How you use social media positively
Everyone can edit their bodies online
Nowadays, millions of platforms enable creators to change their body shapes by editing those parts that they may be insecure about. Although this may happen without intending to hurt anyone, social media users could observe posts and videos and compare themselves with the creators found online. This is the reason why you should always utilize socials with a degree of critical thinking, or you should think twice before posting pictures you have edited yourself so as not to negatively influence others.
Social media triggers comparison
Social media plays a huge role in shaping one’s identity. As the average person spends between 2 and 3 hours a day utilizing social media, what we feed our brains directly influences the way we view ourselves. It is a human trait to try to “fit in” and imitate the people we are surrounded with, hence individuals tend to compare themselves with others and base their self-esteem on that.
Comparison though usually leads to negative thoughts and makes people feel inferior and useless. Overuse of social media could generate FOMO (fear of missing out), as users could feel like everyone surrounding them is living a better life than them. It is fundamental to be aware that on socials, everyone only shares the best aspects and shoots of their lives. Sometimes, we are only exposed to the best part of many influencers’ days, which may be living an unsustainable lifestyle.
Lastly, the quantifiable metrics (likes, comments, views) that are calculated in social media make it easier to compare each other on socials, though there is so much behind those numbers: trends, popularity, and casualty, which play a huge role in it. Therefore, based on such details to determine one’s worth is pointless.
Everything can be faked online
Not only is it possible to modify our bodies online, but also fake diet, training, gods owned, appearance… It is so easy to change a picture to show something that is not real, pretending to be somewhere else by just copying a picture online or buying a fake product to imitate celebrities. In the same way, people could claim to have run for kilometres when in reality they have not, or they could claim to have had a salad for lunch when they may have eaten a completely different meal. It is hence important to approach social media with a degree of criticism and question the reality of what we are exposed to.
"What I eat in a day" videos
The hashtag #whatieatinaday has 14.6 billion posts on TikTok and 855,706 posts on Instagram. Following these trends, influencers and normal social users showcase their daily meals through pictures and videos. While not made with bad intentions, this content does not come from accredited doctors or registered dietitians and can therefore glamorize wrong and unhealthy diets. By being exposed to this trend, vulnerable individuals may start to question their dietary choices and compare their customs to others’. Sometimes people do not acknowledge that everyone has a different energy requirement and therefore needs different quantities and types of food. Moreover, the “What I eat in a day” trend could trigger users who once experienced an eating disorder or who are already fragile and questioning their body image. Lastly, people could find pleasure in binge-watching food videos to distract themselves from the need to eat.
Positive content creators
While social media may be harmful to your mental health, they also contain several impactful creators that can help you shape a better relationship with yourself.
These are the links to their YouTube channels:
