Social Media Use Motives: An Influential Factor in User Behavior and User Health Profiles

Social media use is an increasingly popular behavior and has been differentially correlated with both positive and negative user characteristics and health indicators. However, the current literature has yet to fully explore the role of social media user motivations in the relationship between social media use, user characteristics, and user health. Aiming to address this gap, the current cross-sectional study examined data gathered from 1,547 online undergraduate students who completed an online survey regarding their social media motives (entertainment, information seeking, personal utility, convenience), user demographics, behavior, and health indicators (behavioral, mental, physical, social). Results demonstrated unique differences in social media motives according to social media platform, as well as user demographic characteristics, electronic media use, and health indicators, especially for the entertainment motive. Although the entertainment motive was not significantly different between women and men, t(1545) = 1.78, p = .07, d = 0.10, it was notably different across class level, F(4, 1542) = 8.03, p < .001, η2 = .03, and relationship status, F(4, 1542) = 15.63, p < .001, η2 = .04, and it was the motive most strongly related to user behavior and health indicators. Additionally, entertainment motivation was moderately correlated with problematic smartphone use (r = .45, p < .001) and had a stronger correlation with study variables than any other social media motive. These findings suggest that motives, especially entertainment, are important for understanding social media use in user interface, behavior, and health.