40 The Impact of Social Media on Self-Esteem – Makaela Buchanan

Social media is a relatively newer concept, one that has only been around for the past few decades. Before platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat were created, the social interaction of people was limited to being in person, conversations over the phone, and letters delivered by the postal service. These interactions are where family, friends, and acquaintances would conduct small talk, share about themselves and their lives, and socially compare. Comparison will always take place in these situations and can affect self-esteem through the types of social comparison theory, which will determine whether the impact is positive or negative.

Unlike social media, social comparison is not a new concept and is as old as any social interaction. When we socially compare, people evaluate their personal and social worth based on what they witness from others, and social media is an opportunity to do exactly this at any time with a swipe of a screen. Social comparison theory emphasizes this evaluation, but social media also brings a whole new meaning to it with the content it displays. Social media users have access to any type of media, including a constant stream of the lives of famous people, influencers, family, friends, and acquaintances, which in many cases can be exaggerated and or fake. As users are repeatedly exposed to problematic content like falsified images and information in this manner, their self-esteem can be greatly affected according to social comparison theory, particularly when it comes to young women.

To further examine the relationship between social media and social comparison theory, more explanation of these concepts is needed. According to the article “Social Media: Definition, Effects, and List of Top Apps” (2021), social media refers to “computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through virtual networks and communities” and is “internet-based and gives users quick electronic communication of content, such as personal information, documents, videos, and photos.” Of course, the sharing of these concepts is nothing new, but to share them in such a format has only been recent and immensely popular. For example, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat have created a space for 4.5 billion users across the world simultaneously. A statistic that “Social Media: Definition, Effects, and List of Top Apps” (2021) also provides is that there will be an increase of 257 million users by 2023.

This information is incorporated to emphasize the prevalence of social media and how frequent its use has become. It is ultimately apart of the everyday lives of most people, so it will have its consequences and among them there are the effects of social comparison theory. The American Psychological Association states that social comparison theory is “the proposition that people evaluate their abilities and attitudes in relation to those of others in a process that plays a significant role in self-image and subjective well-being” (APA Dictionary of Psychology). The theory can be explained further as its broken down into three types of comparison, which are upward social comparison, downward social comparison, and lateral social comparison. These three types of comparison differ in who an individual is comparing themselves to; however, they all still can affect self-esteem (APA Dictionary of Psychology).

There have been several studies that connect social media and social comparison, and their findings are undeniable, like those in the article “Generation Validation: The Role of Social Comparison in Use of Instagram Among Emerging Adults.” This article investigates the role of social comparison among young adults that use the platform, Instagram, arguing that Instagram allows its users to present themselves in a desired manner that represents their ideal self with emphasis on their desired traits. There is evidence to suggest that individuals consider other users to have happier, more successful lives than themselves, which may, in turn, create opportunity for upward social comparison and adverse effects on their self-esteem (Stapleton et al., 2017, para. 7) which explains the problematic components of social comparison, self-esteem, and some social media use. Although this is not always the case, the researchers of the article conclude that the contingent self-worth, or self-esteem based on the approval of others, and social comparison can contribute to low self-esteem among adults who use Instagram. This conclusion is not particularly surprising, after all, social media is the perfect environment to access content for comparison.

Continuing to explore research concerning this topic, there is “Explanation of Social Media Effects on Young Women’s Body Image Concerns: Theoretical Perspectives and an Agenda for Research” by Richard Perlof (2014), which claims that social media is a place where body image concerns can be cultivated and turned into convictions, tying into self-esteem. The most intriguing part of Perlof’s argument is the consistent access users have to social media, in which he states that “social networking sites are available for viewing, content-creating, and editing 24/7, on mobile devices, anywhere, anytime, allowing for exponentially more opportunities for social comparison and dysfunctional surveillance of pictures of disliked body parts that were ever available with the conventional mass media” (para. 36). The quote intends to explain the harm in the 24/7 access to social media platforms and their problematic messages, Perlof’s logic becoming ever apparent to readers as many realize how they participate in this routine. There are plenty of opportunities to socially compare outside of social media platforms, but when said platforms promote their problematic messages, altered images and falsified content, it can enhance the possibility of comparison and dysfunctional surveillance.

A piece of research that still addresses self-esteem but ties into more mental health concepts is “When Self Worth Depends on Social Media Feedback: Associations with Psychological Well-Being.” The article assesses how self-worth, or self-esteem, can depend on social media feedback in relation to status seeking, with a focus on young adult women, since they tend to use social media the most. In this assessment, the researchers recruited college-aged women through an online advertisement and asked them to complete a series of questionnaires concerning their hypothesis, which concluded in them identifying a link between how one experiences self-worth from social media feedback and overall psychological well-being. They explain that “women who are seeking status through their posts on social media and whose self-worth is dependent in this feedback will be most vulnerable to poor psychological well-being, because seeking status may heighten vulnerability to feedback,” showing the vulnerability that social media can expose (para. 41). Ultimately, the article concludes that many young women associate the feedback they receive on social media platforms with their self-worth, or self-esteem, which is quite harmful. Receiving feedback in person is one thing but social media exposes a vulnerability in users because of the ability to use these platforms for status seeking. People can attempt to seek status elsewhere, but social media allows them to do this within seconds, everything they need at their fingertips, in hope of improving self-esteem but in the end failing.

An interesting take on how social media use impacts self-esteem is presented in Robert Waston’s (2022) “Appearance-focused Social Media Use, Unrealistic Beauty Ideals, and Body Image Dissatisfaction.” Waston analyzed twenty-nine academic sources using the key words of his paper and uses them to successfully prove that social media content has a connection with body image concerns, appearance being notably associated with feelings of attractiveness and self-esteem (para. 2). Another point that Waston argues is the significance of taking selfies are to social media users for their appearance satisfaction, saying “selfies may be detrimental to users who edit their photos as continuous photo alteration can decrease appearance satisfaction while heightening cosmetic procedure interest and self-objectification” (para. 1). Social media undoubtedly promotes a selfie culture, one that requires users to share the perfect picture online, but to get that perfect bit of content there is often alteration of the image. Waston claims that “image alteration technology affects visual content credibility and meaning, resulting in visual manipulation and misinformation,” explicitly explaining one of social media’s problematic messages (para. 9). This selfie behavior is ultimately linked with appearance dissatisfaction, and damaging self-perceptions, which is in other words, tendencies of low self-esteem.

The concerns of Waston (2022) and the fellow researchers presented in this paper are relevant to many social media users, especially the young female population, and those like Alexis Spence and Selena Rodriguez. The Spence and Rodriguez’s cases, represented by the Social Media Victims Law Center, are reported by James Bikales (2022) in the article “Meta Knew its Apps Harm Teens’ Mental Health, Families Allege in Suits.” Bikales begins by sharing the story of Alexis Spence, going into her experience with social media addiction, and as a result, her mental health plummeting, which is something she still struggles with years later (para. 1). Selena Rodriguez shared a similar experience with Spence, however, her struggles led to suicide and her mother, Tammy Rodriguez, is suing Meta for wrongful death (para. 22). These are not the only cases, though. There are eight known cases that are being fought by the Social Media Victims Law Center, each accusing Meta of not only causing poor self-esteem but also social decline, body image concerns, eating disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety, and even suicide in users (Social Media Victims Law Center PLLC, 2022a). However, what exactly about Meta leads to these issues? Well, the Law Center bases their cases on Meta being defective by design, their platforms pushing content and algorithms that is harmful for users (Social Media Victims Law Center PLLC, 2022b).

These aspects of social media usage are not only affecting the handful of young women that are suing Meta, but also those much closer to home. Lexi Wischer, a young female social media user, in a recent interview, had quite a few things to say about social media and how it has personally impacted her. For instance, when asked about the correlation between social media and self-esteem directly, she had this to say, when I first started to use social media, it definitely caused some self-esteem issues. I thought the people I saw on there were how I was supposed to look and act but I never knew if it was just an act or photoshop. Over time though and as I grew up, I came to understand that a lot of social media isn’t real, and I couldn’t be so hard on myself about the things I saw (personal communication, October 31, 2022). The response that Lexi had was genuine and something that many social media users can likely relate to because the phenomenon is so apparent. What is promoted on social media is not real, but users are not told otherwise. They believe that what they see is the standard and come to think that they must achieve it or otherwise they are not good enough. Lexi was able to see past the façade of social media by becoming distanced from it, but there are still those like Alexis and Selena who were coxed into believing a false reality and it is unfortunate.

Some might argue that using social media reaps many benefits like social connection, and that is undeniable. However, Lexi also brings up a point about social media being informative saying, “I don’t find social media to be entirely bad. It makes me worry though but in a way that’s knowledgeable and beneficial sometimes. Social media is informative in that way, so I’m not ignorant of what’s going on outside of where I live and can see how the rest of the world is getting on. But then again, you never know what information you will come across on social media and if it’s true or not so it’s hard to know what to believe and what you should allow to affect your mental health” (personal communication, October 31, 2022).

No, social media is not entirely bad, but users must be leery of their usage and what they are exposed to.  Alternatively, there is the fact that using social media is a personal choice, one that users can opt out of if it is negatively impacting their self-esteem and overall mental well-being. Well, this is certainly true, but it does not change the fact that platforms run by Meta have been proven to disturb the wellbeing of users and this has continually been allowed to happen. There is no warning for the harmful and falsified content that Meta shares and they do not hold liability for this neglect. Social media users lack control of their exposure on platforms because of the defective design, and Meta knows it.

It is unfortunate, but social media use impacts self-esteem and mental well-being. Users have social media at their fingertips at any given time with the constant ability to practice social comparison as well as exposure to problematic content like falsified images and information. Many users struggle with these aspects of social media, unable to determine what is real and what is not. These issues stem from the defective design of Meta platforms, the company being aware of the harm their sites are causing young people, especially young women. They are addicting and allow impressionable users to be exposed to messages that alter self-esteem their psychological states, creating a crisis. Social media users must be made aware of the impact of the platforms they use, which is accessible information, but is either hidden or not promoted. With all of this said, what can be done? There are different approaches that could be taken like holding Meta accountable for its defective design and harmful content, but a swifter and more effective approach is to limit one’s access to social media. Of course, this is a personal choice, but a step that can be taken in anticipation of redesign. Although, when redesign is possible, measures and warnings against problematic messages must be put into place and interventions created to invoke realization toward the façade of social media and its false reality. Ultimately though, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, have the capability to be beneficial. After all they can be used for social connection and to stay informed, however, access needs to be limited by spending less time on these sites for healthier self-esteem and overall psychological well-being.

References

American Psychological Association (n.d.). Social comparison theory. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/social-comparison-theory

Bikales, J. (2022, June 10). Meta knew its apps harm teens’ mental health, families allege in suits. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/06/10/meta-faces-lawsuits-mental-health/

Perloff, R. M. (2014, May 29). Social media effects on young women’s body image concerns: Theoretical perspectives and an agenda for research. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-014-0384-6?error=cookies_not_supported&code=802ac16d-4fd8-4dae-916b-98f3239d129a

Sabik, N. J. (2019, July 4). When self-worth depends on social media feedback: Associations with psychological well-being. SpringerLink. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-019-01062-8?error=cookies_not_supported&code=4db5c40a-e2c4-4940-8639-8f6107db7a87

Social media: Definition, effects, and list of top apps. (2021, August 31). Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-media.asp

Social Media Victims Law Center PLLC. (2022a, December 7). Social media’s effects on self-esteem. Social Media Victims Law Center. https://socialmediavictims.org/mental-health/self-esteem/

Social Media Victims Law Center PLLC. (2022b, December 8). Meta lawsuit – Facebook & Instagram. Social Media Victims Law Center. https://socialmediavictims.org/meta-lawsuit/

Stapleton, Luiz, & Chatwin. (2017). Generation  validation: The role of social comparison in use of Instagram among emerging adults. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social  Networking, 20(3), 142–149.

Waston. (2022). Appearance-focused social media use, unrealistic beauty ideals, and body image dissatisfaction. Journal of Research in Gender Studies, 12(1), 114–129.