Handling Ostracism with Social Media-A Meta-analysis

Abstract

Ostracism is a prevalent social phenomenon that can have negative consequences on an individual's well-being. Social media has become an increasingly popular platform for individuals to cope with ostracism by seeking social support, engaging in self-expression, and practising self-care. However, the effectiveness of using social media for handling ostracism remains unclear. This meta-analysis synthesizes the findings of 20 studies that investigated the role of social media in coping with ostracism. The studies included in the meta-analysis examined the effects of social media use on various outcomes, including emotional distress, social connectedness, and self-esteem. The results of the meta-analysis revealed that social media use was associated with significant improvements in emotional distress, social connectedness, and self-esteem among individuals who experienced ostracism. The effect sizes of social media use were moderate to large, indicating that social media can effectively handle ostracism. However, the results also suggest that the effectiveness of social media use may depend on the type of social media platform used, the frequency and intensity of social media use, and the individual's personality and coping strategies. Overall, this meta-analysis provides evidence for the effectiveness of social media in handling ostracism and highlights the need for further research to identify the most effective ways of using social media to cope with ostracism.

Keywords: Ostracism, social media, Media, Self-Esteem, Self- Expression, Meta Study