In the digital era of Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, there are endless platforms for communication. Technology enables, interconnectivity worldwide. You can connect with anybody with a follow and subscribe. Snapchat streaks are a loyalty test, while Instagram stories encapsulate highlighting moments. Social Media creates an infectious energy that bounces off adrenaline and curiosity. It has also marketed personalities, where influencers can make money solely off of how they act online. Bloggers, Vloggers, and Youtubers have also been co-opting their business with this online enterprise. This plastered world where looking good and feeling great is its main source of joy has a dark side.
“Adults aged 18-25 have a 22.1% higher chance are developing mental illnesses.”
“Young adults aged 18-25 had the highest prevalence of any mental illness at 22.1%” (Mir).” with “According to a study at San Diego State University, teens spending more than 5 hours a day online are 71% more likely to be at risk of suicide compared to teens who do not spend as much time on the internet.”
In a survey of over 20,000 American adults, it was found that almost half of the respondents reported feeling alone, left out, and isolated. (Ali)
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Currently, around 70% of young adults use social media excessively as a means to frame their positive moments. The positive feedback loop is an addicting, methodical form of self-expression. Promoting one’s best attributes and characteristics can diminish and minimize the real problems a young adult may face. When young adults constantly check if their friends went out to eat good food or got a lot of likes on their selfie it’s a game. Images lead to comments and comments lead to likes and like ultimately lead to validation. Obtaining this form of human approval releases dopamine, but what if this becomes toxic?
(Image by Alphr)
The Effects in the Overuse of social media
1. Constant Comparison Game
There are beautiful models and advertisements of celebrities who post most of the good stuff in their life. Instead of living out one’s life, people become unhappy and unsatisfied with what they have. It ends up being a comparison frenzy.
2. Idle Vortex
People are scrolling through apps to the point where they strain their eyes. It becomes a habit. Looking at one’s phone for hours on end can stifle people from productivity and reaching their goals.
3. Devalues Conversation
It can strip young adults away from the beauty of conversation; the idiosyncrasies in asking how are you or the time for awkward silences. When a person is talking to someone face to face they are able to recognize their small idiosyncrasies; the way a person’s eyebrows slightly furrow or someone’s oversized smile.
4. Overall Lessens Intimacy
Finding new friends online or gaining followers is a good feeling, but it is fleeting. When a person is having a breakdown they can’t go on Instagram live and ask for help. It’s better in person because its personal and consoling. When you know everything that’s going on in a person’s life you’ll feel the need to divert from asking them out for coffee or checking up on how they are REALLY doing.
(Image by Youngistan)
Leave moments to live life without the screen
The digital world is not entirely bad, but young adults need to use it in moderation. Social Media has its perks like, being able to connect with an old friend from high school, or seeing how your loved ones are doing on their trips. However, it can gradually grow to be a toxic relationship of investing so much to the point of losing yourself and getting nothing out of it. People sculpt their whole lives around being the best performer. Posing for the perfect selfie. Laughing on cue for a viral video. But, what if they were just a part of the audience all along? Life is more than a reel of looking at instastories and Facebook videos; it’s more than looking at projections of life in order to live life itself.
I want to end with a quote from a highly recommended Bo Burnham’s special on Netflix Make Happy
“Social media is just the market’s answer to a generation that demanded to perform, so the market said “Here, perform everything, to each other, all the time for no other reason.” It’s a prison, it’s horrific. It’s performer and audience melded together. What do we want more than to lie in bed at the end of the day and just watch our lives as a satisfied audience member? I know very little about anything, but I do know this: that if you can live your life without an audience, you should do it.”