Document 15
Document 15
Laryssa M. Savage
University of Windsor
Dara Vosoughi
Glamorous holidays and flawless photos on Instagram are sure to make your life seem
unappealing and superficial. While social media objectives were meant for communication,
the allowance of self-doubt, comparison, and anxiety proves much greater. The way people
interact with these platforms is a determining factor of how well their mental state is. Such
deep forms of interaction can nurture a sense of connection and support, whereas superficial
forms such as scrolling or watching idealized content can be detrimental. Among a range of
reasons, social media fuels a culture of comparison and addiction which has continually led
2022, p. 540). Social media makes use of highlighting reels of other people’s lives, which
prompts one to set unrealistic goals and thereby making it extremely difficult to appreciate
their own lives. The impact of self-doubt incited by social media is rapidly increasing and has
proven to worsen the overall mental health, indicating a shift towards more mindful usage of
With the rise of Instagram and Facebook, people’s perception of these networks
results in an evaluation disparity of their self-image, which mirrors the unachievable. These
platforms give users the opportunity to show only the best, edited and filtered, takes of their
lives while omitting the pain and mundane aspects of daily life. This misrepresentation of
reality can lead to feelings of inadequacy especially amongst the youth, who are still
grappling with their self-esteem. Such images negatively impact one’s image of their own
body, and their willingness to eat, as well as lead to increased levels of anxiety and
depression (Ugwu, 2023, p. 2). Comparison is necessary, the more one compares their lives
to the permeating unrealistic social media depictions, the lesser the chances of self-
acceptance and love there are. This unhealthy cycle gives rise to self-disparagement and
stress, which disrupts the normal self-worth balance. Each of us has a limit when it comes to
accepting our flaws, once crossed, invasive thoughts filled with anxiety and depression take
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over. Unfettered comparisons can engender a vacuum of self-worth and slowly make it
Social media, without a doubt, further increases anxiety and depression due to its
unbelievable addictive qualities. Most users, either knowing or unknowing, get caught into an
unhealthy cycle of compulsively engaging with social media under the excuse of staying
socially relevant. Yet, these digital dependencies can prove to be dangerous. Some users
constantly check their profiles and notifications and feel as if their self-worth is based off
online interaction. Other users feel the need to stay connected to avoid missing social events
and conversations, making them ready to engage even at the cost of face-to-face interactions.
This need for online validation can make a person socially overstimulated and mentally
drained, thus increasing stress, chronic anxiety, and risk of depressive symptoms (Bhat, 2016,
p. 127). The need to maintain an engaging account makes it even harder to disconnect, and
the effects become increasingly worse. People stuck in this vicious cycle are forced to live
with pangs of guilt when they witness the ill effects of their habits but are practically
In short, the addictive nature of social media and the culture of comparison are both
negative factors where people's mental well-being is involved. The rapid increase in issues of
self-esteem, anxiety, and depression is due to such sites' unreal expectations and never-
ending need for approval. As much as there are benefits in social media such as uniting
people, spreading messages, and entertaining, the negatives must be considered as well. The
first step towards the creation of healthier social media use habits, and consequently, mental
health in the digital era is to understand the problems that exist underneath.. If the users of
social media accounts learn to be more self-aware and purposeful in how they engage with
social media, they stand the chance of minimizing its harm while maximizing the good.
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References
Bhat, S. (2016, January). Effects of social media on Mental Health: A Review. International
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shabir-Bhat/publication/323018957_Effects_of_
Social_Media_on_Mental_Health_A_Review/links/5a7c9e97aca272341aeb7472/
Effects-of-Social-Media-on-Mental-Health-A-Review.pdf
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Ugwu, L. E., Idemudia, E. S., Chukwu, O. O., & Onyedibe, M. C. C. (2023, April 19).
Valkenburg, P. M., van Driel, I. I., & Beyens, I. (2022). The associations of active and
passive social media use with well-being: A critical scoping review. New Media &