Self-perception, that is, how we think and feel about ourselves, depends on many factors: personal experience, environment, and culture. It can change and evolve as we grow and interact with the world. But there is another important fact that affects the understanding of your “I”— social media. Here are some facts about how they can shape your self-perception.
6 ways social media shapes self-image
1. They contribute to the creation of a digital “I” — ideal, but far from reality
Initially, social networks were a convenient tool for communicating with friends, family, and strangers. But over time, they turned into platforms where you can showcase the best versions of yourself. We carefully consider what information to share in the profile, what photos to post, how to sign posts, and everything to get recognition and likes.
Gradually, we are creating a digital self — ideal, but far from reality. In some cases, the digital identity diverges so much from the “original” that it becomes a real problem. We publish content that highlights successes and downplays difficulties, but when faced with the realities of life, we feel deeply dissatisfied with ourselves and what is happening.
Needless to say, when this discomfort becomes chronic, the imperfection of reality begins to be very unsettling? This can lead to depression, loss of self-esteem, personality crises, and other phenomena that affect your self-perception and attitude towards the world in general.
2. They promote social comparison
Of course, comparing yourself to others is a natural tendency that is reinforced by constant interaction with other people online. On the one hand, watching someone succeed can inspire you to think about how to achieve your own goals, and that’s a good thing. However, we often resort to negative comparisons and suffer as a result. For example, you may think that your life is not as interesting as that of your friend, who constantly posts photos from his travels, and become noticeably upset.
What can I say when you see people of pleasant appearance there on the screen, and in the mirror, an ordinary “average guy”. But comparing yourself when you feel superior is also bad. If you look at other people’s social networks and think there are fools and losers around you, you’re feeding your ego and arrogance, which no one likes. Over time, you can become a repulsive person if you start acting out the same behavior in real life.
3. They can negatively affect your mental health
Although social media should help strengthen connections, a sense of community, and involvement in the lives of others, in reality, everything can happen exactly the opposite. How often do we feel lonely, even with hundreds of online contacts on our friend list? Or are we worried when negative news comes across in the feed, unsettling?
That’s why many scientists notice that too much involvement in the use of social networks negatively affects mental health. This harms self-esteem and can cause persistent anxiety, depression, and feelings of inferiority.
4. They force you to look for confirmation constantly
Often, likes and comments become not just pleasant praise, but a measure of self-esteem. That’s when the problems begin: You literally can’t live without the confirmation of your value, uniqueness, talent, and attractiveness received from social media. But what happens if no one likes it? If your dependence on other people’s approval is high, you will feel like a worthless loser until you receive a pleasant review again.
It’s like a race in which it’s impossible to win and in which it’s impossible to feel full. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. In addition, online bullying and negative comments can also undermine your sense of self-confidence.
5. They create pressure that not everyone can handle
Let’s be honest: it’s not uncommon for well-retouched photos to be published on social media that you’re unlikely to notice a fake in them until you take a closer look. People with perfect faces, beautiful figures, and wonderful lives are looking at you from a computer screen. How do you feel at this moment? The more you consume such content, the higher the risk of problems with your own body image.
If you constantly look at unattainable ideals, then you become dissatisfied with what you see in the mirror every day. Such pressure from the “perfection” of the media can lead to serious problems, such as eating disorders. Although men’s anorexia is not often talked about, it exists, as does bulimia and other manifestations of an unhealthy relationship with food. And they may appear against the background of the need to get at least a little closer to the ideal that you see on the screen.
6. They feed cultural and gender stereotypes
Social media is full of posts that fuel not the most sensible cultural and gender stereotypes, and it is not always easy to understand that you have become a victim of such information. For example, you may involuntarily notice that you often come across posts where an invisible thread runs through the conviction: “A man should always be strong under any circumstances.”
And at the moments when you need to cry and release emotions, you unconsciously remember this and feel a burning shame for not being “strong enough.” The same problem lies in the stereotypes about women. Many men cannot find a mate, not because they behave incorrectly or don’t like the opposite sex, but because they make excessive demands on relationships or choose partners from “certain categories.”
What can we say about the fact that some stereotypes can be completely offensive and at the same time “wrapped” in jokes, memes, and educational posts? The less often you engage in critical thinking while on social media, the sooner you’ll fall for it.
7. They create an “echo chamber” effect
Social media algorithms often create “echo chambers” — situations where users are primarily confronted with information and points of view that correspond to their own beliefs. On the one hand, when you consume such content, you feel that you are not alone and millions of people share your point of view, which is very pleasant.
On the other hand, you can stop accepting opinions that differ from yours. Because of this, it becomes more difficult to communicate with other people: you just can’t understand that they think and feel differently. Moreover, by constantly reinforcing your own beliefs, you may find yourself in a situation where you continually make mistakes and suffer from them, yet you resist changing anything.
