Effects of the Number of “Likes” in Instagram on Mood of Posters: Focused on Social Comparison Orientation

Abstract

Recently, researchers have examined the effects of Instagram “likes” as an indicator of posters’ mood changes. This study used a scenario in which participants compared their number of “likes” with those of their close friends. We evaluated social comparison orientation by investigating how participants’ moods changed in the scenario. Although the result did not reach statistical significance, among participants who tended to compare themselves with others, those who imagined themselves receiving fewer “likes” than their close friends displayed increased negative moods.