The recent TikTok ban has shown us how addicted we as a society have become to social media. I love TikTok just as much as the next person but as a society, we have not faced the reality of how much social media in general controls us. I too have fallen victim to the endless scrolling that takes place on these social media apps but I want to address the effects they have on our mental well-being and our perceptions of life itself.
What you see on social media is simply a highlight reel. Anyone who posts on social media only posts what they want people to see whether that be trips, shopping sprees, or anything positive that goes on in their life. You don’t often see the negative parts of their lives or what goes on behind the camera and understandably so. Once you become vulnerable online you open the door for judgment even if you don’t want other people’s opinions, there are always people out there who are willing to give it whether you like it or not. That’s the downside to being online.
Social media frequently showcases idealized body types and facial features, which ultimately shape society’s image of beauty. Exposure to these images creates body dissatisfaction. When all someone sees is one image of beauty they start to think they’re not good enough because they don’t fit inside a box. According to Ballard Brief, “Forty percent of teens reported that content on social media caused them to worry about their image”. They also stated that “as a result of excessive exposure to social media, teens who view themselves as very fat or very skinny are twice as likely to attempt or think about suicide than their “normal weight” peers.”
Beauty is subjective though. Everyone has their own image of beauty but social media constantly showcases unrealistic beauty standards which can make it hard for a person to believe that. Not only does social media shape our perception of beauty standards it also shapes our perception of life. It can lead to a comparison idealogy because once you see all these people in places you want to be you start to wonder why you don’t have your dream job or have a certain amount of money. In reality, everyone is on their own course; just because it took you two extra years to graduate college or achieve your dream job does not mean that you are less than or behind. Everyone works at their pace and there is no set timeline in anyone’s life.
So while I’ll be missing TikTok, I’ll be grateful that I’ll have less screen time and less exposure to those unrealistic beauty standards portrayed on the app. I applaud those who have no social media at all and I think society as a whole can learn from those people.