Instagram use and online subjective well-being among early adolescents: The mediating role of informational gratifications

Previous studies have mainly emphasized the negative impacts of social media and focused on affective and social mechanisms, while cognitive mechanisms such as informational gratification remain underexplored. This study examines the role of informational gratification as a mediator between Instagram use and online subjective well-being (OSWB) among early adult college students. Using a survey design, data were collected from 142 students aged 18–25 years at Tiga Serangkai University through the Instagram Use Scale (ω = 0.85), Information Satisfaction Scale (ω = 0.96), and OSWB Scale (ω = 0.92), and analyzed using mediation analysis in JASP. Results show that Instagram use positively affects OSWB (β = 0.248, p = 0.002) and informational gratification (β = 0.594, p < 0.001). Informational gratification also positively affects OSWB (β = 0.431, p < 0.001) and partially mediates this relationship (β = 0.256, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the importance of cognitive mechanisms in understanding the psychological benefits of Instagram use.