomas Widjaja

    (Chair of Information Systems, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany)

  • Peter Buxmann

    (Chair of Information Systems, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany)

  • Helena Wenninger

    (Chair of Information Systems, Technische Universität Darmstadt, 64289 Darmstadt, Germany)

  • Izak Benbasat

    (Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z2, Canada)

Abstract

Research findings on how participation in social networking sites (SNSs) affects users’ subjective well-being are equivocal. Some studies suggest a positive impact of SNSs on users’ life satisfaction and mood, whereas others report undesirable consequences such as depressive symptoms and anxiety. However, whereas the factors behind the positive effects have received significant scholarly attention, little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the unfavorable consequences. To fill this gap, this study uses social comparison theory and the responses of 1,193 college-age Facebook users to investigate the role of envy in the SNS context as a potential contributor to those undesirable outcomes. Arising in response to social information consumption, envy is shown to be associated with reduced cognitive and affective well-being as well as increased reactive self-enhancement. These preliminary findings contribute to the growing body of information systems research investigating the dysfunctional consequences of information technology adoption in general and social media participation in particular.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanna Krasnova & Thomas Widjaja & Peter Buxmann & Helena Wenninger & Izak Benbasat, 2015. "Research Note—Why Following Friends Can Hurt You: An Exploratory Investigation of the Effects of Envy on Social Networking Sites among College-Age Users," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 585-605, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:26:y:2015:i:3:p:585-605
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.2015.0588
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    3. Jaeyoung Park & Beomsoo Kim & Sunhee Park, 2021. "Understanding the Behavioral Consequences of Upward Social Comparison on Social Networking Sites: The Mediating Role of Emotions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Shah, Denish & Webster, Emily & Kour, Gurpreet, 2023. "Consuming for content? Understanding social media-centric consumption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PB).
    5. Wang, Le & Luo, Xin (Robert) & Li, Han, 2022. "Envy or conformity? An empirical investigation of peer influence on the purchase of non-functional items in mobile free-to-play games," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 308-324.
    6. Tribe, John & Mkono, Muchazondida, 2017. "Not such smart tourism? The concept of e-lienation," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 105-115.
    7. Yan Liu & Hongfa Yi & Crystal Jiang, 2023. "Enjoyment or Indulgence? Social Media Service Usage, Social Gratification, Self-Control Failure and Emotional Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-15, January.
    8. Michael Weiler & Oliver Hinz, 2019. "Without each other, we have nothing: a state-of-the-art analysis on how to operationalize social capital," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(5), pages 1003-1035, November.
    9. Hajli, Nick & Wang, Yichuan & Tajvidi, Mina, 2018. "Travel envy on social networking sites," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 184-189.
    10. Nastasia Griffioen & Hanneke Scholten & Anna Lichtwarck-Aschoff & Marieke Rooij & Isabela Granic, 2021. "Everyone does it—differently: A window into emerging adults’ smartphone use," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Paul M. Gangi & Allen C. Johnston & James L. Worrell & Samuel C. Thompson, 2018. "What could possibly go wrong? A multi-panel Delphi study of organizational social media risk," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 20(5), pages 1097-1116, October.
    12. Kashmala Latif & Muhammad Yousaf Malik & Abdul Hameed Pitafi & Shamsa Kanwal & Zara Latif, 2020. "If You Travel, I Travel: Testing a Model of When and How Travel-Related Content Exposure on Facebook Triggers the Intention to Visit a Tourist Destination," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, May.
    13. Sarah Spiekermann-Hoff & Hanna Krasnova & Oliver Hinz, 2021. "Call for Papers, Issue 5/2023," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 63(4), pages 479-481, August.
    14. Roy, Pradeep K. & Singh, Jyoti P. & Baabdullah, Abdullah M. & Kizgin, Hatice & Rana, Nripendra P., 2018. "Identifying reputation collectors in community question answering (CQA) sites: Exploring the dark side of social media," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 25-35.
    15. Mariani, Marcello M. & Ek Styven, Maria & Nataraajan, Rajan, 2021. "Social comparison orientation and frequency: A study on international travel bloggers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 232-240.
    16. Griffith, David A. & Lee, Hannah S. & Yalcinkaya, Goksel, 2023. "Understanding the relationship between the use of social media and the prevalence of anxiety at the country level: a multi-country examination," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    17. Wajihal Mougha & Shahrina Md Nordin & Rohani Salleh & Haider Ali Abbasi, 2023. "Exploring the Impact of Techno-Complexity and Techno-Uncertainty on Academic Staff's Job Performance in the Era of Social Networking Stressors," Business Management and Strategy, Macrothink Institute, vol. 14(2), pages 329-349, December.
    18. Kawaljeet Kaur Kapoor & Kuttimani Tamilmani & Nripendra P. Rana & Pushp Patil & Yogesh K. Dwivedi & Sridhar Nerur, 2018. "Advances in Social Media Research: Past, Present and Future," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 531-558, June.
    19. Paul M. Gangi & Allen C. Johnston & James L. Worrell & Samuel C. Thompson, 0. "What could possibly go wrong? A multi-panel Delphi study of organizational social media risk," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    20. Kemper, Joya A. & Bai, Xue & Zhao, Fang & Chiew, Tung Moi & Septianto, Felix & Seo, Yuri, 2022. "Sharing luxury possessions in the age of digital experience economy: Consumption type and psychological entitlement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 875-885.
    21. Isaac Vaghefi & Bogdan Negoita & Liette Lapointe, 2023. "The Path to Hedonic Information System Use Addiction: A Process Model in the Context of Social Networking Sites," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 34(1), pages 85-110, March.
    22. Timo J. Lajunen & Inga Sofie Olsen Haug, 2023. "The Relationships Between Instagram Use, Emotional and Behavioural Responses, Self-Esteem, Emotional Investment, and Social Comparison," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.

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