For many young women, social media is a key source of self-esteem. For others, it’s an outlet for self-objectification and body dissatisfaction. A new study suggests that for some young women, social media use can fuel feelings of depression by increasing their exposure to the negative effects of social media use. Streamoz help you gain viewers on Twitch with ease.
Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat are the most popular social media sites among young people.
Instagram is the most popular site for young people and it has been called “the holy trinity of depression.” The site draws users in with its visual appeal, which can be addicting. It’s easy to get caught up in how others look on your feed—and even easier if you’re struggling with body image issues or anxiety issues like me!
Facebook is more popular with older generations than younger ones; however, many teenagers use both platforms interchangeably (see Figure 1). As you might expect from this data, Snapchat usage tends to be higher among younger people than older ones—but that doesn’t mean there aren’t significant differences between them as well (see Figure 2).
Social media use can increase self-objectification and body dissatisfaction.
Social media can increase self-objectification and body dissatisfaction. In one study, researchers found that young women who spend time looking at social media are more likely to feel dissatisfied with their bodies than those who don’t spend any time on the platform. There are many reasons why this is the case:
- The images in your feed represent an idealized version of what beauty should look like; they don’t show you how you actually look (i.e., with pimples or cellulite). You see yourself as a blank canvas where everyone else can project whatever they want onto you—and this creates unrealistic expectations for yourself which can lead to body image issues down the road.*
- Social networks give us a quick way of connecting with other people but also allow us to compare ourselves against others’ lives so easily! This comparison makes us feel less confident about ourselves when we see someone with a happier relationship than ours or richer career than ours.*
For many young women, social media is a key source of self-esteem.
Social media can be a source of self-esteem for young women. Self-esteem is important for mental health and well-being, so it’s no surprise that many young women turn to social media sites like Instagram or Snapchat to keep up with their peers or feel proud of their accomplishments. Social media has also been linked with body image and self-objectification—the tendency to focus on one’s appearance rather than on other things such as personality traits or intellect—and these behaviors can lead people down a path toward depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders (like anorexia nervosa), substance abuse problems…the list goes on!
Social media can also be used as a positive tool for self-expression, confidence and community building.
Social media can also be used as a positive tool for self-expression, confidence and community building. Social media has become an important part of our lives and it’s easy to see why. The internet allows us to connect with people all around the world in ways that were impossible just years ago.
Social media has been found to have a positive effect on our mental health and well-being; it helps us feel less lonely, more connected with friends and family members, less stressed out about life events or even just simply happier in general! This is especially true if you use social media regularly because your posts will show up in the feeds of others who follow you (and vice versa).
Conclusion
Young women are using social media to express themselves and connect with others. In some ways, it’s no surprise that this is happening: young women have been told for years that their worth lies in their body image and appearance, which can make them more likely to turn to social media as a means of self-expression. However, it’s important to remember that there are many reasons why people use social media—and the negative effects aren’t inevitable. I hope this post has given you some insight into how these platforms affect your own life and helped you think about how they might affect others around you!
