The impact of social media on a teen's self-esteem

Bringing up kids with high self-esteem is an important duty for every parent. It is an uphill task, given the distractions thrown their way from everywhere. Social media presents a major challenge when bringing up teens with high self-esteem. There is so much clutter to filter through. They are bombarded with all kinds of stuff.

A woman sitting at a desk looks overwhelmed, surrounded by hands holding an alarm clock, a tablet with social media notifications, a clipboard with sticky notes, and a smartphone. The desk is cluttered with books, an apple, stationery, and more sticky notes. The background is blue.

It is hard to tell what is real and what is fake. Teens are at the age where many things leave an impression on them. If not controlled, peer pressure becomes our teen’s number one enemy. Couple that with the influence and pressure they are exposed to on social media daily and you may understand the devastating effect this may have on their image and self-esteem.

Negative impacts of social media on Teen’s self-esteem

Social media can have both positive and negative effects. Here are the ones to take note of;

Teens miss on critical social skills

Not so long ago people used to socialize in the old school style – a meeting at a park, hanging out at the mall, or crashing at friends’ homes for a social gathering. Nowadays, our teens are void of any physical social contact and interaction. Social media has stopped being as social.

A stressed teen girl sits against a wall, her eyes fixed on her phone with a worried expression. A flurry of notifications, unread messages, and negative emojis swarm around, highlighting social media's impact on her self-esteem. Her backpack lies close by, an emblem of school life and its pressures.

The kids are wonderful at online interactions. Physical interactions? Not as much. This raises a generation that hides behind a keyboard and a screen or brings up teens with awkward social skills. Teenagers with little social skills feel out of place in physical interactions, leading to low self-esteem.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullies thrive on social media. They can create fake accounts or post anonymously to troll, torment, or harass others. This is a common occurrence in high school. Bullies use texts, messages, videos, photos, or other means to hurt, embarrass, humiliate, or hurt others. There are recorded cases of death resulting from consistent cyberbullying. A 15-year-old boy from Chicago took his life after being bullied online. This is not an isolated case. If not checked, cyberbullying can have devastating results on teens.

Erosion of self-worth

Bullies target vulnerable kids to make them anxious, depressed, and worthless. They underplay their achievements, exaggerate the embarrassing moments, or instigate others to hate the child. This can create a very stressful situation for any teen. The fear of facing rejection from society can make them have harmful thoughts.

Silhouette of a teen stressed, sitting on the floor with knees drawn up, facing a large window with sheer curtains. Sunlight filters softly through the curtains, offering a serene moment amidst the pressures of social media and self-esteem struggles.

Increased self-doubt

Comments about how bad they look degrade teens who are sensitive and conscious of their bodies. Body shaming is a common cyberbullying tactic meant to make your teen feel insecure about their bodies and how they look. If this persists, their self-esteem will be at its lowest and that creates self-doubt. They doubt their ability to interact freely with their peers because they have gained an inferiority complex.

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

The fear of losing out is an actual problem among teens. There is so much competition online and everything seems to happen in social circles. This is where they know who is doing what and get updates on any kind of event/activity happening. This keeps them glued to their screens and social media. Unfortunately, everyone tries to post only their best life on social media. It becomes a game of constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses. If your teen’s life isn’t as glamorous as others they meet on social media, they might feel a little out of place.

A man with an expression of surprise or frustration covers his ears amidst colorful alarm clocks—one yellow, one red, and one purple—set against abstract multicolored shapes. It's as if he's a teen stressed by the constant barrage of notifications impacting his peace of mind.

Lack of physical activity

Scrolling for endless hours on social media means that teens barely have enough time to exercise or stay fit. If this goes on for long, they start having issues with how they look, and this can impact their mental image negatively, making them lose self-esteem.

Four children, bursting with energy and focus, race down the red track in their lanes. In the background, a small patch of green grass contrasts against the vibrant track. The joyous activity reflects a boost to their self-esteem away from the stress of social media.

Positive impacts of social media on a teen’s self-esteem

If well used, social media can have a huge positive impact on your teen’s self-image. Here are some positive impacts of social media;

Creates a sense of community

Social media can help create a sense of community and belonging for your teenagers. Teenagers with the same goals, ambitions, and aspirations can come together to form a community. In this community, they share their goals, passions, and challenges they face in pursuit of these goals.

They support each other and foster healthy relationships among themselves. This sense of community greatly boosts their self-esteem because they feel they have a support system when things do not go as planned.

Develops healthy habits

Sometimes peer influence can be a positive thing. If your teenagers interact with positive-minded peers, the good traits will rub off on them as well. They can get good role models who teach them how to stay positive and have a high level of self-esteem. They learn how to follow their dreams and speak out when they are experiencing difficulties. These healthy habits build confidence and self-esteem in these teens.

Two boys sit outdoors on a bench. The teen in the foreground, wearing a dark shirt, looks at a cigarette with concern, holding his head as if stressed by social pressures. The boy in the background, wearing a light shirt, is smoking. The setting is green and forested.

Access to helpful resources

There is an abundance of resources teens can access on social media that can greatly enrich their lives. For instance, they can access free coaching programs, fitness programs, and mental health and wellness programs.

Enhancing creativity and self-expression

The fact that people do not meet physically on social media gives them wide leverage to express their views and opinions on things they would normally shy from. Your teenager is no exception. Freedom of expression is a great thing to have and it also enhances their sense of creativity because they are not too conscious or nervous. You should see how these kids interact freely on these platforms. They air their views so eloquently and so diligently without a shred of reservation.