Exploring the heterogeneous influence of social media usage on human development: The role of carbon emissions and institutional quality

Social media has grown in importance as a means of social connection and provides a significant avenue for learning about sustainability and related issues. This study aimed to reveal the long-run heterogeneous relationship between social media usage, institutional quality, carbon emissions and human development. We employ second generation techniques, namely augmented mean group (AMG) and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimators to ensure that cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity are captured. In addition, the system generalized method of moments (GMM) dynamic panel data estimator was used to deal with the issue of endogeneity and serial correlation. The analyses were categorized into three: all sample groups, advanced economies, and transition and developing economies. Our findings show that there is a positive relationship between social media usage, institutional quality, carbon emission and human development. However, social media usage in transition and developing economies is more pronounced than in advanced economies and likewise for institutional quality. With regard to carbon emissions, the impacts are symmetric. Overall, the interaction between social media and carbon emissions adversely affects human development, while the interaction between social media and institutional quality proportionally lead to human development. Most importantly, the impact of social media on human development is not economically beneficial and may be more promising in transition and developing countries.