How Are Social Media and Self-Esteem Related?
Social Media sites are more popular than ever. It is a daily routine to check our social media platforms. We check to see who has contacted us, what comments have been made, and if anyone liked our photos or posts. For many, it is completely harmless. For others, these sites can have a negative impact on self-worth.
There are so many ways in which a person can be affected. It's all able comparison. An individual may look at the lives of their online 'friends', and compare their life to what is being displayed on their screen. What many don't realize; social media profiles are just a snapshot into someone's life. It is easy to convince others that a life is perfect through; edited photos, thought out posts and modified responses. Some people take what they see on social media too literal, and begin to compare their lives to the lives that they see on the internet. It is not realistic to do so.
Comparing accomplishments, body images, relationships and an assortment of other factors, all play a role in how people perceive and feel about themselves. Many experts believe that social media websites play a role in eating disorders (this can be said about other modern media as well). Images all over the internet are promoting unhealthy eating habits. Eating disorders are not a choice; low self-esteem, fuelled by pictures of thin individuals, can play a large role.
Signs That Social Media Is Affecting Self-Esteem
1. Social media is conflicting with your real-world thoughts and activities. If you get uncomfortable when you can't access social media, there's a good chance your self-esteem is at risk. Social media should not be the first thing that pops into your head each morning, nor should it be your last thought before bed.
2. Social media is influencing your mood. If you get noticeably upset over occurrences on Facebook fairly often, there may be cause for concern. Looking at photos of other woman for instance, cause some individuals to doubt their own beauty and body image. If you spend time on social media sites and walk away feeling bad about yourself, you are not using it for the right reasons. Social media is there to tell your story and connect with others, it should not be targeting your self-esteem.
3. You measure your success based on others. The amount of likes or comments you have online, does not relate to your success. If there are core issues that need to be addressed, working on your social media website is not going to cure your self-esteem issues. It is much more productive to work out self-esteem issues in the real-world, than try to boost the number of friends you have online.
4. Feel Pressured to be someone else. If you scroll through your newsfeed and wish you were someone else, you need to re-evaluate your social media platforms. It is key to remember that everything posted, is filtered. Focus on the positive aspects of your life. Just because you didn't display your beautiful birthday cake on Facebook, does not make it any less special.
Some Tips To Improve Your Self-Esteem
There are varying degrees of self-esteem issues. If you are truly feeling bad about yourself and your image, there are many people that you can talk to. The worst thing you can do is keep your thoughts and feelings trapped inside. Self-harm is the worst case scenario, and measures should be taken long before anything to that extent occurs. Here are some tips in order to improve your self esteem:
1. Get involved in something new: If there has always been a hobby you were interested in, there's no better time than now to explore it. There is a whole world beyond your keyboard. Go explore new skills and talents that you never even knew you had. It will be a great way to meet new people as well.
2. Volunteer: Helping a cause you believe in is extremely rewarding. Connect with people who share the same values and opinions as yourself. There are various programs that would love your help. Look into something that you're interested in. Volunteer work can turn into a life changing experience.
3. Stay active and eat right: Many self-esteem issues are due to body image. Proper nutrition and staying active are great ways to stay healthy. Not only will you look great, you will feel great. Start by incorporating small activities into your daily routine. Maybe join a hockey league or a gymnastics team. There so many activities that will improve your health, your social life and your overall well-being.
4. Focus on real-life contact: Not all of your socializing needs to be done through your computer screen. There are so many amazing people out there that share common; interests, ideas, thoughts, experiences and feelings with you. Face-to-face contact is very important. Do not shy away from human interaction because you would rather be on social media sites.
5. Practice loving yourself: This is the most important. Don't be afraid to look in the mirror and tell yourself you look pretty. If you received a good grade, make sure you tell yourself that you did a great job. By getting involved in activities, others will be telling you how great you are. Although this is important, you need to love yourself first.
Although social media is a great tool to stay connected, take a break if it is making you feel poorly about yourself. Every individual is different and unique. Start exploring the things that make you a unique being. Embrace the things that make you different. Social media is a virtual world. You can unplug at any time. There is a whole world out there; start exploring. Work on loving yourself, and you'll begin to see how beautiful life can be.