Social Media Impact On Self Esteem

Next time you are out in public, notice how many people are immersed in their cellular devices. I bet you will see a lot, and most likely these people are on their social media accounts. According to Brooke Lusk, the database and media manager for the Prevention Researcher, social media can be defined as, “an aspect of the internet which allows individuals and groups to create and publish online content, share the content, and interact about it.” These days, people are very involved with the internet and social media. Some think this is a benefit while others think this is a detriment for many reasons. Social media allows people to stay connected and explore new things, but there are many negative aspects that can affect self esteem, cause

Throughout the past decade, numerous reports and tests have been conducted to see whether or not there has been a link between social media and low self-esteem. With the majority of adults and almost all millennials, social media has been on the rise. To some people, it's about sharing memories and connecting with families, but to others, it has turned into an addiction. After multiple hours a day mental changes might occur. A loss of self-esteem has been closely related to the fact of having an avid social life in a digital world.

Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) offers infinite connections and the ability to express oneself to the world. But are these connections and images of self-based upon fact or fiction? Through selective self-presentation, people often present the “ideal self” instead of the “actual self” in the online environment to achieve the feeling of positive self-esteem. In “The Way We Live Now: I Tweet, Therefore I Am”, Peggy Orenstein writes of how her Twitter posts reflected an idealized version of her life. Two studies support the hypothesis that such editing can have a positive effect on personal self-esteem. “Mirror, Mirror on my Facebook Wall: Effects of Exposure to Facebook on Self-Esteem” by Amy Gonzales presents a study demonstrating

The use of technology and social media has become very prevalent in the 21st century. Almost everyone in the United States owns some kind of social media account. According to Statista.com, “In 2017, 81 percent of U.S. Americans had a social media profile, representing a five percent growth compared to the previous year.” While the number of users increases every year, it seems as though the number of people who prefer to live in the “virtual world” also increases. I believe that social media sites create isolation for all individuals. There are so many distractions on these sites that most people cannot even focus on the present. These sites also provide an illusion of companionship. While many believe they are finding their “soulmates” online, in reality they are only living in a fantasy. A person’s self-image is also affected by social media. Some believe that all the “likes” and “comments” can boost self-confidence, but if you are not receiving any of these things, then what is the point.

Abrams focused on the damage social media can cause on our mental health. One study that she pointed to is by the UK Disability Charity Scope. They found that of 1500 Facebook and Twitter users “62 percent [of users] reported feeling inadequate and 60 percent reported feelings of jealousy from comparing themselves to other users” (Abrams). Another study that she also points to is one by researchers at the University of

With evolving technology comes new types of social media, people have begin to question the internet’s effect on our mentality. It is a bit difficult to compare the pros and cons of social media, it has more to do with an individual’s experience.  Some could be having a horrible time due to social media, but others could be thriving off of it.  The more negative implications of using social media could be the way that we share our personal lives and how much of it we give to the public, regardless of social relationships, to consume.  Along with this, we are deeply impacted by what we see from others based on our viewing of what they share because of the ability to create falsified identities and unrealistic interpretations of who we are

Andreassen, Pallesen, Griffiths (2015) argues the implications of social media on a person(s), being addictive habits which affect self-esteem and moods. They did a study proving over 23,500 participants (Andreassen et al. 2015) showed addictive behaviour; of which it was most associated with

Social Media is making our world better—so we think anyways. Isabel Evans, a Crimson editorial writer, wrote an article explaining how social media is overwhelming our society. When intended to be a luxury, society uses social media as a necessity. Being on our phones has become a necessity in waiting rooms, lines, and when in other public areas. Social media has also corrupted our minds to think more about selfish things instead of others. Evans uses personal background to portray her relation with social media and the effects from it. Although social media is here for our advantage, Evans explains that it has increased egotistic attitudes throughout the population.

As a direct result of the rapid advancement in technology over the past 50 years, the media has become ever-increasingly present in our everyday lives. The latest fashion editorials and the most exclusive celebrity selfies are always just a click away. Something so pervasive, however, should be intently studied and handled with extreme caution due to the vast influence it can have over its audience’s mind. Too much exposure to certain stimuli has previously been shown to affect cognition and behavior in adolescents. So why should media be any different? Social media apps such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are becoming increasingly popular in this day and age. However, being fed a constant visual stream of models and celebrities with perfect faces and bodies cannot be very good for one’s self-esteem. For some time now, there has been an ongoing debate on whether media has an effect on self-esteem and if so, whether its effect is positive or negative. Consequently, in this report I will discuss and analyze several studies which address the topic of media and its impact on self-esteem.

Social network technology does not create havens for people with narcissistic tendencies and/or poor self-esteem. In the article, “Are Social Networks Messing with Your Head?”, David Resalvo is asking if social media is messing with mental health. He writes about how social media networks have evolved from a fad to a trend. He expresses the possibility of a relationship between loneliness and the use of social media networks. The article also expresses that people may use social media networks to boost their self-esteem.

Communication barriers are not the only issue that has been brought on by social media. Extensive social media use has also been known to affect a person’s self-esteem. Some individuals suffer from a low self-esteem and limit themselves to social media in hopes to create a different image of them. According to Charles Cooley, “The thing that moves us to pride or shame is not the mere mechanical reflection of ourselves, but an imputed sentiment, the imagined effect of this reflection upon another's mind" (Morine, 2009). For some teens and young adults, social media may help them open up and achieve a higher self-esteem. On the other hand, social media on other teens and young adults may have a completely opposite effect. In an article titled, Is Facebook Making Your Child Depressed, it is stated that social media websites such as Facebook “can create a skewed reality that makes teens feel alienated” (PR, 2012). When a person, that is not completely happy with their life, goes onto social media and reads all about other people enjoying a multitude of activities and enjoying their lives this could

In ‘8 Frightening Ways Social Media Is Molding Us’ Anne Grey Smith writes, ‘…it seems these devises are causing a lot more damage than simply brainwashing and making us speak their alienating language.’ I agree with most of her eight explanations but none more so than the fact that social media is wasting our time, destroying face-to-face conversation and most of all, diminishing our self-worth.

The purpose of the persuasive text was to raise awareness on the importance of self-appreciation and the harsh realities of social media. The younger age demographic are prominent users of social media therefore, there are predisposed to materialistic and luxurious lifestyles that lead their true perceptions of reality astray. Which then enforces

In order to understand the effect that social media has on self-esteem, we need to understand the construct of self-esteem. According to Coopersmith’s definition, self-esteem is “the evaluation which the individual makes and customarily maintains with regard to himself: it expresses an attitude of approval and indicates the extent to which an individual believes himself to be capable, significant, successful and worthy. In short, self-esteem is a personal judgment of the worthiness that is expressed in the attitudes the individual holds towards himself.” (p. 4–5) To put it more simply, self-esteem is the attitude that people have toward their own values.

Some say people who use social networking sites are prone to social isolation. Despite opposition, I am convinced that social networking helps people who are shy and socially isolated to connect with other people. This concludes that social networking can help people who have low self esteem other than lowering their self-esteem any more.Although many argue that social networking can exacerbate feelings of disconnect and put children at higher risk for depression, low self-esteem and eating disorders,I believe otherwise. According to my research, I have found that more than 25% of teens report that social makes them feel less shy, 28% feel more outgoing, 20% report feeling more confident,in which 53% of teens were identified as being shy (5 Boroughs). This means that social networking brings out a better person in most, and makes them feel better about themselves other than feeling bad inside.