As TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest continue to gain immense popularity in modern culture, teens, adults and even children often experience a decline in self-esteem. This leads their minds to create a false reality of standards. Many individuals start to depend on likes and comments for their confidence and self-image. This thought process can result in an incredibly damaged mental state, including the onset of depression, anxiety and even addiction. For example, according to the Social Media Victims Law Center, “About 46,000 people died by suicide in the United States in 2020, in other words, at a rate of 14 people per 100,000 people.” This leaves several issues that must be addressed.
Comparison
Despite the overuse of the term “comparison is the thief of joy,” it fits many social media users well. TikTok users spend an average of 1 hour and 37 minutes on the app each day, scrolling through “GRWMs” or “Day in the Life” of strangers on the internet, wishing they were someone else, even though the creator is most likely lying or using filters to receive more views.
As noted by The Cybersmile Foundation, social media is the most contributing source of unhealthy comparisons. Social media can hurt self-image by presenting viewers with a false perception of someone who tries to look luxurious, ultimately forcing them to compare themselves to the content creator, which leads to the decay of their own emotional health. Comparison also drives an increased risk of depression, poor body image, eating disorders and a decreased overall well-being.
Addiction
Every form of addiction is bad, whether it is anesthetic, alcohol or idealism. Research from the University of Michigan states that “an estimated 210 million people worldwide suffer from addiction to social media and the internet.” Social media, designed to be addictive, triggers the brain’s mesolimbic pathway, releasing dopamine, a chemical produced during activities like gambling and drug use. This dopamine acts as a powerful signal for the brain, transforming the act of checking social media from a natural mechanism of motivation into a driver of compulsion.
Then comes addiction.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying, though overlooked by many people, has been experienced by 20.9 percent of children in the U.S., according to a 2020 study by Cyberbullying Research Center. This online harassment can occur in comments, posts, private messaging and many other ways, making it hard to catch everyone who does it in the act.
Many people claim cyberbullying is worse than in-person bullying because of its inescapability, anonymity and publicity. Occurring at any time, even in the privacy of your own home with no idea of who the harasser is and the worry of being publicly shamed, online bullying can be more emotionally devastating to the victim compared to traditional methods of bullying.
Social media’s impact on a person’s emotions and actions is not something to take lightly. If you feel you have succumbed to any of these aspects and emotions, you should seek help from a trusted individual immediately.
