Alpha generation’s social media use: sociocultural influences and emotional intelligence

Preadolescence, a critical developmental stage, is increasingly influencedby social media, blending physical and virtual experiences. GenerationAlpha, born entirely in the digital age, is particularly impacted as technol-ogy shapes their growing, learning and social interactions. Social media’semphasis on appearance affects body image and emotional intelligence,yet research has primarily focused on adolescents and girls, leaving gapsfor preadolescents. This study involved 721 preadolescents aged 10–15years (M = 12.1, SD = 0.87), with 45.7% boys (N = 341) and 52.7% girls (N =380). Structural equation modelling examined three hypotheses: (H1)increased social media use correlates with addiction, (H2) promotes socio-cultural appearance ideals, and (H3) negatively affects emotional intelli-gence. Results showed social media use significantly predicted addiction(β = .47, p < .001), reinforced appearance ideals (β = .39, p < .001), and wasinversely associated with emotional intelligence (β = −.22, p < .01).Findings highlight both risks and sociocultural influences of socialmedia, particularly on younger users