Social media is a gallery of illusions, where filters blur imperfections and carefully staged moments tell a story that is unrealistic. People tend to showcase their best moments, creating a “standard” for teens. What’s the first thing you look at when you wake up in the morning, and the last thing you look at before you go to bed? Is it your phone? Instagram? TikTok?
Social media affects my everyday life and probably yours, too, whether it’s just scrolling through posts, watching TikToks or even just sending Snaps. As a teen girl, I’ve been in mindsets where I compare myself to the lives of the girls I see online. People set unrealistic standards for kids and teens.
Ten year old girls are putting on full faces of makeup and wearing clothes way too revealing for their age. When I was 10, I was still wearing polka dots and Justice clothes.
Social media has significantly changed our lives and ruined many childhoods. It’s such a horrible feeling to tear yourself apart because of something someone else posted.
The way social media affects our mental health is something we all need to recognize. The things we take away from what we see online constantly runs in our heads and creates a feeling of unworthiness in us.
Putting ourselves in situations where we get in the mental state of not being good enough only pushes us away from being ourselves. Loving yourself and having self confidence is the one thing that everyone needs to learn to have.
I think people need to start making a change to this issue by setting parental controls, limiting screen time, or even prioritizing offline activities. Teens can start to improve their habits by doing something as small as just turning off their notifications. If you’re reading this as a parent and you don’t know where to start? Check out this site to start creating a better life for your children.
By doing this, I think we can make a real change and mental health numbers will decrease. Self confidence is the most important thing that dictates our relationships and how we interact with one another.
