Social media has become more than just a place to share a few photos of your dinner and laugh at funny memes. In many ways, social media drives the way society sees itself and others. The power of social media is unrivaled, and as a result, so is the pressure that it can put on those that take part in it.
As more and more people spend a large portion of their day scrolling and double-tapping, the more susceptible that they may be to the powers social media has over us. So, how has it shaped society? Here are some of the biggest ways that social media puts pressure on our daily lives.
Unrealistic Physical Expectations
Social media, although it can connect us, can be incredibly deceiving. By using filters and retouching apps, people make themselves look unattainably perfect. As a result, other people turn to plastic surgery in hopes of getting that “perfect Instagram look.” While there’s nothing wrong with plastic surgery or wanting to look good in and of itself, it’s important what your motivation is behind it.
If you’re trying to be perfect, the bad news is you’ll never get there. You will always find flaws and quirks that you’ll try to erase. Instead, you should embrace your differences rather than settling for a homogenous version of yourself.
Need to Be Popular
Social media is all a numbers game. If you don’t have a certain amount of followers and likes, then you may translate that into defining your self-worth.
The need to be popular isn’t new. Humans long for acceptance and validation amongst their peers and family. However, social media brings our need to be popular on a greater scale.
Somehow we have started seeing our value attached to the number of people that are following our accounts.
Advertisements
The more time that you spend online, the more advertisements that you scroll past. The constant pressure to consume and buy can leave you feeling empty.
Too much exposure to advertisements starts to make you feel like you never have enough, no matter how much you have.
Addiction To Being Validated
It’s not an uncommon scenario for someone to post something, only too feel deflated if it isn’t instantly liked. They may become fixated with checking their social media over and over throughout the day to see whether their post is gaining attention.
Over time, it can become a full-fledged addiction. Without a certain amount of likes, they can grow irritable and depressed.
Hive Mind Mentality
Social media can create herds of people thinking in the same way, afraid to step outside of the norm. This hive-mind mentality can be positive for causes like equal rights, or world peace, however, in some cases, it can also fuel hate and intolerance.
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