Purpose

A major portion of our social interaction now occurs online, facilitated by social networking sites (SNSs) that enable people to connect and communicate at will. However, the characteristics of SNS communication can introduce problematic outcomes on otherwise healthy processes, one of which is social comparison. In this work, we investigate whether compulsive SNS use could be driven by two phenomena related to social comparison: the fear of missing out (FoMO) and envy.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the stimulus-organism-response framework, we developed a model that was tested with data from a sample of SNS users (N = 330) based in the United States. The analysis was done through partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Findings

Our findings show FoMO's association with the two forms of dispositional experienced envy, benign and malicious, as well as expected envy of others (expected envy). Interestingly, benign and expected envy were associated with SNS stalking and self-disclosure, but malicious envy had non-significant associations. Finally, both SNS stalking and self-disclosure were linked to compulsive SNS use.

Originality/value

We study the nuanced ways in which the two forms of experienced envy and expected envy can be triggered by FoMO and result in users' engagement with problematic SNS use. Our research provides evidence that, in addition to benign envy being an antecedent of compulsive SNS use, the wish to invoke envious feelings in others can also significantly drive compulsive use.