The effects of social media sites on self-esteem

With the advent of the Internet over a decade ago came the introduction of a new form of communication referred to as social networking. On-line social networking sites, such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter, have become increasingly popular and almost an integral part of everyday life, especially for college students. Approximately ninety percent of college students have a Facebook account, and it is estimated that the average amount of time spent on this social networking site ranges from thirty minutes to over two hours on a daily basis. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between on-line social networking sites, particularly Facebook, and the self-esteem levels of college students. According to past research, there appears to be a connection between more time spent online and a decline in face-to-face communication with family and peers, which leads to feelings of loneliness and depression (Chen & Lee, 2013).

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