From platforms to features: A cross-platform framework for Social Network Sites and mental health

Abstract

Research on Social Network Sites (SNS) and mental health has produced largely inconclusive findings. One reason may be that most studies either aggregate SNS use across platforms or focus on single platforms, making it difficult to systematically account for platform differences. In this paper, we integrate the literature to propose a cross-platform framework that organizes platform differences into three classes of characteristics: architecture, affordances, and socio-cultural context. Each characteristic encompasses features that vary across SNS and are theoretically linked to mental health outcomes. We outline this framework, illustrate its utility for understanding platform-specific effects, and conclude by identifying three key directions for future research: expanding the evidence base, examining the dynamics of platform-swinging, and understanding the interplay between user characteristics and platform characteristics.