Social Media And Low Self Esteem

Society is gradually moving from a pen and paper to a hand holding a cell phone. Today 's generation connects with their family members and peers through text messaging and social media. Social media includes platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr and other websites used for blogging and posting pictures. We live in a tech-savvy world filled with cell phones, televisions, laptops, tablets and many other technological inventions. Due to the abundance of social media use among teenagers, teens are able to connect with people in their community, are able to explore and expand their interests, and are susceptible to poor self perception and a low self esteem. Social media technology is a great way to stay connected to people inside …show more content…
In a study performed by Vogel, participants in high school dealt with social comparison orientation. After engaging with the peers on facebook, students “had poor self-perception, lower self esteem and more more negative affect balance than their low social comparison orientation counterparts” (Vogel). Many students use social networking sites like Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook and Instagram for social comparison. With the forms of technology and communication we have today, many teenagers are exposed to online bullying and hazing. In a study conducted by Lenheart, he found that “about one third of all teenagers who use the internet say they have been targets of a range of annoying and menacing online activities- such as receiving threatening messages; having an embarrassing picture posted without permission; or having rumors about them spread online” (Lenheart). Teenagers who become targets of bullying deal with emotional distress and mental issues. The internet is full of inappropriate conduct and illegal behavior; many students participate in sexting and post pictures that could fall into the category of child pornography. Sexting can be defined as “sending, receiving, or forwarding sexually explicit messages, photographs, or images; via cellphone, computer or other digital devices” (Berkshire District Attorney). Sending sexually explicit images can be dangerous because nothing is private; these images become distributed rapidly from person to person. The Berkshire District Attorney found that social media can be a way that teenagers post fully nude or semi nude photographs and videos: also known as pornography. “Some teens who have engaged in sexting have been threatened or charged with felony child pornography” (Berkshire District Attorney). Once something is online it is