IDENTITY CRISIS & SOCIAL MEDIA

Growing up as a young, impressionable girl can be difficult. Adapting, developing a 'character' and further acknowledging who you are and can be a narrow and twisted journey.

It's important to understand one's character. Especially being around social media and its detrimental impacts. Whilst Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms do have their positive impacts such as community, social impact and general updates in regards of events, life updates and a confidence boost. Discovering the negative attributes that also may particularly damage young women's mental health is also evident and should bring attention not just to schools, friends and family, but also to ourselves.

This plays a huge role in rediscovering ourselves as young women; committing and strengthening our self-appreciation and respect, redirecting the energy back to ourselves.

" Social media is not related to having an identity crisis and well-being"

Although some may believe social media is not related to having a identity crisis, research and data proves that to some extent, the influence of social media has increased and evidenced the incoming pressures of beauty and existence of judgement rooted from insecurities, provided by these social media platforms.

Research purposes

Whilst finding the root of this particular issue in regards to identity crisis and well-being.

• Research argues there is an increased risk of developing anxiety, depression or general low self-esteem, which may be linked with the involvement and consistency of social media platforms. This further evaluates and presents the twisted narrative videos and images portrayed for young women and girls.

  
  

• Body image related issues may also start to appear for young women, in regards to social media. This feeds into presenting a form of identity crisis because it enables the ideology of being perceived in a negative light. Feeding from this may be trends specifically designed to target vulnerable young women, who are just forming and shaping their identity. Due to social media's constantly evolving content, being 'trapped' is sadly seen as consistent throughout teenagerhood, merging into adulthood.

  
  

• Low and/or disrupted attention span may also be developed and and upcoming struggle for young women. You may be asking, how does this correlate with an identity crisis? The answer may not be evident, but it is a stubborn factor that plays on well-being and mental health. This is because, whilst consuming content consistently with little to no breaks, this may further push subconscious negative thoughts, further interacting with the battle of mental health.

  
  

As we explored this concept of identity crisis, measured through social media and its impacts, finding some solutions is also important for a healthy and balanced understanding of this vulnerable concept.

Finding a balance

Maintaining a controlled and accurate understanding of what feed is controlled and regulated is a necessity in finding some balance. Take charge of who you follow and further inspires you into becoming confident, battling this identity crisis from being developed.

Additionally, providing yourself space to breathe from the digital world is also important, allowing you to make insightful decisions of what makes up negative and consuming content. Having space away from what may feed into low self-esteem is detrimental for a healthy well being.

Discovering the right content creators for you

Although apps such as TikTok may provide you with a broad opening of different, diverse influencers and creators. It's also important to pick the ones right for you. That's why picking and checking which of them may include a healthy selection of videos and communication is also suggested - this may help support any pressures surrounding any vulnerable young women who also want to understand the causes and effects around social media platforms.

Applying boundaries

Pleasing everyone should be an option. Being there for yourself is. Being able to focus on uplifting yourself in difficult moments whilst also being able to say a simple 'no' to relationships, friendships, opportunities that may not align with you is considerably modest. Even though it may feel 'wrong', finding space to discover your personality, hobbies, and dig deeper in your interests also should be some priorities - not doing this for others.

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