How Is Social Media hurting your self esteem?

Depending on how users utilize social media, these networks can significantly harm one's sense of self. People who use social media excessively and unhealthyly may become unhappy with their lives and themselves, which raises the possibility of negative self-talk and image. People need to be aware of the possible risks and learn how to utilize social media in an informed, deliberate, and healthy way because having poor self-esteem can be detrimental.

Self-Esteem: What Is It?

Self-esteem is a sense of one's worth derived from various sources, including how we see ourselves and how others perceive us. These notions and self-beliefs frequently conflict with our idealized view of ourselves.

To effectively navigate challenges, regulate emotions, assert oneself, maintain mental well-being, and foster healthy relationships—especially with oneself—it's essential to nurture positive self-esteem and self-worth. This involves accepting ourselves, building confidence, and trusting our own judgment, which can be achieved by recognizing our differences and making necessary adjustments.

Cyber Self & Self-Esteem Research

Poor social media use might significantly hamper some people's development of a healthy sense of self-worth. The idealized version of oneself that allows for a possible "new you" online is known as the "cyber self," or who you are in a digital setting.

Through their online interactions, youth and many adults devote significant time to assembling, creating, and experimenting with their "cyber selves." Feedback and carefully chosen selfies are essential to these curated identities.

Social Media Has These Effects on Self-Esteem

Research consistently shows a positive correlation between the amount of time spent on social media platforms and the likelihood of developing low self-esteem. Additionally, a large body of research indicates that those with low self-esteem are more likely to engage in hazardous social media behaviours.8 While vulnerable individuals and youth are more likely to have issues related to the internet, overuse or harmful effects can affect everyone.

The potential effects of social media on self-esteem are listed below:

Consistent Communication

Technology offers a powerful diversion from the discomfort that alone, quiet, and introspection can sometimes bring. People tend to believe that having continual connectivity makes one feel less alone. However, since the reverse is also true, they are more vulnerable. In the end, having more "connections" online may result in having fewer in-person connections.

This significantly affects children since they pick up concepts from other people. If we don't teach kids how to be alone, they won't know how to tolerate it. Disconnecting from electronics and developing the ability to be alone and attentive is crucial for learning, self-discovery, self-control, and finding balance—all of which support a positive sense of self.

An excessive amount of feedback

We are not made to incorporate hundreds of people's social approbation. Nevertheless, we are driven to construct our lives around an illusion of perfection that is amply supported by dopamine surges from likes, retweets, comments, and emojis. Many of us get depressed about ourselves and our lives as a result of the meticulously edited posts and finely filtered photographs overloading our heads.

Social media gives us a platform to show the world who we think we should be and assess whether the comments we get make us seem likeable, relevant, respectable, admirable, or acceptable. 

Some people begin sharing self-glamorizing and attention-seeking selfies on social media to convey, "Hey everyone, look at me; I have a life too!" Sadly, this method of elevating one's self-esteem is ineffective since strong self-esteem is not acquired from outside sources.

Privacy Violations and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

FOMO is a term used to characterize a particular kind of tension and anxiety in social situations when the sufferer feels as though they are missing out on an exciting opportunity, new experience, crucial information, or social gathering. Because social media provides users with a platform for self-promotion, rapid feedback, and constant interaction, it can cause FOMO. These days, we have tools that track people's whereabouts inside our networks, keep track of when people are online, gather and use data, and take screenshots of private conversations—all of which exacerbate FOMO.

Unfortunately, many people—children especially—run the risk of adopting compulsive social media habits to avoid the anguish and discomfort of FOMO, which can later cause problems with identity formation, confidence, sadness, and loneliness. Six Moreover, many users are unaware that anything they do online, even if removed from a device, creates a permanent digital trail and increases the possibility that the wrong choices and errors they make now could haunt them.

Identity confusion and social comparison

Many people browse, post, like, and comment on many platforms for hours. Social networking simplifies communication among users who rely on emojis, comments, likes, and memes to express themselves, discouraging genuine expression of human experiences and feelings.

This is concerning as studies indicate that happiness, creativity, and productivity depend on our ability to be at ease with our vulnerabilities. Social media users frequently perceive a gap between their identities and online personas. However, few may realize that the disagreement is the cause of their tension, worry, or despair.

Many users feel inadequate and uneasy because of this contradiction between upholding a public persona based on comparisons with others and our true sentiments and opinions.

Exploring sexuality 

Sexual maturity and prefrontal cortex development—in charge of self-control, critical thinking, and decision-making—mark healthy teenage growth. Teens are exposed to potentially devastating outcomes when they give in to peer pressure to explore and capitalize on their sexuality on social media. It can be traumatic to be forced or persuaded to reveal oneself.

Bullying online

Another possible risk associated with social media is cyberbullying. On social media, for instance, body shaming and slut shaming can hurt one's self-esteem. Anybody who is singled out and harassed online runs a significant chance of experiencing low self-esteem, which could lead to self-harm, depression, and even suicidal thoughts in the future.

Above all, children who are bullied online need to know that you are there for them. Since many victims of bullying believe that if adults step in or confront the bully, the bullying will only grow worse, parents must give their kids the agency to deal with it.

How Can Samarpan Help?

Samarpan offers assistance to those struggling with self-esteem issues exacerbated by social media. Through confidential consultations with trained professionals, Samarpan helps individuals recognize the impact of social media on their self-esteem. Therapists at Samarpan work collaboratively with clients to explore their feelings and behaviours related to social media use, identifying harmful patterns and negative self-perceptions. Using evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques, Samarpan equips individuals with strategies to manage comparison, validation-seeking, and negative self-talk triggered by social media. Additionally, Samarpan provides resources and support groups where individuals can connect with others experiencing similar challenges, fostering a sense of community and understanding. With Samarpan's guidance, individuals can develop healthier relationships with social media and cultivate a more positive self-image.