With the exponential growth of technology, social media has sprouted its way into the
hands of almost every single American within the United States. Today, platforms like Instagram,
Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok have become integral to daily life, connecting people from all
walks of life across the globe. Although social media has been in the spotlight for offering
connection, self-expression, and entertainment, it also has severe effects on its consumers and
overall society. Social medias influence stretches beyond it’s intended use of harmlessly
connecting people with each other by impacting body image, attention spans, and physical
health. For many, the perfected algorithms, carefully curated images, trends, and content seen on
these platforms not only dictate how we see ourselves but also influence how we relate to others
and perceive the world. As social media continues to evolve and grow, it is important to
acknowledge the adverse effects it has on our mental, physical, and social wellbeing.
Social media platforms such as Instagram and Tiktok, where anyone can post photos and
videos is extremely dangerous to the youth. Posting content on these platforms is extremely easy
and anyone can do it, the issue is that the content can be edited or photoshopped to portray
unrealistic beauty standards. To some this edited content is easy to distinguish from real and
altered content, the majority of users, particularly young people, often struggle to differentiate
between the two, and when they look at the comments, all they see it positive affirmations. This
creates a dangerous environment where people will compare themselves to glorified distorted
images, which become the benchmark for beauty, leading to body dissatisfaction and a range of
body image issues, such as body dysmorphia. Because the youth have a lot of time on their hands
they spend a lot of that time on social media, where they consume this content constantly. This
exposure in turn reinforces insecurities and negatively impacts their mental and emotional
wellbeing. Research published in Pathways from attention to beauty content on social media and
peer appearance conversations to cosmetic surgery consideration, revealed that “peer
appearance comparisons and the internalization of ideal beauty standards act as chain mediators
in the relationship between peer appearance conversations and body dissatisfaction. These
findings highlight the significance of the tripartite influence model in comprehending
sociocultural influences and unraveling the mechanisms that connect beauty content on social
media to the consideration of cosmetic surgery. Given the unequivocal connection between body
image concerns and the use of social media.” This study explains the correlation between social
media and its effect on people’s perception of realistic beauty standards, demonstrating how
exposure to edited content can distort what individuals see as achievable or normal. By
highlighting the role of peer appearance comparisons and the internalization of ideal beauty
standards via social media, it illustrates the damaging cycle where users not only compare
themselves to unattainable images but also feel pressure to conform to these unrealistic norms.
This fosters body dissatisfaction and influences life altering decisions, such as considering
cosmetic surgery, further showcasing the pervasive impact of social media on self-perception and
mental health.
In addition to the mental and emotional toll that social media takes on its users, it also has
a tremendous impact on physical health that cannot be overlooked. As people interact with
popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook, they often spend hours scrolling
through content, GEN Z coined this disruptive activity as “Doom Scrolling.” Increased screen
time on phones / tablets can have a detrimental effect on ones sleep patterns and schedules. In the
study The association between social media use and sleep disturbance among young adults
researchers conducted a test where they recorded the amount of time (in minutes) participants
spent on social media. “Median volume was 61 min of SM use per day (IQR = 30, 135; range =
0–1447), while median frequency was 30 visits per week (IQR = 8.5, 56.5; range = 0–385)…
42.6% of our sample was in the low sleep disturbance group, 28.0% was in the medium
disturbance group, and 29.4% was in the high sleep disturbance group.” This study reveals a
distinct connection between the amount of time spent on social media and the disturbance in
sleep. As the data shows, excessive social media use significantly affects sleep. To add on, sleep
has been linked to a number of adverse health effects, an increase in the risk of developing
diseases and various mental disorders such as depression and stress. “Findings revealed a
significant total effect of sleep quality on immune function – i.e., poor sleep quality significantly
predicted reduced immune function among college students. This finding is consistent with
previous studies that have revealed poor sleep as a significant predictor of susceptibility to
developing both acute infections and chronic disease.” (Poor Sleep Quality and Reduced
Immune Function among College Students: Perceived Stress and Depression as Mediators) This
study highlights how disrupted sleep, often caused by excessive screen time and social media
use, can weaken the immune system and make individuals more susceptible to both physical and
mental health issues. Together, these studies underscore the urgent need to address the physical
health consequences of social media use, particularly the impact on sleep and its broader effects
on overall well-being.
In addition to the impact on body image, attention span, and physical health, social media
also plays a significant role in fostering negative behaviors that affect users’ mental and
emotional well-being. One of the most prevalent issues from social media platforms is
cyberbullying, which has become an increasingly concerning issue, especially among teenagers.
The main issues with cyberbullying is that perpetrators can mask their identity, excluding victims
/ authorities from truly identifying the true person behind the online bullying. The anonymity
that social media grants people with also gives them the opportunity to confidently use cruel and
derogatory language. With the increased use of social media, people are noticing an increase in
cyberbullying as well, one study from Cyberbullying Via Social Media recorded that “18.2% of
participants reported they had been a victim of cyberbullying at least once within the last year.
Almost 12% indicated they had perpetrated cyberbullying at least once within the last year.
Being a victim of cyberbullying was significantly related to being a perpetrator of cyberbullying
(r = .54, p < .001). Over 55% of participants stated they had witnessed cyberbullying at least
once within the last year.” This data highlights the widespread nature of cyberbullying, revealing
how it affects not only victims but also perpetuates a cycle of aggression that can extend through
both direct involvement and bystander participation. The findings of this study is also troubling
because cyberbullying can lead to a number of emotional and psychological effects. Victims
often experience anxiety, depression, and a diminished sense of self-worth due to the constant
online harassment.
Social media has made weaved its way within our daily lives, offering connections and
opportunities. However, the negative impact of social media on users’ body image, mental
health, physical health, and social well-being cannot be ignored. As we evolve as a society we
need to address these issues and shed light on them rather than glorify social media for its
advancements in social connectivity for the few.

WORKS CITED

Zhou, M., Yu, Q., Chen, R., Ji, J., & Yan, J. (2024). Pathways from attention to beauty
content on social media and peer appearance conversations to cosmetic surgery consideration.
Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-024-07038-6

Levenson, Jessica, et al. “The association between social media use and sleep disturbance
among young adults.” Preventative Medicine, vol. 85.

Lueke, Niloufar A., and Arash Assar. “Poor Sleep Quality and Reduced Immune Function
among College Students: Perceived Stress and Depression as Mediators.” Journal of American
College Health, vol. 72, no. 4, 12 May 2022, pp. 1–8,
https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2022.2068350.

Whittaker, Elizabeth, and Robin M. Kowalski. “Cyberbullying via Social Media.” Journal
of School Violence, vol. 14, no. 1, 25 Sept. 2014, pp. 11–29,
https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2014.949377.

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