Color, Emotion, and Perception: A Mixed-Methods Study on Social Media Design and Youth Well-Being

Abstract

This study explores the role of colors in the lives of youth who are actively engaged on social media platforms and their emotional well-being. Acknowledging the major influence of social media on adolescent minds, the goal of this study was to learn about particular color schemes and its effects upon online user feelings and actions. This research uses a mixed-methods approach with 110 survey respondents, along with 9 interview participants. The survey used questions that came from the 18-item General Well-Being Schedule (GWB). The selected questions assessed participants’ mental health during the past month. Demographics as well as color perception questions were incorporated in the survey. The interviews followed a semi-structured process to get participants’ perception of social media color palettes and posts. Quantitative analysis disclosed that color perception and general well-being had a weak, but non-significant, positive correlation with color usage in social media. The qualitative analysis generated approximately seventeen themes, and these themes included color schemes, engagement, and perceived appropriateness of color use. The overall findings indicate that pastel and soft tones promote feelings of calmness and relaxation. Moods involving joy are tied to hues that are bright and energetic. Neon or highly saturated shades can provoke over-stimulation or discomfort. Color matching the content type was highlighted as important by participants. Moreover, the importance of color matching the content type to maintain credibility and appeal was also noted. These findings stress that color plays a complex role in shaping user experience on social media. Colors as well as design significantly impact youth choices, thus this suggests a potential influence.