Humans have survived as social animals since time immemorial. We live in a society which is constantly evolving, changing its dynamics, inventing new ways to connect to people. Ever since the birth of social media, connecting to new people became much easier. In the last two decades, social media users has reached astonishing numbers. Statistical reports state that there are 329.65 million Facebook and 230.25 million Instagram users in India. Now a days staying in touch with friends and family has become extremely easy due to social media. People are constantly making new friends, people are even getting married to people they met on social media platforms. The rate at which various forms of information is spreading from one geographical place to another is unimaginable.
While we are all aware of the positive uses of social media, it is the need of the hour to address some of the negative impacts of social media usage before we reach the eleventh hour. Demographics state that close to 40% of social media users in India are under 30 years of age and here lies a problem that is spreading like wild fire.
Global capitalism has had such an adverse affect on social psyche that the meaning and specifics of life have gone through immense change, and since social media has become a medium of self-expression, together combined it has been affecting the youth population adversely. Instagram and Facebook algorithms are designed in such a way as to constantly feed the user with similar likeable content that one searches for. Users keep a keen interest in the lives of the celebrities they admire. Social Media feeds are filled with online shopping ads and other content which the user constantly engages with. Global capitalism has created or rather brainwashed an entire generation in believing that one can achieve overnight stardom. The Tik Tok rage in between was a highlight of this issue, and when Tik Tok was banned we witnessed children going through depression et cetera. Instagram and Facebook constantly shows things that we want to possess and showcases experiences that one wants to feel, and this is addictive, but the problem is that no social media platform shows means to achieve it nor the hard-work it takes for an honest human being to earn money in today’s economic environment.
Digital status seeking – looking for popularity online, and social comparison – evaluating oneself in relation to others, have become a serious problem in adolescence nowadays. The consumers of social media who are trapped in this cycle of seeking validation often feel as though they do not have enough to show to the world or are ‘less’ than others. Identity crisis, depression, self-esteem issues and eating disorder are some of the most common issues that a
lot ‘us’ feel. Online popularity is based on the number of friends and followers one has, the number of likes and comments that one receives on their posts and stories and this is affecting the mindset of users tremendously. And this commercial nature of culture causes the difference between culture and practical life to disappear. The difference between real and digital life is disappearing or, to say the least, the difference between the two is becoming blurry.
Body shamming is another huge problem that comes along with social media. Reports state that 3 out of 5 woman feel that their appearance is not attractive, this makes them start dieting without proper guidance which ends up causing more harm than good. What we tend to ignore is that almost everyone on social media poses as an expert, but reality is something else. And we simultaneously also forget that nothing, absolutely nothing, material comes for
free in todays world.
Now banning social media to resolve these issues is a bad idea. History is witness to the fact that forbidden fruit tastes exotic, and human curiosity knows no bounds. What can be done to reduce and control these toxic impacts of social media is to impart holistic understanding of life, spread further awareness regarding these issues and to guide the young minds to not fall for such false hopes. And perhaps to make them understand that seeking a good time over a good thing is a short joy ride, life is a compilation of moments which flows naturally, if one constantly tries to control every aspect of life then that person is bound to feel disappointed and end up suffering from depression et cetera. The real meaning of life is to find purpose of our existence and it simply should not be to please the world.
