Author 22 Nov 2023

The Impact of social media on self-esteem and Body image among teenagers

In today's digital age, the widespread influence of social media on the sensitive minds of teenagers is hard to exaggerate. As these platforms continue to display seemingly perfect lives, they deeply affect how teenagers view themselves.

The quest for likes, comments, and shares becomes a way for teens to measure their worth online. But while everyone seems perfect, it creates a storm inside, making them compare themselves and feel like they don’t match up. Their idea of how they should look is shaped by what they see online, not in the mirror. It's like they're in a different world where social media rules and sets standards. Scrolling through endlessly edited pictures makes them want approval but also makes it hard to truly accept themselves.

In this digital world, figuring out who they are and feeling good about it gets mixed up with everything they see and do online, changing how they see themselves in big and sometimes not-so-happy ways. Therefore, social media clearly impacts self-esteem and body image among teenagers in a very negative way. 

Recent study suggested the following trends:

1. About one-third (31%) of teenagers felt bad about how they look. 

2. Four out of ten teens (40%) felt stressed about their body because of social media pictures. 

3. Over a third of British teens (35%) had stopped eating or ate less because they were worried about how they look.

4. Four out of every ten teens (40%) mentioned that their friends' comments made them concerned about how they look. 

5. Thirty-five percent of teens often or always worry about their appearance, and 37% feel sad and embarrassed about it.

Today’s youth use social media a lot—it's everywhere! It helps them talk to friends, show who they are, and learn tons of other stuff. But while it's great in many ways, it can also make them feel not so good about themselves, like they don't measure up. This article will look into how social media affects how young people feel about themselves and how they look, talking about the things that make this happen.

Your self-esteem forms a crucial part of your mental health, referring to how you assess and evaluate your self-worth and value. According to latest studies, the use of social media can have both a positive as well as negative impact on one’s self-esteem, especially amongst teenagers who are the most vulnerable. Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook have become increasingly popular ways for youngsters to showcase their lives and simultaneously gain validation in the form of increasing likes and comments on their pictures and stories that they post. 

While positive comments and compliments on social media can excessively boost their self-esteem, negative comments or decreasing attention can have a contrasting effect on their self-image. According to a study conducted by Vogel et al in the year 2014, it was found that comparison on Facebook was directly related to lower self-esteem. Furthermore, it was found that youngsters who spent more time on the app tended to report lower levels of life satisfaction as well. 

What’s more, those who constantly compared themselves to others they perceived as better off than them, reported lower levels of self-esteem. 

Social media apps like Instagram and TikTok are where famous people, a.k.a. influencers, show off beauty and fitness. They have lots of fans who are considered as role models by the youngsters of today. But sometimes, these ‘role models’ show how they look in ways that aren't real, making others feel bad about themselves and how they look. 

So how do we save these adolescents from the overwhelming toxicity of social media? Social media detox is the key to your emotional wellbeing and happiness. 

As per a recent article stated in the Times of India, finding a balance between screen time and real life matters a lot. It's important for teens to think about why they use social media and how it fits into their lives. As part of Gen Z, it's natural for teens to be on social media, and that's okay. But if it starts making them feel bad, it's good to take a break. The main goal is to have a good, healthy connection with social media and how teens live. They should know it's okay to be themselves and like who they are. Sometimes, social media can make them feel not good enough.

A study from the American Psychological Association found that when teens and young adults used social media less for a few weeks—like cutting it in half—they felt better about how they looked, including their weight. This was different from those who kept using social media the same amount all the time.

Therefore, taking breaks from social media can be really good for teenagers' minds. It gives them a chance to step back and take a breath from all the comparing and worrying. When they're not glued to their screens, they can focus more on things they enjoy and the people around them. It's like giving their brains a little vacation! 

Detoxing from social media lets you recharge and remember that your worth isn't based on likes or comments. It's about being yourselves and feeling good about it. So, take that vacation and supercharge your mental health!

At CounselIndia, we provide practical learning courses in psychology for everyone, no matter what field! For any queries or doubts, contact us at info@counselindia.com.