Social media’s tremendous impact on our lives
(This story mentions eating disorders and other mental/physical issues that may be hard to read about, especially if you are going through them. Please read at your discretion.)
In the midst of the digital age, nearly every adolescent shares a common trait; they all have a social media account. Technology and the Internet, particularly social media, have made it possible to form connections, spread information, and broadcast one’s self easier than ever. However, as the younger generations grow up online, they can fall victim to body image issues and lowered self-esteem. A multitude of aspects of social media have facilitated an environment that could cause long-term damage to adolescents.
One particular problem that can negatively affect consumers, specifically consumers’ body image, is the widespread use of editing and filters by popular influencers. Some of these influencers, who have millions of followers, such as Khloe Kardashian and Tana Mongeau, have been exposed for photoshopping their faces and bodies to fit the beauty standard, usually making themselves seem slimmer. The proportions displayed are unrealistic and promote an unachievable standard to their audience, primarily consisting of impressionable young people.
As these influencers cater to young audiences with glamorous lifestyles and beautiful images, many of their followers compare themselves to them. While simply editing pictures is not an issue, purposefully altering appearances without disclosing them is very harmful. Young people see these images and try to emulate their unreal or unnatural figures in unhealthy ways. This can lead to people feeling unworthy in their bodies or cause them to have body image issues.
“Many people can get eating disorders or push themselves too far to get to the way the internet portrays women when they should accept themselves,” freshman Oleecia Cambell said.
Another way that social media can harm adolescents is by lowering their confidence. Practically all social media platforms use likes as a way for followers to engage with others. Seeing people with a substantial number of likes can create a feeling of self-consciousness among adolescents. Many of them may begin to hyper-fixate on the number of likes they get, making social media into a popularity contest.
Receiving a minimal number of likes can lower self-esteem and make people feel bad about themselves. They may begin to question their looks, personality, popularity, and other uncontrollable factors they believe goes into obtaining likes.
“Social media has warped people’s views on others,” sophomore Natalie Bullard says. “Focusing on likes is basically focusing on if people like you for your looks or not, and that shouldn’t matter.”
Social media is not the positive, safe haven it can seem to be. These platforms can spread a negative sense of self-worth among users. Thus, it is vital to realize that social media does not accurately represent reality and that the best medicine can be to take a break and log off.
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