The Impact of Instagram on Self-Esteem and Mental Health

tequilahiggins1

Aug 6, 2023

3 min read

Updated: Aug 20, 2023

Pixabay. (2021). Confusing messages for today’s teen girls. Psychology Today. Retrieved August 6, 2023, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/girls-women-and-wellness/202110/instagram-in-the-news-mental-health-risks-teen-girls.

My website's topic for cutting-edge digital media is "The Impact of Instagram on Self-Esteem and Mental Health." This subject explores the substantial impact of Instagram, a well-liked social media site, on people's sense of self and general mental health. Instagram has emerged as a prominent part of contemporary digital culture thanks to its emphasis on visual content and quest of likes and validation. My website caters to a wide audience interested in learning about the psychological consequences of social media on our lives. I study the complex relationship between Instagram usage and its effects on self-esteem, social status, and mental health.

Newsy Newslook. (2021). Facebook knew Instagram could be bad for teens’ mental health. USA Today. Retrieved August 20, 2023, from https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2017/05/23/instagram-might-not-great-young-peoples-mental-health/102065704/.

History and Evolution of the Digital Media Topic

Since the platform's launch in 2010, Instagram has had a history and evolving impact on people's self-worth and mental health. Researchers and media experts started seeing changes in users' behavior and wellbeing as it quickly gained popularity. Early research emphasized Instagram's benefits, such as its promotion of creativity and self-expression. But as the platform developed and user interactions shifted to emphasize likes and comments, worries about its possible detrimental effects on self-esteem surfaced. Researchers like Diefenbach and Anders (2022) looked at the relevancy of Instagram comments, while MacMillan (2017) highlighted how it has a negative impact on mental health. "While the photo-based platform got points for self-expression and self-identity, it was also associated with high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and FOMO, or the 'fear of missing out'" (MacMillian, 2017). Research has delved deeper into the relationship between low self-esteem and dishonest like-seeking behaviors over time (Dumas et al., 2020; Romero-Rodrguez et al., 2020). My website will give a thorough analysis of the development of this digital media topic over time, drawing conclusions from numerous academic sources.

Aalai, A. (2020). Technology and the impact on Psychology. Psychology Today. Retrieved August 6, 2023, from https://cdn2.psychologytoday.com/assets/styles/manual_crop_1_91_1_1528x800/public/field_blog_entry_teaser_image/2020-02/socialmedia.jpg?itok=McGj74z3.

Curating Existing Online Content Ethically and Responsibly

I will adhere to copyright regulations and give accurate attribution to all sources while curating current online information in an ethical and responsible manner. The information will be appropriately paraphrased or quoted, and when in-text citations are required, they will be used to properly acknowledge the original writers. To effectively engage the audience, multimedia and digital media types will be deliberately incorporated. To respect intellectual property rights, I will make sure that all used multimedia content—including pictures, videos, and infographics—comes from sources with suitable licenses or that are royalty-free. Additionally, the content will be chosen to provide a well-rounded view of the issue, taking into account a range of opinions and study results to give a thorough knowledge of Instagram's effects on self-esteem and mental health.

Armstrong, M. (2019, September 6). Infographic: Mental health: The impact of social media on young people. Statista Daily Data. https://www.statista.com/chart/19262/impact-of-social-media-on-mental-health/

References:

Diefenbach, S., & Anders, L. (2022). The psychology of likes: Relevance of feedback on Instagram and relationship to self-esteem and social status. Psychology of Popular Media, 11(2), 196–207. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1037/ppm0000360

Dumas, T. M., Maxwell-Smith, M. A., Tremblay, P. F., Litt, D. M., & Ellis, W. (2020). Gaining likes, but at what cost? Longitudinal relations between young adults’ deceptive like-seeking on Instagram, peer belonging and self-esteem. Computers in Human Behavior, 112. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106467

MacMillan, A. (2017, May 25). Why Instagram is the worst social media for mental health. Time. https://time.com/4793331/instagram-social-media-mental-health/

Romero-Rodríguez, J.-M., Aznar-Díaz, I., Marín-Marín, J.-A., Soler-Costa, R., & Rodríguez-Jiménez, C. (2020). Impact of Problematic Smartphone Use and Instagram Use Intensity on Self-Esteem with University Students from Physical Education. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12). https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.3390/ijerph17124336

References:

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