The rise of social media has significantly impacted the lives of teenagers in recent years, reshaping the way they communicate, interact, and perceive the world around them. With the creation of smartphones and easy access to the internet, platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and others have become a large part of teen culture. Social media offers teens a space to express themselves, connect with peers, and explore their identities in ways that were previously unimaginable. But unfortunately, with these positives there also comes negatives, and these negatives sometimes weigh out the positives.
In the past few decades, the emergence of social media platforms has fundamentally altered the world of human interaction. With the creation of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and hundreds of other platforms, the world has become more connected than ever before. However, as we investigate further into the creation of the digital world, it becomes increasingly clear that the effects of social media on the mind are profound and overall detrimental. Among these effects, one of the most concerning is social media’s growing association with depression. This essay aims to explore the relationship between social media usage and mental health, going through the more prevalent and also unthought of ways in which it can contribute to the development of depression and anxiety.
To begin, I want to give a slight history of social media for those who may be unfamiliar. The history of social media can be traced back to the early days of computer networking in the 1970s and 1980s. One of the earliest forms of online communication was the Bulletin Board System , known as the BBS, which allowed users to post messages and interact with others on a digital platform. However, it wasn’t until the formal creation of the internet in the 1990s that social media as we know it today began to take its shape.
In 1997, Six Degrees emerged as one of the first recognizable social networking sites. It allowed users to create profiles, list their friends, and look onto the profiles of other users, similar to today’s very popular “facebook”. Despite its new and innovative features, Six Degrees struggled to attract a large user base and eventually shut down in 2001. However, it laid the groundwork for future social networking sites by introducing the concept of online profiles and friend lists.
The early 2000s saw the rise of several influential social media platforms that would shape the landscape of online communication. Friendster, launched in 2002, popularized the idea of connecting with friends and acquaintances online. MySpace, founded in 2003, quickly surpassed Friendster in popularity, becoming the dominant social networking site in the mid-2000s. MySpace allowed users to customize their profiles with music, videos, and graphics, creating a new and fun sense of creativity and individuality among its users.
In 2004, Facebook was founded by Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes while they were students at Harvard University. Originally limited to Harvard students, Facebook quickly expanded to other universities and eventually opened up to the general public in 2006. With its clean site style, user-friendly features, and emphasis on real identities, Facebook became the leading social networking site, surpassing MySpace in terms of users and also influence. Today, Facebook has over two billion active users worldwide and has diversified its offerings through connections with Instagram and WhatsApp, further solidifying its position as the most dominant force in the world of social media. (maryville.edu)
Now coming back to the main idea of this essay, one of the most notable effects of social media on teens is its influence on their socialization and communication patterns. Platforms like Snapchat and Instagram provide teens with instant and constant communication channels, allowing them to stay connected with friends and peers around the clock. However, this constant connectivity can also lead to issues such as cyberbullying, peer pressure, and feelings of inadequacy as teens navigate the complex social dynamics of online interactions.
Social media has transformed the way teens perceive themselves and others. With the rise of influencer culture, teenagers are exposed to carefully curated images and lifestyles that often promote unrealistic beauty standards and materialistic values. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem as teens compare themselves to the idealized versions of their peers portrayed on social media. Additionally, this search for validation through likes, comments, and followers can create a sense of validation tied to the online content, further impacting teens’ self-worth and mental well-being.” The evidence is growing that social media can be a health risk, particularly for young people who now have all the normal pressures of youth (fitting in, looking good, being popular) being exploited by the multibillion-dollar companies that own the platforms they spend much of their lives on.”, states Matt Haig, the author of this first hand account talking about how social media is in fact not a force for good but a creation for the sole purpose of profiting off of young individuals. (theguardian.com)
Social media platforms often serve as curated highlight reels of people’s lives, showcasing the most picture perfect moments, while concealing the unlikeable moments or more so the distressing ones. As previously stated, this culture of selective self-presentation can create a distorted perception of reality, leading to feelings of inadequacy and envy. Research indicates that frequent exposure to idealized representations of others’ lives on social media can fuel a phenomenon best known as social comparison. Individuals may compare their own accomplishments, appearance, and lifestyle to those depicted online, often in a negative way. This constant comparative mindset can create feelings of inferiority and unworthiness, laying the groundwork for depressive symptoms to take root in young adults and teens.
Social media platforms thrive on validation such as likes, comments, and shares. The pursuit of online validation can become all-consuming for some users, as they measure their self-worth based on digital affirmations from others such as comments and likes on posts. However, this validation is often fleeting and superficial, leading to a precarious sense of self-esteem. One article in particular actually states that there is in fact a psychology behind our craving for social media likes that is rooted in our basic human instincts and desires. “We are inherently social beings, programmed to seek approval and affirmation from our peers.” (medium.com) In the realms of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, this translates to a constant need for likes, shares, and positive comments. Studies have shown that individuals who place excessive importance on social media validation are more susceptible to depressive symptoms, as their self-worth becomes contingent upon this external approval. Furthermore, the constant barrage of carefully crafted images and narratives can create an unrealistic standard of beauty and success, further destroying and altering self-esteem and developing feelings of inadequacy.
Despite the promise of connectivity, excessive use of social media has more recently been found to have a direct link to feelings of social isolation and loneliness. While digital interactions may offer the illusion of companionship, they often lack the depth and authenticity of face-to-face relationships. Spending prolonged periods immersed in the virtual realm can lead to a neglect of real-world social ties, resulting in a sense of disconnection from others.Another growing issue that affects social connection in teens is cyberbullying. In a 2016 study, 73% of students reported being bullied at school at least once in their lifetime. The percentage of students who reported being victims of cyberbullying in their lifetime more than doubled between 2010 and 2021 due to the increased popularity of social media.(findlaw.com) Cyberbullying usually isolates the individual affected, leading them to believe they are alone and don’t deserve to be cared for and loved by others. Moreover, the prevalence of cyberbullying and online harassment further compounds feelings of isolation and alienation among vulnerable individuals. Research suggests that adolescents, in particular, are susceptible to the negative effects of cyberbullying, with victims exhibiting higher rates of depression and anxiety.
In conclusion, the impact of social media on mental health, particularly its association with depression, is a complex and pressing issue in our contemporary society. From creating feelings of comparison and envy to perpetuating a culture of validation and self-esteem contingent upon online feedback, social media platforms hold an alarming and considerable influence over individuals’ psychological well-being. Furthermore, the paradoxical nature of digital connectivity often leads to feelings of social isolation and disconnection, intensifying the risk of depressive symptoms. Before I close, I want to leave you, my visitors, with a message. As we navigate this digital landscape, it is imperative to recognize the potential downfalls of excessive social media usage and take proactive steps to safeguard our mental health and the mental health of our future children. By fostering a balanced approach to technology and nurturing authentic, offline connections, we can put an end to the detrimental effects of social media on the mind and cultivate a healthier relationship with the digital world for years and years to come.