Social comparison and its role in the formation of problematic internet use in adolescents (literature review)

Context and relevance. The widespread use of social media among adolescents has led to a significant increase in problematic internet use; however, the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. In particular, the question remains open as to what role social comparison plays in the development of problematic Internet behavior among adolescents who are in the process of identity formation and are highly sensitive to external evaluations. Objective. The aim of this review is to systematize and critically analyze current scientific data on the role of social comparison as a psychological mechanism in the development of problematic Internet use among adolescents, including an evaluation of existing psychometric instruments, the identification of key areas of empirical research, the determination of the role of the educational environment in the prevention of destructive patterns, and the identification of prospects for further research. Methods. A systematic search of scientific publications was conducted in international databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Russian databases eLIBRARY.ru and CyberLeninka.ru for the period 2013-2025. Original empirical studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and methodological works devoted to the validation of psychometric instruments for assessing social comparison were included in the analysis. Retrospective analysis of reference lists of selected publications was performed to identify relevant sources. Results. It was established that upward online comparisons are directly associated with decreased subjective well-being, increased depressive and anxiety symptoms, development of eating disorders, and formation of problematic Internet use among adolescents. The role of the educational environment in preventing destructive patterns of social comparison is demonstrated. Conclusions. Social comparison is a systemic predictor of problematic Internet use among adolescents in the digital age. Further longitudinal studies of causal relationships, development of integrative models and new psychometric instruments both adapted to the digital environment are needed, as well as implementation of educational programs aimed at developing critical thinking, media literacy, and stable self-esteem in adolescents.

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