Instagram paths to materialism in young people: social comparison and identification with influencers.

An empirical study investigated whether Instagram use increases materialism among young people through two paths, as proposed by Kasser: <italic>feelings of insecurity</italic> and <italic>exposure to materialistic models</italic>. A total of 310 university students aged 17–26 years were surveyed, and the collected data were analysed using a Structural Equation Model. Instagram intensity was a significant predictor of materialism via social comparison (a path related to <italic>feelings of insecurity</italic>) and identification with influencers followed on Instagram (a path related to <italic>exposure to materialistic models</italic>). The proposed model sheds light on the possible mechanisms through which Instagram usage increases materialism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]