Social Media Use and Offline Interpersonal Outcomes during Youth: A Systematic Literature Review

ABSTRACT

Despite wide recognition that youth spend a significant amount of time communicating on social media, the literature is mixed when assessing the offline interpersonal impact of such time spent. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the associations between social media use and offline interpersonal outcomes in youth. A review of the literature across seven databases was conducted. Eligible studies examined interpersonal outcomes and social media use in young people aged 10–24 years. A quality assessment of methodological features was applied to the studies. Forty-nine eligible studies were identified. Impact findings are synthesized according to type of offline interpersonal outcome (relationship quality, individual attribute, group-based, and offline behavior). The most consistent findings regarding interpersonal challenges associated with social media use across the included studies were alienation from peers, family, and school, relational aggression, relationship quality with parent, and perceived isolation. The most consistent findings regarding interpersonal benefits associated with social media use were sense of belonging, social capital, offline social interaction, and degree of offline socializing. Particular attention is also given to inconsistent measurement approaches to social media use and interpersonal outcome variables. Methodological, theoretical, and future research recommendations are made as a result of literature review findings.

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Notes on contributors

Rebecca Dredge

Rebecca Dredge is an Australian clinical psychologist currently working as a postdoctoral research fellow at KU Leuven in Belgium. She obtained her psychology qualifications in Australia from Monash University and Australian Catholic University and has worked clinically for many years in the area of addictions and mental health. Dr. Dredge completed her Ph.D. on cyberbullying victimisation in adolescents and is currently researching the associations between social media use and various online and offline interpersonal and communication outcomes.

Lara Schreurs

Lara Schreurs is a Ph.D. fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) at the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research (KU Leuven) under the supervision of Professor Laura Vandenbosch. Her research interests concern the relations between adolescents’ and young adults’ (social) media use and wellbeing. In her Ph.D.-project, Lara specifically focuses on the role of social media literacy within the social media-effects literature.