The Power of the Like in Adolescence
University of California, Los Angeles · California State University Los Angeles · +2 more institutions
Abstract
We investigated a unique way in which adolescent peer influence occurs on social media. We developed a novel functional MRI (fMRI) paradigm to simulate Instagram, a popular social photo-sharing tool, and measured adolescents' behavioral and neural responses to likes, a quantifiable form of social endorsement and potential source of peer influence. Adolescents underwent fMRI while viewing photos ostensibly submitted to Instagram. They were more likely to like photos depicted with many likes than photos with few likes; this finding showed the influence of virtual peer endorsement and held for both neutral photos and photos of risky behaviors (e.g., drinking, smoking). Viewing photos with many (compared with few)…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 350.37
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 34
Authors
5- LELauren E. ShermanCorresponding
University of California, Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles, Brain Mapping Foundation
- APAshley Payton
University of California, Los Angeles
- LMLeanna M. Hernandez
University of California, Los Angeles, Brain Mapping Foundation
- PMPatricia M. Greenfield
University of California, Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles
- MDMirella Dapretto
University of California, Los Angeles, Brain Mapping Foundation, Neurobehavioral Systems
Topics & keywords
- Psychology
- Imitation
- Cognition
- Social cognition
- Neural correlates of consciousness
- Social media
- Cognitive psychology
- Social psychology
- Good health and well-being