Mental Illness is invisible. You can sound confident and have anxiety. You can turn up to work or school and everyday appear “fine” and have have suicidal thoughts, god forbid. You can look happy and be miserable inside. You can look so good and feel so ugly. You can smile or make jokes and have depression.
Let’s dive deep and understand why it is that so many young teenagers are struggling deep within. Some even suffer silently.
Sometimes, I wish my mental illness would show up like a bruise, and I could say to the world, “I told you it was real. Now, maybe you’ll listen.”
Toxic Social Media Affects
Rising teenage depression, linked to social media, particularly affects teenage girls due to unrealistic beauty ideals and materialistic pressures, influencing both their mental health and spending habits. Addressing these issues is crucial for protecting the well-being of current and future generations of teenage girls
The Pressure to be Perfect
Social media overwhelms teenagers, particularly girls, with edited images of influencers portraying unrealistic beauty standards, fostering feelings of inadequacy, and triggering body image issues and unhealthy behaviors. The pressure to conform to these ideals leads to pervasive dissatisfaction with one’s appearance and contributes to stress, anxiety, and depression among teenagers.
As teenagers constantly seek validation and approval on social media, their self-esteem diminishes, and dissatisfaction with their physical appearance grows. Despite efforts to promote body positivity, the pervasive influence of unrealistic beauty standards perpetuates feelings of inadequacy and diminishes teenagers’ sense of self-worth.
Efforts to challenge these harmful narratives and promote self-acceptance are crucial in mitigating the adverse effects of social media on teenagers’ mental health. Prioritizing diversity and empowering adolescents to embrace their uniqueness can foster a culture of positivity and resilience in the face of unrealistic beauty standards.
Materialism and Validation
Social media exerts a significant influence on teenage spending habits, often leading to materialism and validation-seeking behaviors. Under the sway of celebrity endorsements and the constant barrage of trends, teenagers feel compelled to purchase products or experiences to fit in or project a certain image online. This pressure results in impulsive buying tendencies and financial strain as they attempt to meet unrealistic standards propagated by social media influencers and their peers.
The pervasive exposure to trends on social media platforms cultivates a culture of instant gratification driven by the fear of missing out (FOMO). Teens strive to keep pace with their peers, leading to impulsive spending habits as they chase the latest products and experiences showcased online. Influencers play a pivotal role in shaping these spending decisions by promoting aspirational lifestyles, blurring the boundaries between the digital and real-world realms of consumption.
We crave the ‘likes’ on Instagram to the point where we become addicted to seeking outside validation. We barely like ourselves, but expect the world to double tap on our photo and base our confidence off of their approval. Social Media can have a negative impact on our mental health and well being. We spend hours mindlessly scrolling, posting, and scanning our fragile eyeballs through social media platforms.
In order to have a healthy relationship with social media, we must learn how to navigate the online world and develop a healthy relationship without allowing it to take us over. Don’t ever compare your living, breathing, beautifully imperfect real-life, human self to someone else’s controlled online content.
Mental Health
The mental health crisis among teenage girls, particularly rising depression rates, is partly linked to excessive social media use. Studies show that spending over three hours daily on social media is associated with increased risks of depression and anxiety symptoms, exacerbated by unrealistic beauty standards, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content. Social Media is merely an illusion that makes us feel as though it is a reality.
Social Media affects middle school and high school girls. They are being bullied, fat shamed, or mocked constantly. Some of the girls are so ashamed and scared and refrain from telling their parents. This hiding ultimately causes intense trauma from suppressing pain for so long. The consequences for being afraid to share with their parents can result in self harm. These girls just want to numb themselves and spare themselves of the pain. They think that it is easier to numb rather than feeling their emotions, especially if they are too painful to feel. The cycle of trauma can also make it increasingly difficult to release yourself from cyberbullying, and negative self image.
Despite the risks, social media can facilitate positive connections and self-expression, as highlighted by the Pew Research Center’s survey showing positive perceptions among teens. However, navigating these complexities requires parents to establish clear guidelines for social media use in their families. Strategies include setting age-appropriate access, promoting healthy sleep habits, maintaining open communication, and modeling responsible digital behavior.
Many adults only share the highlights of what happens in their lives. They don’t want to share with you the inside details of what really takes place. They will show you the beautiful, scrumptious delicacy, while skipping the scene of the dirty dishes in the sink. Understand the following please. They don’t want to show you their fresh morning zit, bloated bellies, or failing marriage. Their feed is curated to literally ‘feed’ you what they want you to see, but not what actually is. There is a lot of deceit.
Approaching discussions about social media use with empathy and understanding is crucial for parents. By acknowledging both the benefits and risks associated with online engagement and fostering open dialogue while setting realistic boundaries, parents can effectively support their teens in navigating social media in a healthy and mindful manner.
Fake Personas
Social media has transformed modern communication and connectivity, offering numerous benefits alongside potential drawbacks. While it provides a platform for connection and self-expression, excessive use can have detrimental effects on mental well-being. Social platforms often portray idealized versions of life, fostering feelings of inadequacy and envy among users who compare themselves to others, exacerbated by the innate human tendency towards competition and self-presentation.
The constant exposure to seemingly perfect lives depicted on social media can lead individuals to question their own achievements and happiness, resulting in a decline in self-esteem and overall well-being. I came across this quote that caught my eye, it said how the sun and moon shine when it’s their time. Flowers are pretty but so are sunsets and they look nothing alike. Comparison is the key to destruction. Do yourself a favor and politely unfollow all those that are making you question your worth and doubt your success.
Spending excessive time on these platforms further intensifies these negative effects, as users become consumed by comparing their lives to others and may experience heightened feelings of inadequacy. To mitigate the negative impacts of social media on mental health, it’s crucial to recognize the artificiality of these portrayals and avoid engaging in unhealthy comparisons. Taking breaks from social media and limiting exposure to curated profiles can help maintain a healthy perspective. Prioritizing genuine connections and focusing on real-life experiences over online validation can help individuals cultivate a healthier relationship with social media and safeguard their mental well-being.
The Future at Risk
Social media is deeply intertwined with the lives of teenagers, presenting both positive and negative impacts on their mental well-being. Platforms like TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat serve as vital spaces for connection and support. Many adolescents find solace and creative expression through these platforms, especially during times of emotional distress.
However, the dark side of social media emerges in its association with heightened feelings of depression, anxiety, and loneliness among teenagers. Research indicates that prolonged use of social media correlates with increased symptoms of mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. Moreover, excessive engagement with social media has been linked to a rise in self-harm behaviors among teenagers.
The multifaceted impact of social media on teenagers encompasses various factors, from disruptions in sleep patterns to exposure to cyberbullying and negative social comparison. Despite these challenges, social media also serves as a tool for self-expression and identity exploration among adolescents. To navigate these complexities, it’s crucial to prioritize healthy device management, provide support for mental health issues, and encourage offline interactions to promote holistic well-being.
Unapologetically You:
Unfortunately, we have created a mask. We have gotten so used to ‘performing’ constantly for others, that we are unaware as to how to distinguish what is real and what is fake. We have become characters and don’t know how to play the role properly, since that is not who we genuinely are. I am here to remind you to be real, not perfect. Perfection is self destruction, while authenticity is not. Be authentic. Not a carbon copy. You were created to be you. Fitting in is boring. It’s time to step outside of the ‘box’. Change the shape and be you. As Herman Melville says, “it is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation”.
Also, in reference to social media, trust that you cannot trust what you see on social media. You are only witnessing one side of the coin, not a true reflection. Social Media is just glorified snippets of imperfect and equally chaotic lives.
Cheers to the beautiful chaos that we all are. You are perfectly imperfect. That is okay. You don’t need the like on Instagram. The double tap should be you tapping on your left side of your heart and loving yourself for who you are.
Protect your peace at all costs.
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