Instagram is something that plays a huge roll in the lives of many teens and young adults. Everyone is always posting something that can easily leave others feeling like their life sucks.
“I know people who have tried to hang their image based off something on Instagram, and most of the time it’s just to get more ‘likes.’ I think Instagram has affected people both negatively and positively,” sophomore Sara Boulaiche said. “Some people thinks it’s a popularity contest and will do almost anything just to have a lot of likes on their photo and if someone does not get enough likes that can hurt their self esteem. With any social media network they are going to be bullies whose comments hurt people but I don’t think anyone should change themselves just to get likes on a picture.”
Instagram is a great example of social media allowing people to show a highlight reel of their life. Rarely have people ever seen someone post a bad picture or something negative about their life on instagram.
“I definitely think that people do compare themselves to others on insta, especially when it comes to how many likes someone gets on their picture,” senior Alyssa Son said. “I think a lot of people make themselves seem different on Instagram than in real life.”
“People are now using Instagram as a popularity contest based on the amount of likes on a photo,” freshman Katie Kucia said.
Also, it is pretty common for someone to take what others post on instagram as bragging too. With all this going on, it raises the question of what actions people take when they feel inferior or jealous to what someone posts on their Instagram.
“I had a close friend that actually developed an eating disorder which then lead back to issues with social media,” Kutztown University junior Christina Schulter said. “My friend admitted that seeing skinny girls on instagram getting a ton of likes made her jealous. She was so jealous to the point where she began not eating and starving herself all because she wanted to look good for Instagram.”
Everyone is human. Instagram has a way of making someone think your life is ten times better than what it really it is. You may scroll through tons of laughing pictures and groups of friends that look like they are having the time of their life.
“I think Instagram affects people in a sense that I’ll be out at a party or a bar and I’ll see people there standing in a corner but they’ll upload a picture that makes it seem like they were having the time of their life, “Alyssa Son said. “Instagram is awesome if you don’t let it control your thoughts or how you act.”
Little do you know they back stab each other and talk badly behind each other’s back. If someone posts a bomb selfie you feel insecure or if someone doesn’t get enough likes they get upset.
“I think getting likes is not important at all and the fact that a lot of people obsess over it is crazy. Instagram should not determine a someone’s worth,” Christina Schulter said.
