Dear Social Media,
Honestly, if I could go back in time to 8th grade, I would have stopped myself from downloading Snapchat and Instagram. At first, they seemed like harmless apps where I could text my friends and see what they posted. But slowly, they became a place full of negativity.
What really surprised me is the lengths young boys and girls go to just to follow the latest trends to be more like everyone else.
It pains me to see girls as young as 13 comparing themselves to women online who probably photoshopped their photos before posting them. Young girls and boys are being exposed to what others view as “normal” from the way they dress, to how they speak, and even down to the personality they should have. But in reality, these trends are discouraging the youth from being themselves, and encouraging them to be a copy and paste of those so called “influencers” they see online.
When I was 12 years old, the only thing I would ever worry about was when summer was going to start. Now, every middle schooler is worried about skin care and posting cute photos on Instagram.
It breaks my heart to see kids wanting to grow up already when I’m here wishing I could go back to when I had less things to worry about and able to feel free because everyone around me was going through this odd phase in their lives. Now, going through that phase feels like a crime.
The constant struggle of finding happiness with oneself is draining. It is even more draining for a child trying to figure out who they are without the pressure of social media value and the constant reminders of needing to be “perfect” to impress your peers.
According to the article “How Does Social Media Affect Teens?” it states, “Body image is one primary area in which teen social comparison leads to negative emotions—not only for teen girls, but for all genders. When teens compare themselves to curated and filtered photographs of their peers and of celebrities, they often feel inferior. This can lead to lower self-esteem and negative body image.” The real question is, with all of this, will you truly be happy with yourself?
Some may argue social media is a place where you can connect with others and share your interests. But are we looking at the real picture? Kids around the world end up talking to strangers who can bring them more harm than good as well the content being shared on such platforms can result in a child not knowing how they are supposed to act.
Teenagers on social media spend much of their time observing the lives and images of their peers. This leads to constant comparisons, which can “damage self-esteem and body image, exacerbating depression and anxiety among adolescents.”
From my own personal experience, I only got Instagram because my friends back in 8th grade had it and I wanted to be like them join the trend you know. Trust me when I say this was the worst decision of my life from then on all I could think about was: why can’t I look like her?
All I care about is the well-being of our youth. I don’t want them to go through what I did in order to truly be happy with myself. Following the steps of those you see online can bring you great success and joy in your life, but it can also bring harm as well.
The best advice I can give is to go out there and be who you are. Don’t be afraid of being different or not looking like everyone else because the only person who will ever fully understand you is yourself.
Sincerely,
The girl who hates unrealistic beauty standards
