We argue that the use of online networks may threaten subjective well-being in several ways, due to the inherent attributes of Internet-mediated interaction and through its effects on social trust and sociability. We test our hypotheses on a representative sample of the Italian population. We find a significantly negative correlation between online networking and well-being. This result is partially confirmed after accounting for endogeneity. We explore the direct and indirect effects of the use of social networking sites (SNS) on well-being in a SEM analysis. We find that online networking plays a positive role in subjective well-being through its impact on physical interactions, whereas SNS use is associated with lower social trust. The overall effect of networking on individual welfare is significantly negative.
%0 Journal Article
%1 noauthororeditor
%A and Fabio Sabatini, Francesco Sarracino
%D 2014
%K (cs.CY) Computers Information Networks Social Society and
%T Online networks and subjective well-being
%X We argue that the use of online networks may threaten subjective well-being in several ways, due to the inherent attributes of Internet-mediated interaction and through its effects on social trust and sociability. We test our hypotheses on a representative sample of the Italian population. We find a significantly negative correlation between online networking and well-being. This result is partially confirmed after accounting for endogeneity. We explore the direct and indirect effects of the use of social networking sites (SNS) on well-being in a SEM analysis. We find that online networking plays a positive role in subjective well-being through its impact on physical interactions, whereas SNS use is associated with lower social trust. The overall effect of networking on individual welfare is significantly negative.
@article{noauthororeditor,
abstract = {We argue that the use of online networks may threaten subjective well-being in several ways, due to the inherent attributes of Internet-mediated interaction and through its effects on social trust and sociability. We test our hypotheses on a representative sample of the Italian population. We find a significantly negative correlation between online networking and well-being. This result is partially confirmed after accounting for endogeneity. We explore the direct and indirect effects of the use of social networking sites (SNS) on well-being in a SEM analysis. We find that online networking plays a positive role in subjective well-being through its impact on physical interactions, whereas SNS use is associated with lower social trust. The overall effect of networking on individual welfare is significantly negative.},
added-at = {2014-09-01T05:54:23.000+0200},
author = {and Fabio Sabatini, Francesco Sarracino},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/29fe082d5d081e9f6dc7cded38bdd35ab/merja},
description = {Online networks and subjective well-being},
interhash = {d8783d348c86b1c8fbf449481fadcb50},
intrahash = {9fe082d5d081e9f6dc7cded38bdd35ab},
keywords = {(cs.CY) Computers Information Networks Social Society and},
timestamp = {2014-09-01T05:54:23.000+0200},
title = {Online networks and subjective well-being},
year = 2014
}