A friend once complained of going through depression. After inquiries, he confessed that he was intimidated by the flashy lifestyles his peers portrayed online.
\Unfortunately he is one of many youths that go through the peer group pressure heightened by the advent of social media.
Love or hate it, the impact of social media is evident in our daily lives but its effect is predominantly distinguished among the Gen Z and the early millennials. These are sects that grew up with social media as part of their everyday lives and are currently in their twenties.
Social media has become an important part of many youths in today’s world. Considering its popular use, its effects are both positive and negative and may often stray to the latter if not harnessed properly. Your twenties are undeniably a crucial part of life and a stepping stone to achieving your life’s goals. What happens when promising young adults fall prey to the undesirables of social media? Works of research suggest that social media has an adverse effect on the self worth of youths.
Toxic behaviour such as narcissism; the unhealthy fixation on getting the “perfect pic for the gram” and the uncanny ways used to achieve it, the double personalities and lies portrayed and told by some social media users, the flashy cars, luxurious lifestyles displayed can make you question your self esteem. Here are ways to navigate the world of social media and improve your self esteem:
- Do not seek validation from social media: Desist from measuring your life’s progress using what you see online especially if you’re emotionally insecure. Strengthen your emotional feelings and avoid seeking substantiation from strangers. Likes and comments would not wipe away your problems.
- Focus on you: Do not be derailed by the progress you see from others. Be happy for them, do not envy them and work towards achieving your own goals.
Remember social media is not real life! While social media is seemingly harmless and almost everyone has good intentions, the picture on your feed may not be real life.
Knowing that our lives have significance is crucial for self esteem. I’m certainly not vilifying social media, it is important to preach moderation and raise awareness for the risks. So go ahead scroll through your Face book, Instagram, twitter etc feeds, post pictures and thoughts, but strike a balance. Live out your twenties to the fullest, you’re not a failure.
