SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS

SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS

Abstract

Social media influencers have been making social media users be affected mentally. This study focuses on showing how social media users have been affected psychologically because of following social media bloggers to view their posts. Social media bloggers’ positions in the study include makeup tutorials, beauty products, food outlets, and pictures of Instagram. These are used in the research to determine the impacts they have on social media users, especially on their psychological effects like depression that lead to an eating disorder. The study also discusses in literature review already researched in the various country to prove how social media influencers have impacts on social media users. The findings show what was discovered from the research analysis, which was done from the data collected in an online survey, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software. In the study, it shows that both male and female are affected equally by social media influencers. Also, it shows that more women follow beauty bloggers than men, and youths depend on social media influencers before making decisions like visiting food outlets, and before they buy products. It will also show how confidence levels of people are affected after they see a picture of a model in their Instagram account.

Research

Literature Review has proved that social media users are primarily influenced by social media influencers/ bloggers. It also shows and assumed that the use of social media affects youths psychologically. To analyze and apply hypotheses on the UAE’s youth, a quantitative method was used for this research such that 18 questions were distributed online, and a total of 100 participants responded adequately to the questions. Most of the questionnaire had queries that focused on the feelings of the participants so that I can get data that focus on the psychological effects caused by social media influencers. The targeted audience was male and female within the 18-40 based in UAE. Participants were chosen both male and female because psychological effects from social media users do not discriminate gender. The ages of 18-40 years because they are vulnerable to being psychologically affected usually spend a lot of time on social media. To collect data with fewer errors, participants were asked to participate in the survey voluntarily, therefore the data collect was sincerely given by the participants. To protect the participants, their names were not recorded during the study and questions. Also, the time of collecting data was limited so that to avoid time consumption during the survey. The scale of measure that was used in the study was nominal. Finally, the results were tested using SPSS software to make predictions that are accurate analytics and get a clear description and outcomes and effects on the chosen hypothesis

Analysis

A 2×2 experimental was assessed using factorial ANOVA. It was found that there is no significant difference between age intervals that contribute to eating disorder caused by depression from following social media influencer such that the range of 18-25 years (M=2.54; SD=1.577), 26-35 years (M=2.14; SD= 1.432) and 36-40years (M=2.00; SD=0.894), F (2, 95) = 1.450, p=.24 (Figure 1) it was also found that there was no significant difference between the affection of Male (M=2.24; SD 1.48=) and female (M=2.41; SD=1.489), F(1,95) = .001, p=.97 (Figure 2). Lastly, it was found that there is no interaction between the two variables that cause eating disorder F (2, 95) =.980, p=.38 (figure 3). Females are higher rated; therefore, more are affected than others.

Figure 1. The difference in affection between the age intervals

Figure 2. The difference in affection between female and Male

Figure 3.  Interaction between gender and ages to show how their eating disorder is caused by depression from following the social media influencers

A 2×2 experimental was assessed using factorial ANOVA. It was found that there is no significant difference on the doubts people have on their body image when they look at Instagram model’s pictures on their accounts such that the range of 18-25 years (M= 2.48; SD=1.386), 26-35 years (M=2.21; SD= 1.320) and 36-40years (M=2.18; SD=1.079), F (2, 95) =.632, p=.532 [Figure 4] it was also found that there was no significant difference between Male (M=2.64; SD 1.254=) and female (M=2.28; SD=1.353), F(1,95) = 2.440, p=.122 [Figure 5] who doubt their body image after looking at model’s picture on their Instagram account. Lastly, it was found that there is no interaction between the two variables that cause doubt of body image F (2, 95) =.356, p=.702 [figure 6]. Variation of the female are higher rated as people who mostly doubt their body image caused by looking at the model’s picture on Instagram than others.

Figure 4. The difference in doubts between the age intervals

Figure 5. The difference of doubt between Male and female

Figure 6. Interaction between gender and age interval to show who has more doubt of their body image after looking at the model’s picture in their Instagram account.

They are using a pie chart to analyze the participants’ confidence after they look at the post of an Instagram model. Their confidence is significantly affected such that it lowers the confidence levels.

Figure 7. How confidence Levels are affected by viewing a post of an Instagram model.

Using experimental 2×2 to assess the factorial ANOVA. It was found that there is a no significant difference between male (M=5.08 ; SD= 3.401) and female(M=5.04; SD=3.297), F (1, 95)=.593,p=.593  who follow a certain social media because of a social media influencer  [Figure 8 ] it was also found that there was a significant difference between the age interval 18-25 years (M= 5.31; SD=3.324), 26-35 years (M=4.17; SD= 2.270) and 36-40years (M=6.09; SD=4.657), F (2, 95) =.1.568, p=.214 of those who follow social media due to influence from social media influencers [Figure 9]. Lastly, it was found that there is no interaction between the two variables that cause individuals to follow a certain social media because of social media influencers F (2, 95) =.714, p= .492 [figure 10]. Hence following depend on social media influencers.

Figure 8 Difference between males and females depending on which social media platform they follow because of social media influencer.

Figure 9. Difference between age intervals depending on which social media platform they follow because of social media influence

Figure 10. Interaction between male and female showing how they are influenced by social media influencer to follow a specific media platform

Using experimental 2×2 to assess the factorial ANOVA. The finding was that there is no significant difference on the age interval 18-25year (M=13.64; SD=10.53), 26-35 years (M=14.03; SD=10.63) and 36-40 years (M=21.73; SD= 7.54), F (2, 95) = 1.12, p= .33 what type of influencers they follow (figure 11). There was a significant difference between male (M= 22.68; SD=6.82) and female (M=12.00; SD= 10.06), F (1, 95) = 13.75, p< .01 on the type that influencers they follow on the social media (figure 12). Finally, there was no significant interaction between the two variables on the type of influencers. They follow F (2, 95) = .11, p=.89(figure 13). Females have a higher rating than others.

Figure 11. Difference between interval age and type of influencers.

Figures 12. Difference between male and female on the type of influencers

Figure 13. Interaction between Male and females showing what type of influence they follow.

Using experimental 2×2 to assess the factorial ANOVA. There was a significant difference between age interval 18-25 years (M= 46.51; SD=29.40), 26-35 years (M= 58.52; SD=24.81) and 36-40 years (M= 48.91; SD= 34.87), F (2, 95) =3.485, p< .01 on mentioning three influencer accounts they follow most. It was also found that there was no difference between difference in Male (M= 49.24; SD=32.33) and female (M=50.54; SD=28.05), F (1, 95) =.09, p=.76 who mentioned three influencer account they follow most. Finally, there was no interaction between the two variables on the answers given on three types. They follow mostly F (2, 95) =2.51, p=0.08 Therefore mentioning depended on the age intervals of the participants.

Figure 14. Scatterplot showing the mentioned type of account they follow most.

They are determining factorial ANOVA using 2×2 experimental. It was found that there is no significant difference on age interval 18-25 years (M=7.62; SD=3.90), 26-35 years (M=9.00; SD=3.68) and 36-40 years (M=8.82; SD=3.71), F (2, 95) =1.10, p=.34 on the information they gave about influencers’ post they look forward to (figure 15). As there was no significant difference in females (M=7.88; SD=3.64) and male (M=8.96; SD=4.37), F (1, 95) =1.00, p=.32 on the post they look up to from influencers (figure 16). Women are more rate in terms of influencers’ posts; they look up to than others F (2, 95) =.05, p=.95 (Figure 17).

Figure 15.diffirence between age interval and influencers’ post they mostly look up to

Figure 16. Difference between gender and the influencers’ post the most look forward to

Figure 18. Interaction between the two variables to show the significance of the most influencers’ post they look forward to

Using a pie chat to know the people who buy a product after being influenced by social media influencer’s, there was a significant difference between those who agreed, disagreed, neither agree nor disagree, strongly agree and strongly disagree (figure 19)

Figure 19. A pie chart showing those who buy products after seeing them from social media influencer post

They are using an experimental of 2×2 to assess the factorial ANOVA. It was found that there is no difference between the age interval 18-25 years (M=2.00; SD=.98), 26-35years (M=2.07; SD=1.00) and 36-40 years (M=1.73; SD=1.00), F (2, 95) =.35, p=.71 of the people who follow food bloggers (figure 20). Also, there was no difference between female (M=2.04; SD=.99) and male (M=1.84; SD=.99) to those who follow food bloggers (figure 21). Females are higher rated than others F (2, 95) =.02, p=.98 (Figure 22). Hence there are more women than men.

Figure 20. Difference between age interval and people who follow food bloggers

Figure 21. Difference between gender and people who follow food bloggers

Figure 22. Interaction between the two variable to show the significant difference for those who follow food bloggers

Using a pie chart, a considerable number of people agreed that they visit food outlets after food bloggers have suggested them on their account, but there were a few who strongly decided on that (Figure 23)

Figure 23. Pie chart shows different results that were collected on whether people visit food outlets after viewing it on the blogger’s account.

It is using an experimental of 2×2 to assess the Factorial ANOVA. It was found that there is a significant difference between female (M=2.09; SD=1.12) and male (M=2.60; SD=1.12) F (1, 95) =4.19, p=0.04 who look forward to beauty blogger to post a makeup tutorial. Also there is no significant difference between age intervals 18-15years (M=2.33; SD=1.17), 26-35years (M=2.07; SD=1.16) and 36-40 years (M=2.00; SD=.99), F (2, 95) = 2.32, p=.10 of people who follow look forward to beauty bloggers post on makeup tutorial (Figure 24).

Figure 24. ANOVA table showing the difference in what people look forward to beauty bloggers post on makeup tutorial

They are using an experimental of 2×2 to assess the factorial ANOVA. It was found that there is no significant difference between age intervals 18-25years (M=5.57; SD=3.08), 26-35years (M=5.48; SD=3.04), and 36-40 years (M=6.45; SD=2.01), F (2, 95) = .24, p=.79 of those who see a post from a makeup blogger.  Also, there was no significant difference between females (M=5.39; SD=3.19) and male (M=6.40; SD=2.00) F (1, 95) =1.53, p=.22 who view the post from a makeup blogger. Finally, women are highly rated, and this means that more women follow makeup bloggers F (2, 95) =.12, p >0.05 (Figure 25).

Figure 25. ANOVA table showing the significant difference of who see a post from a makeup blogger

Using experimental 2×2 to assess the factorial ANOVA. It was found that there is no significant difference on the age interval 18-25 years (M=2.93; SD=1.44), 26-35years (M=2.72; SD=1.60) and 36-40 years (M=3.45; SD=1.51), F (2, 95) = 1.32, p=.27 for the overall opinion on social media influencers (figure 26). Also, there is no significant difference between females (M=3.04; SD=1.55) and male (M=2.60; SD=1.29), F (1, 95) = 2.51, p=.12 on the overall opinion on the social media influencers (Figure 27). Finally, women are highly rated than men F (2, 95) = .15, p=.86. This means more women are influenced by social media than men (Figure 28).

Figure 26. Difference between the overall opinion on social media influencers and age intervals

Figure 27. Difference between gender and the overall opinion on the social media influencers

Figure 28. Interaction between the two variables showing the significance of the overall opinion on the social media influencers.

Findings and Conclusion

It was found that age and gender of youths in the UAE do not matter to those who suffer from an eating disorder caused by depression following social media influence, but more women are affected than men. Instead, all the people are affected the same by depression regardless of their age and gender. Therefore following social media influencers cause psychological effects to the people who support them in different social media platforms. Also, gender and age do not contribute to the doubts people have on their body image after seeing a picture of the Instagram model in their accounts. Hence doubts are the same across all genders among the youths, but more females are affected. On a nominal scale to test their confidence levels after seeing a post of an Instagram model, most of the participants agreed that they are altered, which also shows how social Media Influencers affect people psychologically. Concerning the specific media platform, people follow depend on the social media bloggers/ influencers, but age and gender do not contribute people joining those social media and more females than males are influenced to join specific social media platforms.

Age does not determine the type of influencers that youth in the UAE follow, but gender does matter in the kind of influencer to follow, and also more females follow specific influencers than men. Age matters when mentioning at least three influencers’ accounts people follow most, but gender does not matter. Moving on, the age and gender of youth do not matter on the information they gave about the influencers’ posts they look forward to for them to follow, but women more women are influenced by the influencers’ posts they look up to. Also, many people buy products after being influenced by social media influencers, so youth tend to look for information about products they would like to buy from the social media influencers they follow. Their ages and gender do not limit who follows food bloggers, but more women tend to develop social media influencers on their social media accounts. Many of the youths visit food outlets after they get suggestions from food bloggers they follow in the account. People who follow beauty bloggers were determined by gender such that more women follow beauty bloggers than men. Still, age is not a determinant for women who follow beauty bloggers, and mostly women follow beauty bloggers to get tutorials on makeup. Age and gender do not matter with posts from makeup bloggers, but more women tend to view makeup bloggers than men. The overall opinion on social media influencers does not depend on gender and age; rather, it depends on the participants’ answers, but there was a significant difference between Male and female solutions. Regardless of gender and age of youth, they are affected equally by social media influencers/ bloggers, and these effects have been psychological.

In general, youths in UAE depend on social media, and they hugely follow social media influencers to view their post like makeup tutorials, food, sports, lifestyle, and many more. Due to their vast following, sometimes they suffer from depression caused by social media Influencer, especially if they do not get what they expected. The lows make youths suffer from an eating disorder that is witnessed around the entire UAE. This supports the hypothesis that social media users are greatly influenced by social media influencers/bloggers, causing psychological effects.

Recommendations

I recommend further studies that are supposed to be done to find more psychological effects caused to social media users from social media influencers/bloggers. This study focuses on only psychological impact, which is depression that leads to eating disorders. The psychological effects that should be focused on the research are; deaths caused by influence from social media influencers, violence caused by youths that are contributed by social media influencers, school drops out caused by social media influencers, benefits gained from following social media influencers and how social media influencers encourage social media users.

I also recommend for research on measures government and the entire community in UAE are supposed to do so that they can regulate what content is posted by the social media bloggers to prevent dangers caused to the social media users like the youths. These efforts should guide them so that they can protect their citizens who are social media users and also guide them on ways to handle social media bloggers who do not follow the set guidelines from the study.