Introduction
For a nursing student majoring in psychology, there is a constant focus on caring for people’s physical and mental well-being. Social networks play a significant role in these indicators in modern society. Extensive background research was conducted on the effects of social media on individuals, focusing primarily on the consequences and their impact on mental health and body image misrepresentation. The inescapable impact of social media platforms has gained specific attention due to ongoing concerns regarding its effect on people’s well-being. Therefore, the study of this component of life on the psychological state of individuals can provide insight into the causes of psychological problems.
Aim
This research will primarily investigate the influence of social media platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, on mental health and body image perceptions among different demographic groups. The subject matter of this research will be a comprehensive examination of studies, scholarly articles, and related literature to thoroughly understand the subject under discussion. In addition, the research will explore the fundamental mechanisms through which social media affects mental health, idealized representation, and cyberbullying.
Question
The main research question of this academic paper is “How does the use of social media contribute to mental health issues like depression, anxiety, suicide, and body dysmorphia (body image) among adolescents and young adults?”
Subject
This subject is an ongoing issue that society is currently facing. This arises from the circumstance that social media plays a significant role in people’s lives, serving as a source of information, connection, and income for some individuals. Many use it to show their “perfect” and unproblematic lives online.
However, the negative consequences of using social media outweigh the benefits. They cannot be ignored. This research aims to raise awareness about the consequences of social media use and demonstrate how reliance on it can lead to distorted perceptions and mental health issues.
Social Media and Mental Health
Social networks have a significant negative impact on the mental health of individuals. This is primarily due to their strong presence in society. Statistics show that “4.48 billion people currently use social media worldwide, up more than double from 2.07 billion in 2015” (Dean para. 5). In other words, almost half of the world’s population is constantly exposed to social networks and perceives them as an integral part of their lives.
Because of this, there is a critical consequence to a habit, which eventually develops into a full-fledged addiction. Individuals develop anxiety and stress if they do not use their phones for a long time to receive information or interact with various social media platforms. It is worth noting that social networks have numerous positive aspects. One of the main benefits is providing an opportunity to communicate with relatives and friends who are far away.
Impact on the General Population’s Mental State
First, the study is interested in how exposure to and the constant use of social networks affect people’s mental state. This aspect has value as an increasing number of scientific studies raise this topic and indicate its detrimental effect on individuals. Hence, they are “associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, poor mental health indicators, thoughts of self-harm and suicide, increased levels of psychological distress, FOMO, and decreased life satisfaction” (Sadagheyani and Farin Tatari 43). Considering these consequences for the human psychological state is valuable because it will define the most effective approaches to addressing this problem.
Effects on Youth
The first issue that contributes to the development of mental problems, especially in the younger generation, is the constant comparison of oneself with people on social networks. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are platforms where a large number of photos and videos are uploaded daily, showcasing various aspects of people’s lives. Upon reviewing these posts, many people start to compare themselves to the individuals featured in them.
It is essential to note that external data, such as the financial situation or social characteristics of the person in the photo with friends, can be compared. Thus, users often struggle with low self-esteem. However, the main problem is that the images on social networks often do not accurately represent the real ones due to various applications that alter appearance. Therefore, young people take this kind of image seriously, which may affect their mental state.
Impacts on Seniors
It is also worth paying attention to how exposure to social networks affects the older population. The research noted that the number “ranges from about 70% among middle-aged and older individuals to upwards of 97% among younger individuals” (Naslund et al. 245). Thus, the use of social networks is almost equally relevant for both demographic groups, although there are some differences. Regarding the adult population, it is worth noting that this segment is less affected by the studied aspect, as they often have a more stable psyche and can approach this issue more consciously.
Formation of Body Image
When considering the impact of social networks on mental well-being, it is worth paying particular attention to body image issues. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. As already mentioned, when using platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, individuals encounter numerous photos featuring people of diverse physiques. At the same time, most often, it can be men and women with an ideal or attractive physical condition, which causes other people to have an unconscious desire to compare themselves with them. Thus, social media can contribute to body dissatisfaction, particularly among young people. This process may occur due to the constant exposure to unrealistic beauty standards promoted by influencers, celebrities, and others on social networks.
Body image issues have quite a large number of consequences that can arise with a person’s mental state. Of interest is the fact that research showed that “men and women experienced similar levels of body dissatisfaction when taking into account demographic and risk correlates” (Lonergan et al. 42). Therefore, in both sexes, the body image problem critically affects the psychological state and can cause such undesirable and sometimes challenging to treat consequences as body image issues, eating disorders, and low self-esteem.
Social Media and Decision to Undergo Surgery
“Ideal Body” on Social Media
In modern society, due to the growing demand for social networks, the popularity of plastic surgery is constantly growing. It is highlighted that “every hour on Facebook alone, 10 million new photos are uploaded, which shows the importance of appearance and body for people” (Sadagheyani and Farin Tatari 45). The idealized representation of male and female bodies is becoming one of the leading factors that encourage people to undergo plastic surgery. Hoping to achieve an “ideal body” and having low self-esteem and possibly other mental issues, people make decisions to go through physical changes with the help of medical intervention.
Gender Factor of Body Image on Social Media
When considering gender differences in the discussed topic, it is necessary to emphasize that women are more susceptible to the influence of social media regarding the growth of the desire to have cosmetic or plastic surgery. They are “surgical and nonsurgical procedures that enhance and reshape structures of the body to improve appearance and confidence” (Cosmetic Procedures para 1). Walker et al. stated that “viewing images of females who have undergone cosmetic enhancements affected young women’s desire for cosmetic surgery, especially if they spent a significant amount of time on social media” (3363).
Women who were less satisfied with their appearance were particularly strongly influenced. The perceived view also plays a role in this process, that only by reaching a certain standard of beauty can they be valued and appreciated. The desire to acquire these qualities on par with conventional beauty contributes to the increasing number of plastic surgeries worldwide.
Risks of Enhancing Images
Many use social media, especially Instagram, for filtering and image alteration. Changing your own photos with the use of specifically created apps is done to achieve specific body beauty standards. For many women, this is a common practice that perpetuates unrealistic expectations. This practice allows them to achieve what is achievable only through plastic surgery, which has a very negative impact not only on self-esteem but can also cause serious problems with adequate self-perception.
Some women consider getting cosmetic or surgical procedures when viewing filtered and altered photos. This is because distorted perception prevents them from realizing that their body does not look great or corresponds to their own proportions and features in the pictures. It is worth noting that this problem is also relevant for the male population, but it is either not often discussed or shrouded in stigma.
Plastic Surgery Ads
Special attention should also be paid to plastic surgeons using social networks. This is due to the large number of social network users and the significant influence of influencers on them. In addition, due to the development of low self-esteem and body image problems, a large number of individuals are attracted to the opportunity to solve their worries. As a consequence of this aspect, “the majority of plastic surgeons use social media to brand their practice, attract patients, and educate the public” (Cho et al. 90). Thus, the decision of individuals to undergo plastic surgery is influenced not only by an idealized representation of the body but also by surgeons’ advertising their services on various platforms.
Conclusion
In conclusion, social media has a significant impact on the mental state of individuals and can lead to the development of serious problems, many of which require prolonged treatment. Among the most serious are depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and body image issues. In addition, social media plays a leading role in deciding to undergo plastic surgery to change one’s appearance. This aspect is also supported by plastic surgeons’ active advertising of these services.
Works Cited
Cho, Min-Jeong, et al. “Current Trends in the Use of Social Media by Plastic Surgeons.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, vol. 146, no. 1, 2020, 83-91.
“Cosmetic Procedures.” Connect, no date. Web.
Dean, Brian. “Social Network Usage & Growth Statistics: How Many People Use Social Media in 2023?” Backlinko. 2023.
Lonergan, Alexandra Rhodes, et al. “Me, My Selfie, and I: The Relationship between Editing and Posting Selfies and Body Dissatisfaction in Men and Women.” Body Image, vol. 28, 2019, pp. 39-43.
Naslund, John A., et al. “Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice.” Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, vol. 5, 2020, pp. 245-257.
Sadagheyani, Hassan Ebrahimpour, and Farin Tatari. “Investigating the Role of Social Media on Mental Health.” Mental Health and Social Inclusion, vol. 25, no. 1, 2021, pp. 41-51.
Walker, Candice E., et al. “Effects of Social Media Use on Desire for Cosmetic Surgery among Young Women.” Current Psychology, vol. 40, 2021, pp. 3355-3364.