Gen ‘Z (Zoomers) Social Media Users: Impact of Network Heterogeneity on Psychological and Subjective Well-being

The study aimed to examine the mediating role of network heterogeneity among social media users and its influence on the subjective and psychological well-being of generation Z (born between 2000–2005). The research involved 315 university students from diverse academic disciplines. Results indicate that active social media users significantly develop social capital and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Notably, network heterogeneity was found to mediate and exhibited a stronger positive influence on subjective well-being than on psychological well-being. Moreover, users commonly engaged in favourable social comparisons with their peers on networking platforms, serving as a significant source of inspiration and motivation that further enhanced both subjective and psychological well-being. These findings highlight the importance of diverse online networks in promoting well-being among the users. The findings suggest that fostering diverse connections on social media can have positive effects on psychological well-being.