This research has important implications for the relationship between self-esteem and self-control. Although previous research has demonstrated that increased feelings of self-worth may lead to less self-control, much of this research is based on licensing effects whereby focusing on past accomplishments or behaviors makes people feel justified to indulge themselves (Fishbach and Dhar 2005; Khan and Dhar 2006; Wilcox et al. 2011). Our studies, however, demonstrate that people do not need to rely on past behaviors as a source of entitlement; momentarily increasing self-esteem in an incidental fashion, such as by browsing a social network, can lower self-control. Future research, however, should explore whether this effect is limited to social networks or whether any situational factor that incidentally increases self-esteem will lower self-control. For instance, can sharing favorable images with close friends online through various photo sites (e.g., Picasa) affect self-control? Would presenting an inflated self-image (e.g., an expert opinion) in an online community affect self-control?