The Struggle For Self-Esteem
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Most teenagers are very focused on garnering approval from their peers instead of being comfortable with themselves. Those who are constantly on varying forms of social media can end up with many psychological issues, including a decrease in self-esteem, depression, anxiety, severe isolation, and in the worst cases, suicide.
It has become painfully clear that most will view themselves based on the standards set by others, or the "cultural norm", and the fastest way for those standards to spread is through the Internet.
However, the Internet is not solely to blame for these growing problems, it falls more on the hands of society and those who have picked some up and dragged others down to prove a certain bias when it comes to appearance. These standards, however, are generally unrealistic for a large part of the population, and those who try to acheive them will most likely recieve some type of physical or mental scars.
It has become painfully clear that most will view themselves based on the standards set by others, or the "cultural norm", and the fastest way for those standards to spread is through the Internet.
However, the Internet is not solely to blame for these growing problems, it falls more on the hands of society and those who have picked some up and dragged others down to prove a certain bias when it comes to appearance. These standards, however, are generally unrealistic for a large part of the population, and those who try to acheive them will most likely recieve some type of physical or mental scars.
“There is a feeling of wanting to be accepted. It is a universal feeling, but when you get in the space of being on social media, a lot of it is based on feedback and the idea of collecting ‘likes’. This can serve as a catalyst for more insecurity.” - Claire Mysko, author of “You’re Amazing! A No-Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self”
One part of being a child is not knowing quite where you fit into the world, which should not even be considered a "problem" at such an age. Children are expected to have fun with their friends rather than trying to fit into the mold that has been set for them. Many adolescent girls have not quite found their identities, and as a result they will attempt to follow along with the idea of what they believe is ‘normal’, sometimes with diastrous results.
Constant Replies
When cellphones became popular, it made people readily accessible at all times. As such, it became normal and expected that all messages and missed calls be replied to immediately rather than at the earliest convenience. Now waiting hours or even minutes for a response can bring deafening silence and anxiety. The feeling of loneliness during this wait time can be overwhelming and cause one to feel as if they are being ignored. This, in turn, may lead to the belief that they are not good enough to keep another’s company. They may end up trying harder to become a ‘perfect’ person who gains the attention they crave.