Social Media & Self-Confidence
Written By: Wendy Ortiz-Rodriguez, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program
SOCIAL MEDIAhas become popular over the years and it has become one of the main sources for communication and entertainment. As much as we love to scroll through our electronic devices and keep up with our favorite role models, friends, family and so much more, it has been shown that too much social media can affect our self-confidence.
Having self-confidence means that you have a feeling of trust in one’s own abilities, qualities, and judgment. It is without a doubt that the way we perceive ourselves can have an impact on our self-confidence. One of the biggest factors that can have a large impact on the self-confidence of an adolescent is self-image. Social media is a place that is largely inhabited by the youth. It is a place where self-presentation is of high importance for adolescents, which then leads to posting and uploading images of themselves. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with uploading images, but with certain social media platforms, teens can upload images with filters of what is believed to be the ideal. This leads to enhancing, photoshopping, and hiding differences that are not believed to be socially accepted by society. With photos on the web that have been altered to fit the “ideal beauty” standard on social media, it can result in constant judgement of oneself and constant self-image comparison to peers, celebrities, influencers, and other personas that may portray a false reality. It is important to note that while this may not be every adolescent’s experience, social media has without a doubt impacted our society and affects every adolescent’s daily life in some way.
There are many steps a teen can take to prevent social media from taking a toll on their self-confidence. Some suggestions are:
- Practice self-affirmations
- Follow accounts that remain authentic and positive that contribute to one’s happiness and goals
- Be intentional on social media. In other words, go on social media for a purpose and not to just scroll through different feeds
- Make time for friends and family in real life, giving those loved ones around you some of your undivided attention
- Notice when it may be time to take a break. You may see or feel changes in your mood or behavior, which can be a sign to take a rest from social platforms
Parents and guardians can also participate in preventing a downfall in their adolescent’s self-confidence. Some suggestions for parents to consider are:
- Have an open dialogue about the negative truths of social media such as bullying, catfishing, etc.
- Model when to put away or turn off electronic devices if possible, such as at the dinner table or when engaged in a one-on-one conversation with your child
- Set a time for your child when electronic devices should not be used to allow for a good night’s rest
- Encourage your child to join clubs, sports, or after-school activities of their choosing to enhance their interests while also promoting healthy physical interactions with their peers
- Observe and be an active listener to your child as they explore social media platforms and come to you for guidance
If at any moment in time you observe your child drastically changing their mood, eating habits, behaviors, or if they seem to have symptoms of anxiety and depression, it is highly advised to seek professional help.
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References
Bergstrom, R. L., Neighbors, C., & Malheim, J. E. (2009). MEDIA COMPARISONS AND THREATS TO BODY IMAGE: SEEKING EVIDENCE OF SELF-AFFIRMATION.Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 28(2), 264-280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2009.28.2.264
Goodyear, V. (2020). Narrative matters: young people, social media and body image. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 25(3), 48–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12345
McDonald Harris, Sanyu. “7 Healthy Habits for Social Media.” Cone Health, https://www.conehealth.com/services/behavioral-health/7-healthy-habits-of-social-media/