Experimental evidence of Instagram influencers’ impact on well-being

With Instagram influencers holding significant sway over public perception, their presumed psychological impact on young adults has gathered public attention. It has been claimed that influencers, known for showcasing enviable lifestyles, have the potential to affect their followers’ well-being. However, these claims have been based on correlational data that focuses on diffused indicators of social media consumption rather than specific features of Instagram. This limits our insight into the direct effects of Instagram on well-being. We experimentally investigated the effects of a brief exposure to Instagram influencers on the well-being. Our results showed that viewing profiles of demographically similar social media influencers is sufficient to increase envy and upward social comparison but has negligible effects on self-esteem and well-being. However, after statistical adjustments are made, we found no evidence that exposure to influencer impacts well-being. Past claims that Instagram influences well-being may have been overstated.