The emergence of online social networks has affected communication patterns and emotional states, highlighting the importance of identifying factors associated with emotional competencies. This study examined the roles of marital status and social media use patterns in emotional competencies, including emotional intelligence, emotional wisdom, and emotion regulation. This study included 561 users selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires assessing emotional intelligence, emotional wisdom, and difficulties in emotion regulation and analyzed in SPSS using independent-samples t-tests, ANOVA, and chi-square tests. Compared with single participants, married participants had significantly higher emotional intelligence and emotional wisdom, as well as greater hopefulness, flexibility, and problem-solving. Two-way ANCOVA controlling for gender and age showed that the interaction effect of marital status and social network type on emotional competence dimensions was not significant (p > .05). However, marital status significantly affected emotion regulation, with married participants showing better regulation, whereas its effects on emotional wisdom and difficulties in emotion regulation were not significant after controlling for gender, age. Daily use of social networks for more than 4 hours was significantly associated with lower levels of almost all emotional competence indicators. The findings suggest that emotional competence may result from the interplay of relational protective factors, excessive use, and selection of image-based online networks, while digital lifestyle, communication choices, and relationship status are associated with mental health in the digital age. The study emphasizes emotional literacy education, digital-use management, and attention to the quality of the social network as important factor in emotional health.