by Jemya Lucas

Social media can be entertaining when you think about TikTok, YouTube shorts, Instagram and Facebook. It can give you laughs but it can also give you anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression come into play when people start to compare themselves to others, whether it be about their appearance or comparing somebody else’s life to where they are in life.  

When it comes to comparing yourself to others, the first thing I want to talk about is body dysmorphic disorder which is also known as BDD. Body dysmorphia is when someone spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance and intensely focuses on their body image. It is when someone is ashamed and has anxiety about body defects, thinking that those body defects make them unattractive, and it can even make someone avoid social situations. I will be honest and say that I myself do struggle with this disorder. It started around the age of 17 and it still occurs today. I believe my struggle with this disorder is a result of social media. There are always societal expectations for women to look a certain way in order to be identified as beautiful. I was so consumed with Instagram, and I always compared myself to how other women looked. It even came to a point when I started dealing with anxiety and depression. Some people may be dismissive of this disorder because they think it is just someone who has insecurities and does not like their appearance. Actually, there is more to it than that. The disorder really does affect people more than they think it does. Other than anxiety and depression, it can lead to suicidal thoughts. This does impact your mental health in a negative way which is why I ask: “is social media really that great?”  

Have you ever scrolled down your feed on Instagram or Facebook and seen a post from an old classmate who is doing great things in life and seems to be living a nice lifestyle? Do you ever feel inadequate because you are not doing what they are doing, and you start comparing your life to theirs? Do you feel like you should be doing more with your life because you are the same age as them? If so, I get it and I have been there. But I have come to my senses, and I want to share this message with everybody who has felt this way. Everybody’s path in life is different and so is timing. Things may not happen when you want them to, but you are still meant to do great things in life. Also, do not think about how long something is taking you to do. Eventually getting there is all that matters, and you will still reach your goals.  

Another question I will ask: is everything we see on social media even real? People can also live a lie. Social media has allowed people to sell narratives that do not align with who they are behind closed doors. Yes, a woman may have the ideal body of society’s standards, but is that her natural shape? There are so many photoshop and filtering apps for people to modify their appearances, which I think is sad. You may see an old classmate or whomever appears to be living this good life but is that really their reality or is it make believe? So, is social media that great?