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<p>This study examined the effects of problematic social media use (PSMU) on online self-presentation, with fear of missing out (FoMO) and digital aesthetics as sequential mediating factors, and sex as a contingent moderator. Grounded in self-determination and social comparison theories, the research aims to explain how psychological and aesthetic mechanisms jointly contribute to the construction and management of individuals’ digital identities. Data were obtained from a large sample of college students representing a diverse demographic background (M = 28.69, SD = 9.92, aged 18 to 60, 314 Females). Correlation analyses revealed strong and positive relationships among PSMU, FoMO, digital aesthetics, and online self-presentation. Mediation analyses indicated that PSMU has not only a direct effect on self-presentation but also an indirect effect through the sequential effects of FoMO and digital aesthetics. The moderated mediation analysis showed that sex significantly influenced the indirect pathway through digital aesthetics, and that aesthetic self-presentation processes were more pronounced among female users. These findings highlight the complex interplay between addictive social media use, affective-cognitive factors, and aesthetic motivations, offering new insights into how individuals navigate identity, belonging, and self-expression in digital environments. Implications for understanding sex-specific online behavioral patterns and directions for future research are discussed.</p>

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Problematic social media use and social media self-presentation: Roles of fear of missing out, digital aesthetics, and sex

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月29日

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  • Hasan Batmaz,
  • Seyyide Şifa Göktaş,
  • Ebru Çanakçi Uğur

摘要

This study examined the effects of problematic social media use (PSMU) on online self-presentation, with fear of missing out (FoMO) and digital aesthetics as sequential mediating factors, and sex as a contingent moderator. Grounded in self-determination and social comparison theories, the research aims to explain how psychological and aesthetic mechanisms jointly contribute to the construction and management of individuals’ digital identities. Data were obtained from a large sample of college students representing a diverse demographic background (M = 28.69, SD = 9.92, aged 18 to 60, 314 Females). Correlation analyses revealed strong and positive relationships among PSMU, FoMO, digital aesthetics, and online self-presentation. Mediation analyses indicated that PSMU has not only a direct effect on self-presentation but also an indirect effect through the sequential effects of FoMO and digital aesthetics. The moderated mediation analysis showed that sex significantly influenced the indirect pathway through digital aesthetics, and that aesthetic self-presentation processes were more pronounced among female users. These findings highlight the complex interplay between addictive social media use, affective-cognitive factors, and aesthetic motivations, offering new insights into how individuals navigate identity, belonging, and self-expression in digital environments. Implications for understanding sex-specific online behavioral patterns and directions for future research are discussed.