Nubia Soleyn 

Research Essay  

 

 

Social media can be very unhealthy for the mind because it displays unrealistic expectations that can negatively affect one’s mental health, functions through a filter bubble, and becomes a substitute for real-life interactions.   

In these past few years, technology has been advancing very quickly. Edited pictures have become less noticeable, and people have been using this to their advantage. People would post highly edited photos of themselves or their bodies, claiming to be natural. Kids and teens see this and digest it and think “This is what’s normal, this is how I want to look because this is what is seen as beautiful.” Obviously, this mentality can lead to mental problems. These beauty standards are unrealistic, so when they don’t end up looking like those individuals, they start to judge/condemn themselves. This can eventually lead to mental illnesses like depression or body dysmorphia. “Snapchat dysmorphia, that’s when people obsess over their appearance and can develop unrealistic beauty standards based on how they’re able to alter their images using editing technology. Some teens are even bringing in edited pictures from social media to plastic surgeons as examples of how they want to look.” Young people’s minds are still evolving, and they are forming their own identities as individuals. What they see on social media might determine what is expected in inaccurate ways, which can be harmful to identity development and self-image. Adolescence is a time of experimentation, which is both a strength and a weakness. Social media can amplify dangers and their want to risks.   

 

Almost all social media platforms operate through an algorithm so that it is curated to your specific interests. Most people might think this is convenient, but it can be very detrimental (quote video). Sometimes it is okay to learn about a difference of opinion, just to challenge yourself. Being exposed only to the things you like and agree with is great, but you can become ignorant.  Information is being digested differently amongst people because they are given information based on what they like rather than raw facts. 41% of news is fake or exaggerated. A lot of journalists use social media platforms to produce their articles/ reports to the public. Some of them may not be true. 

 

Social media like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and other applications are hampering our social skills. Social networking sites deteriorate communication skills because people forget proper manners as they constantly use these sites. The more time these people spend on social sites, the less time they will have to spend socializing in person. This can cause a person to become anxious when interacting with people in person because they are not used to it. 

 

 

 

Sources:  

Filter bubble ted talk: Beware online “filter bubbles” | Eli Pariser – Bing video 

Stats: Social Media and Teens (aacap.org) 

How/Why: Is social media bad for teens’ mental health? | UNICEF 

The complicated truth about social media and body image – BBC Future 

Just How Harmful Is Social Media? Our Experts Weigh-In. | Columbia Public Health 

Snapchat Dysmorphia Can Cause Low Self-Esteem in Teens: How to Help (insider.com)