Browsing the feeds full of perfect selfies, luxury trips, and inexhaustible smiles, a lot of youths think that they are losing the life race. Influencers and celebrities on social media demonstrate productive versions of reality that appear ideal, thrilling, and unachievable. Although these posts can be admirable or entertaining, they frequently create an internal fight: anxiety, low self-esteem, and even depression. This unremitting comparison, insidious strain to perform, and being subject to highlight reels may lead teens and young adults to doubt their value, leading to a mental health crisis that is not visible.
A study indicates that social comparison with influencers tends to diminish self-esteem, particularly among the young people. A recent study indicates that youth who struggle with the frequency and extent to which influencers discuss mental health demand realness not drama and idealized recovery. In fact, repetitive upward comparisons perceiving someone as being better-off as a point of departure may incite anxiety, depression and lower school involvement.
Even the influencers themselves experience it: the necessity to perform constantly, have a facade, and seek engagement has been associated with negative feelings. And in the context of likes and follows as the validation, young users can be emotionally addicted to this digital feedback loop.
As a preventive measure to safeguard the well being of the youth, it has been suggested by experts that deeper media literacy, more realistic influencer content, and a platform design that lessens the need to constantly compare are necessary. It is not a blame game on creators it is about making young people consume more critically and not compulsively.
