INVESTIGATING PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON TEENAGERS

Today's teenagers can't even picture social networking sites not being an alternative to their ordinary lives. These sites are now the primary communication, identification, and interaction means. However, the issue of social media's effect on adolescents' mental health has recently become a topic of debate.

Although these seem like a great way of keeping up with your family, and friends and creating some memories, they also come with difficulties such as cyberbullying, social rivalry, and the need to maintain an ideal appearance. These aspects can result in anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem among individuals. During the process of identity formation, the daily usage of social media and constant interaction with carefully selected content and the received likes and comments may lead to the development of low self-esteem. Awareness of these impacts is crucial for promoting better online conduct and helping teenagers cope with the challenges of the digital age.

Impact on Mental Health

Social media can be either a blessing or a gift as it brings stress to teenagers' mental health. But, social networks like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat give teenagers the possibility to communicate with their friends, share their experiences, and find friends who have the same experience and help them. However, the pictures that are chosen and, as it were, perfect that are posted in these sites can lead to poor self-esteem and anxiety. Foregoing studies have also revealed that the amount of time that teenagers spend on these social media platforms is contrariwise relational to their levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. This environment of constant comparison leads to negative self-esteem especially when teens feel that they do not fit the images portrayed online.

Impact on Self-Esteem & Identity Formation