Investigating the Impact of Instagram and TikTok on Adolescents’ Emotional Regulation

Author First name, Last name, Institution

• Mouza Al Memari, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Campus
• Maytha Alremeithi, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Campus
• Ayesha Al Zaabi, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Campus
• Areej Elsayary, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi CampusFollow

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Impacts of Capstone Projects for Future Ready Graduates Design Implementation and Evaluation

Publication Date

6-18-2026

Abstract

This study investigates how Instagram and TikTok affect adolescents’ emotional regulation within the UAE context. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, we surveyed 30 parents of adolescents aged 13–17, followed by in-depth interviews with five parents. Quantitative findings revealed that adolescents use both Instagram and TikTok daily, with over one-t hird spending more than four hours per day on these platforms. TikTok was the most preferred platform, reflecting its entertainment- driven design, while Instagram use was more associated with self-presentation and social comparison. Regression patterns suggested that excessive use correlated with emotional exhaustion and irritability. Qualitative interviews further showed that adolescents often imitate online behaviors, use social media as an emotional outlet, and struggle with setting boundaries, reinforcing Social Learning Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory frameworks.

DOI Link

10.4018/979-8-3373-5312-8.ch011

ISBN

[9798337353128, 9798337353142]

Publisher

IGI Global Scientific Publishing

First Page

303

Last Page

324

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Keywords

Psychology (0.68) | Affect (linguistics) (0.61) | Social media (0.6) | Social psychology (0.59) | Qualitative research (0.5) | Emotional regulation (0.48) | Uses and gratifications theory (0.41) | Media use (0.38) | Developmental psychology (0.37) | Self-disclosure (0.35) | Computer-assisted web interviewing (0.35) | Explanatory model (0.34) | Emotional support (0.34) | Social emotional learning (0.33) | Grounded theory (0.33) | Computer-mediated communication (0.33) | Advertising (0.32) | Social influence (0.32) | Regression analysis (0.3) | Social comparison theory (0.3) | Qualitative analysis (0.3) | Theory of planned behavior (0.28) | Content analysis (0.28) | Empirical research (0.27) | Qualitative property (0.26) | Social network (sociolinguistics) (0.26) | Social learning theory (0.26) | Multimethodology (0.25)

Scopus ID

105043990883

Recommended Citation

Al Memari, Mouza; Alremeithi, Maytha; Al Zaabi, Ayesha; and Elsayary, Areej, "Investigating the Impact of Instagram and TikTok on Adolescents’ Emotional Regulation" (2026). All Works. 8355.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/8355

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no