RESEARCH_FILE
Nicole Vogel
University of Toledo
Known for:Experimental research on how passive exposure to idealized Facebook profiles lowers self-evaluations, and how heavier platform use amplifies social comparison behavior
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“Everyone else is further ahead”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“I’m comparing my inside to their outside. That’s not a fair dataset.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Open a blank note and list three private facts from your last seven days that a highlight reel would miss. Keep the note for yourself and close it after reading once.
Key findings
- 2014
Passive exposure to Facebook profiles depicting others with superior attractiveness, intelligence, and success lowered participants' self-evaluations on those same dimensions; heavier Facebook users reported more comparison behavior, suggesting platform use and upward comparison form a reinforcing cycle. Social Comparison, Social Media, and Self-Evaluation ↗