Social Media and the Impact on the Next Generation

The effects of social media have taken their toll, but what are the psychological outcomes for ordinary people?

In recent years, we as a society have seen an astronomical increase in social media use. From TikTok to Instagram, we are exposed to a wide range of information and connections. Although this does sound appealing to most people, it brings on a host of unseen problems over time. Issues such as body image perception, cyberbullying, and altered priorities/concerns, which all stem from the freedom we have online to compare ourselves to others. 

Social media has a strong effect on how people perceive themselves in relation to others' appearances. Although we see many advocates for social acceptance and beauty representation in the media, these uplifting messages are oftentimes taken with a grain of salt. The ability to easily view the lives of others through the fabricated lens of posts and videos can often have a detrimental effect on an individual’s perception of their own life. According to a study done on studyfinds.com, “nearly 60% of those in the study viewed a friend as having a better life because of what they posted on social media while more than 60% of social media users feel worse after finding out someone “unfriended” them online.” Perceiving someone as having an exciting life, nicer things, or a better body can make people, especially teens and adolescents, feel concerned about the state of themselves and their own lives and relationships. Taking this into account, the mental health of adolescents are much more fragile since they are still developing their brains, forming connections, and learning the ways to navigate through life. Being on social media can create a sense of isolation and loneliness, which can likely lead to strains of depression and severe anxiety to form. Humans are naturally social creatures, therefore when there is no physical contact between people present, endorphins like dopamine and oxytocin that alleviate stress and stimulate happiness are not activated. 

The strength of our connections have the biggest impact on our mental health, acting as a pillar of security, but without this stability, social media can easily turn into the psychological downfall of our next generation.