Social media has grown increasingly popular over the years. While this popularity has grown, it has led to some negative effects. Social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, can impact many lives in different ways. It can give people a platform to spread positivity, or to show what items or brands they prefer or recommend. They can give people an opportunity to show off their lifestyle no matter how luxurious it is. While this can all have a positive effect by giving people motivation for a variety of things, it can also show how some people live more luxurious lives and have a lifestyle that many envy.
According to “Social Media and Self-Doubt” from Child Mind Institute, advertising and magazines have been criticized for a duration of time due to the upholding of unrealistic standards. These standards are within beauty and success, and the most challenging part is that these standards aren’t completely set by celebrities or models but by peers. When people only show their best moments, it can lead to comparisons to be made self consciously. Some of the images and things seen on these platforms aren’t even real: they are Photoshopped, retouched, or even just made up.
The article talks about how people interpret others posts based on their own lives and what they are experiencing. If someone is experiencing low self esteem, their view or interpretation of others posts may not be as positive as the creator intended. It also talks about how people liking posts that are encouraging negative behaviors is providing validation for the choices they are making.
When you open TikTok, there’s a variety of things that you can see, one being people with lifestyles and an image that isn’t necessarily realistic. People chose to show only the good and happy moments in their lives so their posts aren’t always realistic and can show an untrue image. Posting things that exemplify a perfect lifestyle can lead to the idea that people online have everything together and live a life full of happiness.
This image can lead to people thinking poorly of themselves and comparing their lives to those that are online. It can lead to mental health problems and overall negative impacts on people’s lives. Posts can act as a mask, as it can be used to represent a persona that doesn’t show or include mental health issues.
This problem can be solved in a variety of ways but some of the most important include not glorifying your own life on social media and stop comparing yourself and your life to others online. Everyone experiences life differently and yes, some people may have more exciting experiences than others but that shouldn’t make you feel bad about yourself or the things you do. If people become more concious of what they are posting and how it can affect others, there may be a decline in the affect social media has.
The Talon believes that over time social media has had a greater impact on people’s lives and has led to a decline in people’s self esteem, but there is a way to get past these problems.