With platforms like Instagram or TikTok, social media has raised the pressure on young people, leading to unrealistic expectations of constant perfectionism. Filled with images of idealised and often edited physiques that perpetuate only one body type, it sets an unattainable standard for beauty.

The pressure to conform to this ‘norm’ leads to a lot of self-comparison and self-esteem issues that teenagers have to face on a daily basis.

A survey reported by the BBC found that ‘women tend to compare their own appearance negatively with their peer group and with celebrities.’ Additionally, the Mental Health Foundation said ‘four in ten teenagers (40%) said images on social media had caused them to worry about body image.’

Social media has increased anxiety among many users. One issue is the ‘fear of missing out’ (FOMO), which is caused by seeing other people engage in exciting activities.

Viewers frequently feel inferior as they look through stories and posts full of pictures from social gatherings, vacations and personal achievements, thinking that other people are living a more fulfilled life. People who constantly compare themselves to others, may experience stress and anxiety as a result of living up to unrealistic standards.

Influencers are often seen as role models for many young people, they shape trends, spread opinions and showcase their lifestyles. On one hand, some influencers spread awareness about important issues and inspire many viewers. Real life problems and challenges shared by genuine influencers can make followers reduce the feelings of loneliness and create security.

On the other hand, many influencers promote luxurious lifestyles that are unattainable for many young people. The constant stream of seemingly effortless success can create large pressure to follow up.

Despite social media helping people connect, it also creates a wider loneliness epidemic. The core issue involves the lack of face to face communication because completely virtual connections can struggle to be meaningful.

An excessive dependence on social media also commonly results in a decline of offline interactions. My personal experience shows me that after spending hours scrolling through social media, I haven’t engaged in any real life social interactions and don’t really have the drive to.

In Brad’s Huddlestons book Digital Cocaine, the addictive nature to technology and the comparisons between digital and substance addiction are discussed. Digital addiction results in emotion degradation just like other addictive tendencies.

A planned break from digital devices or a ‘digital detox’, has become more crucial for supporting our mental health and wellbeing.

Constantly receiving notifications and spending too much time in front of a screen often leads to stress and anxiety. Unplugging from the internet will offer numerous benefits like improving our ability to concentrate and think clearly.

While many experts have come up with various digital detox regimes, I believe that an individual approach based on every personal circumstance is the best.