Anxious to Create? Role of Gen Z Social Media Usage in Their Creative Self-Concept

Social media platforms have become ubiquitous in contemporary society, serving as tools for communication, information sharing and creative expression. Creative Self-concept, defined as a general judgment of one's ability to generate novel and original ideas, plays a pivotal role in fostering creative skill development. This study investigates the role of social media usage motivations in the Creative Self-concept of Generation Z. The research was conducted with a sample of 200 Generation Z respondents, using validated scales to measure social media use motivation and Creative self-concept, complemented by tailored survey items. Results indicate that participants who utilize social media for inspiration exhibited the highest mean scores for creative self-efficacy (Mean = 3,87, SD = 0,860) and creative personal identity (Mean = 32,79, SD = 1,03), thereby supporting the study's hypothesis. Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the motivation for use of social media for creative expression and enhanced creative Self-concept, consisting of two variables: personal identity and creative self-efficacy. The findings further demonstrate that Generation Z leverages social media not only for entertainment and education but also as a critical environment for idea exchange and personal development.