Social Media Use & Belonging

Abstract

The Need to Belong is considered a fundamental human need that is essential to various aspects of life (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Belonging is a two-dimensional construct, comprised of “relatedness” and interaction,” which together contribute a complete sense of belonging. Belongingness needs can be satiated through various mechanisms and behaviors, potentially through social media use. Based on the established importance of belonging, and the growing prevalence of social media, the present research explores the relationship between social media use, belonging, and other well-being outcomes. More specifically, this study looked at how social media platforms are used and the impact of specific social media behaviors on belonging, also exploring the cyclical nature of social media use. Participants (n = 295) were recruited from a small southern university and through Facebook, and responded to measures regarding belonging, loneliness, social connectedness, time spent using social media, and social media use behaviors. Results suggest that active and passive social media use predict belonging. Additionally, connecting with people in close relational proximity through social media predicted belonging. Ultimately, engaging in specific behaviors on social media platforms impact belonging. Using social media actively or passively, and connecting with others in close relational proximity, are ways individuals can use social media to add to their interpersonal relationships and belonging—not take away from them.