Social Media and Self-Worth

     

       Most social media sites and communities include a like-system, in which users can show interest and increase popularity of original posts. Although this is a valid way to get feedback from followers and friends, it inevitably ties in with personal self-worth. More likes means that more people appreciate your posts and in a time where social media is where we tend to represent ourselves it unavoidably becomes linked to ones self-esteem.

       SheKnows is a website that gathers news stories, DIY activities, and advice from experts in various fields. The site has a slant towards women and promoting feminist equality throughout all facets of society. Their YouTube channel updates regularly with a variety of series and topics. The video above is one from their series where they interview kids on their opinions of society and how it functions. In this case, the girls discuss how social media can cause anxiety and issues due to the like/popularity system that it seems to rely on.

       This is where the idea of FOMO enters - the fear of missing out. Applications like Snapchat and Instagram are very socially inclined and people tend to use them to exhibit activities that they are participating in or people that they are hanging out with. In the age of social media, there are constant reminders of and copious opportunities to display one's social life, and because of this those that might be left out are constantly reminded of that fact. 

The fact that @MAD_aboutyouu and @charlesisgross were together last night and i wasn't there <<<< #FOMO
— Melissa Charles (@charliehorsee) October 19, 2014

       Searching #FOMO on Twitter shows a lot of results, though most of them are silly or jokes. The anxiety that comes with FOMO and getting the most likes on a post drives people deeper into the social media sphere. Although these likes are ultimately trivial, in a world that relies and revolves on social media they become everything and inevitably linked to one's own self-worth and popularity. As these are already volatile aspects of teenager's lives, it can be distressing and all-consuming especially as social media puts a quantifying factor on reputation.

       Because of the nature of likes and bragging on social media, there is an obvious trend in such sites causing depression in users. A teen who usually gets 200 likes whenever she uploads a new profile picture only gets 50 in the first couple of hours: even though this does not quantify the teen's actual worth, the discrepancy in likes is sure to cause anxiety and the assumption that the picture isn't beautiful or exciting. It is the quantification of popularity in social media, the permanent determinant of acclaim that anyone can see that causes insecurities and the need for attention.

       What can be done about this? As represented in the video above, a strong step forward is to encourage dialogue about social media and its effects. Even though there are some discouraging trends in teenage social media use (such as the popularity implications discussed above), teens seem to generally be aware of its dangers and predictabilities. By opening up discussions on the "real life" social and mental implications of social media, it not only helps this digital generation to understand their actions, but it also encourages considering overall impact. As one of the girls in the video explained, teens are often discredited and assumed to not know as much as their adult counterparts despite teens having more experience with digital media because it is all they have ever known. If we encourage dialogue and education on social media, maybe FOMO and the need for likes will be more understood instead of an unavoidable condition of social media and self-worth.