Paper Number

ICIS2025-1725

Paper Type

Complete

Abstract

Social media effects on well-being differ across users. In search of factors that can explain the effect heterogeneity, much research has focused on observable behaviors such as use duration and type. However, less is known about how users’ subjective experiences shape these effects. This study examines the role of having an agentic social media mindset – beliefs about one’s control over interactions with social media. By analyzing intensive longitudinal data from a 13-week study, we demonstrate that users’ agentic social media mindsets are not fixed and vary from week to week. Further, we find positive within-person relationships between having a more agentic mindset relative to one’s own average and various dimensions of subjective well-being. Our findings contribute to the literature on digital well-being, expand mindset theory by applying it to the context of social media, and provide concrete implications for interventions, platform design, and public policy.

Comments

23-Media

Share

COinS
 
Dec 14th, 12:00 AM

“I Am in Control!” An Intensive Longitudinal Study of the Role of Agentic Mindsets in User Well-Being

Social media effects on well-being differ across users. In search of factors that can explain the effect heterogeneity, much research has focused on observable behaviors such as use duration and type. However, less is known about how users’ subjective experiences shape these effects. This study examines the role of having an agentic social media mindset – beliefs about one’s control over interactions with social media. By analyzing intensive longitudinal data from a 13-week study, we demonstrate that users’ agentic social media mindsets are not fixed and vary from week to week. Further, we find positive within-person relationships between having a more agentic mindset relative to one’s own average and various dimensions of subjective well-being. Our findings contribute to the literature on digital well-being, expand mindset theory by applying it to the context of social media, and provide concrete implications for interventions, platform design, and public policy.

When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted here.