An Exploration of the Impact of Instagram use on the Self-Esteem and Life Satisfaction of Female Undergraduate Students

The purpose of this study is to examine if and how Instagram use affects female undergraduate college students. Drawing upon primary data derived from interviews with a small range of students and one post-primary school counsellor, the findings suggest that routine use of this social media platform has a substantial negative impact on the self-esteem and life satisfaction of the students. The research results highlight a number of issues including negative feelings about themselves due to upward social comparison, feelings of insecurity, envy, a lowering of self-esteem and in extreme cases, depressive tendencies, all of which they associated with their use of Instagram. This article was originally submitted as the author’s final year dissertation project in the 2019-20 academic year.