"It's just one big vicious circle": A mixed-methods study on the relationship between highly visual social media and young people's mental health in Northern Ireland

The more the use of photographic filters across HVSM and LVSM, the higher the levels of anxiety and self-esteem. HVSM users reported a more negative emotional reaction compared to LVSM participants. Phase two found that features such as likes/comments on visuals and scrolling through a feed were associated with the role of ‘passive viewer,’ instigating longer lasting feelings of jealousy, inferiority, and pressure to be accepted.

To combat these negative emotions, young people turn to the role of ‘active contributor’ by using filters, selecting highlights to post to their feed and adjusting their personas, resulting in temporary feelings of higher self-esteem, greater acceptance, and popularity. As users of HVSM are constantly switching between the role of viewer and contributor, the emotions they experience are also constantly switching between inadequacy and gratification.

HVSM appears to trigger an unrelenting process of emotional highs and lows for its adolescent users, as depicted in this study’s conceptual model.