Influence of Social Media Use on Self-Esteem Among Female Adolescents in Akwa Ibom State

This study investigates the influence of social media use on self-esteem among female adolescents in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria. The rapid adoption of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook among Nigerian teenagers has intensified scholarly debates about the psychological consequences of frequent social comparison and curated self-presentation for adolescent self-worth. This research used a descriptive correlational design and recruited 360 female students aged 14 to 18 from six secondary schools across Uyo and Eket local government areas. Social media use was quantified through a self-report frequency and engagement inventory, while self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Multiple regression analysis examined the predictive power of social media variables on self-esteem scores. Findings indicate that higher frequency of social media use, particularly passive consumption of appearance-related content, significantly predicts lower self-esteem. Upward social comparison mediated the negative relationship between social media exposure and self-esteem. However, active social media use, characterised by self-expression and community participation, was associated with modest self-esteem benefits. The study recommends school-based digital literacy programmes and counsellor-led workshops designed to help female adolescents in Akwa Ibom develop critical social media consumption habits. Keywords: social media, self-esteem, female adolescents, Akwa Ibom State, social comparison.