Jada White
Is it really that much of a problem when the rich and famous flash their luxuries on social media for the world to see? Sure, it may come across as arrogant or even “attention-seeking” when the Kardashians or your favorite mainstream rapper does it, but do they not have their own right to show off what they want without serious backlash?
Everyone is aware that the presence of social media has provided a variety of effects on the general population. However, is it truly fair to blame these platforms for the self-esteem issues many users claim to receive after scrolling through these apps?
In my opinion, the blame should be refocused from social media and onto each person’s upbringing. Validation should begin from an early age within a child’s home. In turn, this will help a young person to better understand their worth and hopefully make them have a better reaction to social media.
However, in no way am I claiming that a person who grew up with validation is unable to be negatively impacted by social media, but I am implying that they will be less inclined to. On the other hand, an individual who was not as fortunate to grow up with plenty of validation from their parents is more likely to look for it in other areas, like social media. Therefore, it makes sense that scrolling past a pretty and successful person may make them feel down or even threatened.
Ultimately, it is not up to social media platforms to monitor how flashy their users are, nor is it up to the rich and famous to dial down how much they show-off. Although anything published (with consent by the people in the post) has the right to be scrutinized or commented on by the public, it is not fair to hold outside forces so accountable for someone’s own personal-esteem issues.