If you’re anything like me, as much as you love social media, you may find it super overwhelming at times. As a female college student, my social media feeds are flooded with photoshopped pictures of girls flaunting their flawless makeup and expensive clothes. Celebrities are using photoshop, hiring social media managers, and promoting a lavish, unrealistic lifestyle on their social media accounts. Staring at “perfect” people on a screen all day is exhausting- more exhausting than most people would like to admit, and it can cause an EXTREME toll on our mental health. Typical social media promotes insecurity, reduces self confidence in young people, and keeps us from forming real, emotional connections with others. This is why I am working to make my news feed less toxic and more beneficial to my mental health.
Positive influencers can be very hard to find. As someone who uses social media probably a little too often, I’m making it a priority to unfollow influencers and celebrities who promote an unattainable lifestyle to young people like myself, and following accounts that prioritize mental health, promote positive body image, and advocate for human rights. Here are three influencers that I follow as a teenager looking to better my mental health:
- Nabela Noor (@nabela on TikTok and Instagram)
I found Nabela’s account a few years back on my Instagram feed, and I have recently come across her content again via TikTok. Nabela is a body positive author, designer, and CEO, using social media to share “Pockets of Peace” with her audience. Nabela stands out to me amongst other influencers because she is extremely open, and she uses her platform to spread mental health awareness with her followers. Recently, Nabela shared her and her husband’s struggle with infertility as they have been trying for a baby. Nabela has been using her social media to share her story and to reach out to women facing similar struggles. This month, Nabela announced her pregnancy and she continues to post mental health updates, as well as “Pockets of Peace” on her social media accounts. If you’re looking to bring more peace to your daily life, give Nabela a follow on TikTok. Her vlogs never fail to make me feel comforted and at ease when I need a break from toxic media.
- Ashley Graham (@ashleygraham on Instagram)
This world-renowned supermodel has so many sides to her. Not only is she stunning, but she is a new mom, as well as an advocate for selfcare and body positivity. Ashley Graham is known for being a “plus-size” model, but not many people know that she uses her social media to share unedited, personal photos from her daily life. Ashley’s Instagram highlights display her favorite moments including vlogs, manifestations, displays of selfcare, and memories with her family. Her posts range from pregnancy updates, to workout videos, to makeup tutorials, but no matter what content she is posting, Ashley is always sharing her laughter, light, and positivity with her fans. As a bigger girl, Ashley’s content has helped me so much with not only accepting my body but embracing it and loving my own skin. Ashley has shared with the world that women can be so many things including activists, mothers, wives, hustlers, and inspirations.
- Emma Chamberlain (@emmachamberlain on Instagram)
Unlike many other YouTubers, Emma Chamberlain has remained authentic and relatable to her audience despite her fame. Emma got her start as an influencer back in 2017, posting daily vlogs, and she later became involved in the fashion industry. Emma is now in collaboration with huge brands like Louis Vuitton, and she has launched her own coffee company, Chamberlain Coffee. Chamberlain is using her platform to inspire young women by remaining honest and open about her life, and showing her followers that despite her following, she is just like every other 20-year-old girl. She frequently mentions that if she did not become an influencer, Emma would be a college student just like other girls her age. Despite Emma’s gained popularity, she still posts the same raw, hilarious YouTube videos as she did back in 2017. This girl could post a 30-minute-long video of her lying on her couch, and I would watch the whole thing. Her sense of humor is unmatched, and the way that she edits her videos could make anyone laugh. If you’re looking for someone who posts real, honest, and hilarious content, Emma Chamberlain is your girl.