Social Media in the 21st Century: Perspectives, Influences and Effects on Well-Being

There can be no doubt that social media has fundamentally transformed how people relate to each other and navigate the social environment of the contemporary era. While social media makes it easier than ever before for people to connect, it can also lead to negative effects on mental health and well-being, as it facilitates social comparison which, ironically, can leave people feeling more isolated and detached. Chapter One of this book explores how social movement actors utilize Instagram to deliver complex political messages and discusses the importance of understanding the possibilities and dangers of social media’s influence on political reality. Chapter Two analyses online social comparison from a social psychological perspective and highlights the differences between its occurrence in face-to-face and social media contexts, as well as the implications for mental health. Chapter Three focuses on the influence of Instagram upon millennials’ purchase intention via celebrity endorsement and other Instagram visuals, particularly in connection with the use of color and the visual attractiveness of celebrities. Lastly, Chapter Four addresses the semiotic aspects of Instagram by comparing a typical semiotic communication model to Instagram’s communication model and explaining design aspects of Instagram’s model.