International PISA Data Examines Social Media Use and Life Satisfaction
A new study based on 2022 OECD PISA data showed that the link between youth social media use duration and life satisfaction varies by gender and geographic regions.
A comprehensive international study utilizing 2022 OECD PISA data analyzed the relationships between social media habits and life satisfaction among more than 270,000 students aged 15-16 across 47 countries, based on gender and regions.
Scope of the Study and General Findings
In this international study, data from more than 270,000 students aged 15 to 16 from 47 different countries were examined in detail based on the 2022 OECD PISA data.
Life Satisfaction Declines Among Female Students
While average life satisfaction was measured at the highest level among female students worldwide who use social media for less than an hour a day, a significant drop in this satisfaction was recorded as the usage duration increased.
Female students who are heavy social media users were 49 percent more likely on a global scale to report low life satisfaction compared to light users, and this rate rose up to 63 percent in Western Europe.
Regional Variations Among Male Students
The results for male students presented a different picture than for girls, and worldwide, the life satisfaction of light users turned out higher than that of heavy users.
While the difference between usage duration and life satisfaction was not found to be statistically significant in some regions, it was observed that the rates at the extremes were higher among males.
Causality and Other Factors
Researchers emphasized that the findings obtained do not prove that social media directly causes life dissatisfaction and that the study is correlational in nature.
The possibility that various factors such as face-to-face friendships, economic conditions, and social isolation may also have an effect on these results is not ruled out.