Social media deeply affects youth mental health

Source: The post Social media deeply affects youth mental health has been created, based on the article “Is social media defining self-worth?” published in “The Hindu” on 9 May 2025. Social media deeply affects youth mental health.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-Governance – Issues relating to Health.

Context: The tragic death of a young entrepreneur, reportedly due to a drop in social media followers, has sparked urgent concerns about how online platforms shape mental health and self-worth. The article examines how social media influences youth identity, emotional well-being, and the role of adults in addressing these challenges.

For detailed information on India must act on youth mental health crisis read this article here

Social Media and Identity Formation

1. Performance Replaces Authenticity: Social media acts as a mirror and magnifier. Young people now perform versions of themselves to gain approval. The question is no longer “Who am I?” but “Which version of me will gain likes?” This erodes the line between expression and performance.
2. Blended Online-Offline Lives: Unlike older generations, today’s youth don’t separate online life from real life. Digital presence is inseparable from identity. This constant exposure allows little time for personal reflection or growth.
3. Loss of Private Identity Spaces: Identity used to form in safe, private settings like homes or schools. Now, it unfolds publicly — edited and posted for feedback. Adolescents grow up under constant social evaluation.

The Influence of the Influencer Ecosystem

1. The Rewards of Perfection:The algorithm favors curated content. Even “truth” must be attractively packaged. Vulnerability is often punished, creating a culture where surface perfection is everything.
2. Children as Performers: Children, often encouraged by parents, become influencers. Shows like Bad Influence highlight how family pride gets tied to follower counts. This can distort values at a young age.
3. Systemic Accountability: Influencers are not the root cause. They are part of a system that incentivizes performance and penalizes honesty. Platforms, algorithms, and audiences all play a role.

Escalating Risks and Shifting Ideals

1. Dangerous Online Trends: Challenges like Blue Whale pushed youth toward extreme behaviors without any discussion of their emotional pain. These trends reward risk over reflection.
2. Shifting Ideals, Lasting Harm: Digital ideals — from body shapes to daily routines — keep changing. Teens struggle to keep up, feeling pressured to constantly adapt their appearance and habits.
3. Role-Based Performance: Young users adopt extreme personas — alpha males or ultra-sassy girls — without understanding the emotional toll. There is no guidance to help them process these roles.

Body Image and Unrealistic Trends

1. Trend-Driven Distortions: Trends like the “thigh gap” or symmetry obsessions set impossible beauty standards. Teens notice even minor facial differences, internalizing unrealistic comparisons.
2. Shame and Therapy: Despite knowing images are edited, teens internalize shame. Therapists report growing cases of eating disorders and identity distress tied to social media trends.
3. Toxic Routines Online: Trends like the ‘girl morning routine’ promote hyper-productivity. Despite being unrealistic, such routines go viral, affecting mental health and setting harmful expectations.

Parental Role and Meaningful Engagement

1. Surveillance Backfires: Monitoring teens out of fear can break trust. Instead of policing, parents should approach with curiosity and empathy to foster connection.
2. Lack of Adult Guidance: Teens are left alone to navigate overwhelming digital worlds. Adults often fail to explain how to evaluate content or seek reliable information.
3. Bridge Through Conversation: Teens use hidden accounts and coded language. Adults must learn their world, ask reflective questions, and move from control to dialogue. Connection is the key.

Question for practice:

Examine how social media influences the identity and emotional well-being of today’s youth.