It is a continuous cycle every day for almost everyone to wake up and immediately check their social media on their phones. It is a sad addiction that has taken over our lives. When someone receives a certain amount of “likes” on a photo on Instagram, it is almost like an award to come back and do it again. And if someone is not happy with what they have received for “likes,” they are going to feel lousy and inferior about returning back to this site.
“You average about 260 likes per post on Instagram and have 1,473 followers so that is a pretty good average.”
Yes, that is a statement that actually came out of someone’s mouth towards me. This statement made me open my eyes, specifically, on how Instagram can be affecting young women and their confidence.
Comparing followers and how many likes someone may reach on a photo they post is now considered “normal.” To me, this is a crazy “normal.” Many women in this day and age lack confidence and it is mainly due to social media. I find that, on Instagram, the biggest factor is women not feeling they are good enough.
Think about it, you see girls who posts a picture with a perfect body on the beach or girls who post selfies and never looks bad. Social media is the only place you can create your own reality to others. It allows women to make their lives or body seem to be whatever they want.
What women post on Instagram is how they want themselves to be viewed as by others. Many young women are now looking to “likes” on a photo or how many “followers” they have on Instagram to determine their worth. That to me is strikingly alarming and sad.
It makes some women truly question themselves and who they are; “Was something wrong with what I posted?,” “Did I not look good enough?.” Constantly comparing and judging other women based upon how they look; good or bad, is not a healthy habit.
According to Time, “Instagram is the worst social media platform for young women and mental health. It was also connected with “high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and FOMO, or the fear of missing out.” Body image is the number one factor in correlation to these “side effects” of young women on Instagram.
Many of these women work hard for their bodies and proudly show them off. As do I, if I am being honest. I think the problem comes in, specifically with celebrities, who women look up to, are posting about their bodies claiming it’s real. Setting that false sense of reality for young women can make them feel as though they should have that type of body too, or it can be easily obtained.
The truth is, most of those celebrities just walk into a doctor’s office and come out looking different. The Kardashians have a major impact on today’s young generation. Back in 2015, the Kylie Jenner Lip challenge hit the internet and caused thousands of women across the globe to try to enhance their lips to look like hers in a dangerous way.
I think if more women in the spotlight came forward about what they have done or why, maybe more adolescents will not feel as pressured to look a certain way anymore.
Instagram is not intended to be, nor should it be, a negative outlet for women to turn to. It is a great place for self-expression and a way to look back at memories that others can see. I would love girls to be more confident in who they are as a person; mind, body and soul.
Every woman should be able to hold their head high and be proud of who they are, despite anything they may see on Instagram. Some are lucky enough to just not care. They post what they want to post, and it does not matter how many likes it gets. Others, how many “likes” they get on a photo does mean something to them.
For me, I was not very confident in who I was until about my junior year of high school. I slowly realized who I am as a person and embraced it. It takes time. But in order to be at peace with yourself and be confident in who you are, you have to love yourself. Every woman in unique and different and that should be qualities every woman should be proud of.
Hold your head up high, your crown is falling.
