Mindfull

With growing popularity on social media applications, the Internet has become a source for individuals to express themselves. The current research study explores the relationship between sense of social media authenticity and well-being amongst students at Glendale Community College. 178 Participants (49 art class, 129 non art class) completed questionnaires assessing their sense of social media authenticity and well-being and if they were enrolled in at least one art class. Results showed that people who were more authentic on social media had higher well-being. This positive association between one’s presentation on social media and their well-being was stronger among students who were enrolled solely in academic classes as opposed to students who were enrolled in at least one art class. Implications for the Social Networking Companies to target individuals who actively use social media are discussed.

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For many years, scholars have been interested in the effects of social media use on individuals’ well-being. Internet use has been increasing over the years especially amongst students, and it has caught the attention of researchers to study the effects of social media use on an individual’s well- being (Subrahmanyam, 2001). In particular, it’s important to know the impacts of social media use on an individual's well-being if they are involved in art classes. In present research, we investigated several research questions, one of which is whether the relationship between sense of social media authenticity and well-being varies as a function of student enrollment in art courses. We want to know whether the positive relationship between one’s presentation on social media and their well-being is stronger among students who are enrolled solely in academic classes as opposed to students who are enrolled in at least one art class. We expected this because students enrolled in art classes had a chance to express themselves, whereas those who have only academic classes rely more on social media as a form of self-expression. Students who are enrolled in art classes are able to express themselves, as opposed to students who are not enrolled in any art classes are more vulnerable to criticisms on social media.

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In the current research, we conducted a survey study towards students who attend Glendale Community College. We asked them questions about sense of social media authenticity and well-being and if they are involved in art classes. We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between the amount of social media authenticity and well-being, such that individuals had formed their self-expression if they are involved in artistic activities rather than students who are only enrolled in academic courses and rely on social media as a form of self-expression. Furthermore, we predicted that students enrolled in art classes do have a chance to express themselves, whereas, those who have only academic classes rely more on social media as a form of self-expression. These predictions were supported by the findings that individuals’ well-being increased due to their involvement in artistic activities because it allows an individual to have direct connections to their emotions (Mundet-Bolos, Fuentes-Pelaez, & Pastor 2017). We also based this prediction on the research conducted by Valkenburg, Peter, & Schouten (2006), who found that individuals who had social networking sites had higher self-esteem and well-being if they received positive feedbacks on their profiles compared to individuals who received negative feedback on their profiles which resulted in low self-esteem and well-being. Certainly, we think this is stronger because students who are enrolled in art classes are able to express themselves through paintings, drawings, photography, etc. according to Mundet-Bolos, Fuentes-Pelaez, & Pastoran (2017) as opposed to students who are not enrolled in any art classes and are more reliant on social media.