Online interactions, offline behaviors: a study of social media feedback as an indirect predictor of prosocial behaviors at work

Purpose This study examines affective, cognitive and behavioral workplace outcomes of interpersonal interactions on social media. Design/methodology/approach Full-time employees reported their social media interactions, emotional states, cognitive resources and workplace proactive behaviors at work twice a week for eight weeks. Findings The results demonstrate that favorable written comments on social media (but not the number of likes) have a positive indirect relationship with cognitive resources necessary for engaging in prosocial behaviors at work. Research limitations/implications The findings advance our understanding of how positive social media interactions impact workplace prosocial behaviors. Originality/value This finding advances our understanding of the workplace repercussions of interpersonal interactions on social media.