Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
A young entrepreneur reportedly died by suicide after losing social media followers, raising concern about its effects.
Social media shows a filtered, perfect world, which can harm young people's mental health.
It often leads them to equate self-worth with likes, followers, and approval.
How Social Media Shapes Identity
Identity is no longer formed privately but performed online for approval.
Youngsters are pressured to post curated versions of themselves instead of being authentic.
Social media, real life, and self-image are all merged for today's youth.
Influencers and Unrealistic Expectations
Influencers often show a “perfect” life to gain followers, encouraging others to do the same.
The system rewards flashy, edited content and punishes real emotions or flaws.
Even children are now influencers, often pushed by parents to maintain online presence.
Body Image and Social Media Trends
Trends like “thigh gap” or unrealistic routines pressure young people to meet changing beauty ideals.
Many teens suffer from body image issues and eating disorders due to these trends.
They may logically know the images are fake but still feel shame and pressure.
Dangerous Trends and Peer Pressure
Trends like the Blue Whale challenge have pushed children toward self-harm and even suicide.
Online culture often promotes risky behaviour for attention or validation.
Real conversations about emotions or struggles are missing from these trends.
Parental Involvement and Guidance
Parents can’t fully monitor teens' online use, and surveillance often backfires.
Instead of controlling, adults should build trust and stay curious about their children’s digital lives.
Teens often have secret accounts (like Finstas) that parents don’t know about.
Meaningful conversations, not rules, help bridge the gap between generations.
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