The World Within Our Pockets
In today’s tech-savvy world, we hardly miss a beat. The
invention of smartphones and the internet have produced the convenient world of
social media, which brings us everything from live world news coverage to what
our friends ate for lunch. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram have
revolutionized social interactions and how we communicate with one another. Although
social media platforms are viewed as revolutionary platforms that have
redefined modern communication, it contains hidden dangers that are affecting
our youth negatively.
Snapchat and Instagram that offer picture-sharing platforms
have led to the undermining of self-confidence and self-worth in adolescent
users. The score system of likes, comments, and views have created a system of
self-validation and evaluation based solely on appearances and external
features, leading the youth into unhealthy body images and self-outlook. Those
who may not receive as many like as more attractive individuals may feel
compared and belittled by the amount of response or lack thereof. One can argue
that such features are insignificant attributes in defining a person’s
disposition or emotional state. However, adolescents, especially teenage girls
between the ages 11 to 16, are highly sensitive to self-image and generally
more insecure than boys. The shallow constructs of social media platforms, like
the score system of likes and comments can thus be highly detrimental to the
emotional and mental health of a developing youth.
Social media’s potential health risks extend beyond
adolescents. Adults who spend a lot of time on apps like Facebook and Instagram
have been reported to be less satisfactory of their lives and have lower
self-esteem. The constant sharing and updating of people’s daily lives can
serve as comparisons to one’s less interesting life.
With all these negative impacts, you may be wondering what
can be done. It is not possible to eliminate social media or stop the millions
of people using them. However, it is possible to change their meaning and
significance in our lives. More emphasis on real-life interactions and
encouraging the youth to pursue things for their own interests, as opposed to
others’ perceptions of them, can help reduce the negative impacts of social
media. Viewing Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat as insignificant, entertaining
additions to our interactions, as opposed to the main types of social
interaction, can help minimize the potential health risks in the world of
social media.
