Unit 2 Portfolio

  Unit 2 Portfolio: Social Media's Impact

Since its rise in the early 2000s, social media has proven to be a platform of fostered creativity. With countless platforms, users can share almost any form of content, imagery, or information they choose. This freedom, while allowing for greater connection in society, has exhibited countless negative effects on mental health, particularly in youth. The negative effects have become profoundly worse as social media has expanded and developed. There is no limit to how, what, or when users post; and content is having an even greater societal influence. Social media has many positive features; better connectedness, fostered creativity, and support, but its negative effects on mental health are significant and lack recognition, particularly for young minds. 

Since its creation, social media has been a platform of ideals. Users have complete freedom to create the content they are sharing, which has led to the development of different editing tools, allowing users to freely alter their appearance as they choose. An average person spends 147 minutes a day on social media, but for youth the average is even higher. (Forbes 2023). This is a significant amount of time to consume "the best" and ideals of someone's life, whether it's in experiences or appearances. 

A study published to the NIH National Library of Medicine shared that social pressure and social comparison are determining factors in the development of eating disorders and body dysmorphia, particularly for women. Prior to social media, people only had the opportunity for comparison in public, in person, or with those on TV. Now, with the rise of social media, social comparison is more significant from daily exposure and consumption of idealized appearances and bodies. A constant stream of unachievable ideals can have profound lasting impacts, particularly when social media cultivates major factors of the development of eating disorders.  

In the study, it was found that use of social media directly impacted body dissatisfaction in teens and young adults, particularly for women. It was determined that body dissatisfaction influenced by social media was more likely to develop into an eating disorder, compared to outside of social media. While not everyone is vulnerable to social comparison and pressure, social media has increased the population that is impacted, and many that were not "at risk" for an eating disorder or body dysmorphia have experienced symptoms following increased social media use. Researchers utilized a survey for this study and surveyed a random sample of social media users. It was most shocking to discover that 71% of their sample passed an ED analysis survey, the commonly used SCOFF survey, meaning 71% of the sample of social media users showed symptoms of an eating disorder. For reference, approximately only 9% of the total population has been diagnosed with an eating disorder. The study also discovered that most teenagers on social media describe themselves as fat, but BMI and weight showed no correlation to this response. 

Researchers also uncovered that the frequency and time spent on social media directly increased social comparison from the user. It is obvious that social media influences comparison and thinness ideals; and this research is even more drastic for younger users. The over-exposure of thinness ideals on social media is dangerous. As young minds develop, so does the perception of self. Exposure to social media at a young age can likely create a negative perception. From personal experience, a negative perception of appearance, a desire to change, and constant ability to compare is hard to shake. What can be done to prevent this? Media influences every day of our lives and social media is not going anywhere. It is necessary to prevent and limit the consumption of social media starting at a young age, and to continue to limit usage throughout life. This could be critical in preventing the development of eating disorders and better mental health in several aspects. 

“Social Media Use and Body Image Disorders: Association between Frequency of Comparing One's Own Physical Appearance to That of People Being Followed on Social Media and Body Dissatisfaction and Drive for Thinness.” NCBI, 11 March 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8001450/. Accessed 26 March 2024.

The NIH published study did not only recognize a correlation between drive for thinness and eating disorders with social media use, they also recognized which apps had the most harm. It was discovered from the survey that Instagram, Facebook, and other Meta sites had the most profound impact on the development of eating disorders and negative body image. This is not shocking information. 

In 2021, The Wall Street Journal released an article detailing how Instagram has an increased negative impact on mental health as opposed to other social media apps. This discovery led to a senate hearing, because Facebook/Meta, which owns Instagram, had an understanding of the impact of their app and created an algorithm that influenced this. Instagram’s algorithm tends to promote content that focuses on the body and lifestyle, and this content generally includes false representations of bodies and habits, including unachievable appearance ideals. The algorithm also has addictive features, such as notifications, that encourage users to open and use the app more. Of course, these features have a greater effect on young people. 

It was also discovered by the Wall Street Journal that these apps, particularly Instagram, have an impact on other mental health issues not related to body image or thinness ideals. Many teens blame Instagram for increased anxiety and depression; this is recognized and discussed amongst their peers. However, it is more startling that 13% of British users and 6% of American traced suicidal thoughts directly to Instagram. The impact of social media is profoundly negative and only becoming worse. 

“Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show.” The Wall Street Journal, 14 September 2021, https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739. Accessed 26 March 2024.

Social media has found its influence in many aspects of our society and lives. People are constantly connected to online and focused on maintaining that presence. Social media apps and sites will not lose popularity or cease to exist any time soon, even with the dangerous effects outlined in the NIH study and Wall Street Journal article. The mental health side effects of social media use can only be described as dangerous, the first step to preventing them is limits and accountability. It is strikingly obvious in the study and article that the rate that social media is used has a major impact in the development of these issues. The more these platforms are used the greater the side effects. It is necessary to limit use of these apps, especially for young people, and to work to change social media back into a creative space. 

In order to create change, it is also necessary to hold companies accountable. Social media has created new concepts, like the fear of missing out (or “FOMO”). According to the article “The Psychology Behind the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)” from Forbes, the concept of FOMO gained traction in 2004, when Facebook was created and popularized. The sense of belonging is an essential human need and social media has only continued to influence and strengthen that. Everyone likes to be invited and included in activities and experiences, generally, for everyone, being excluded feels bad. FOMO embodies that. 

In relation to social media, FOMO comes from the ability to see exactly what we are missing out on, and becoming addicted to seeing it. Seeing social media posts, or receiving likes on our own posts, increases dopamine in the brain, encouraging us to go back to the platform again and again. The experience of FOMO stems from this feeling and seeing posts online that don’t lead to dopamine release. The experience of FOMO is most common in young people and has a more profound impact on youth. 

While FOMO may seem like a silly concept, it can have serious implications. People who experience the “fear of missing out” frequently have an increased risk of anxiety and depression, again this is most common in youth. Features of social media make this concept worse. Features like “stories” and notifications can make apps more addictive and increase FOMO. With the serious implications of social media, it is necessary to hold companies accountable for their role in influencing this. Real change can be created if social media platforms change the way their platform works and limit addictive features. 

“The Psychology Behind The FOMO – Forbes Health.” Forbes, 20 September 2023, https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/the-psychology-behind-fomo/. Accessed 26 March 2024.

Moving forward, it is necessary to create change in social media. As a society we need to move to take steps to protect each other, particularly youth, when it comes to these platforms. Focusing on limiting usage when possible and holding companies accountable for their role and creating change is the first step in changing the negative impact of these platforms. There are many benefits to social media, these should be prioritized and negative should be minimized to the best of our abilities.