Social media: how it can affect your mental health by having to look a certain way. by Holly Wilkins

Do you feel like you have to look a certain way and be “perfect”?

If you’re feeling like that then stop because you don’t have to meet other people's standards. You can be your own perfect. As long as you are comfortable in your own body (without the influence of others) then it shouldn’t matter what other insignificant people think.

Social media plays a significant role in the lives of millions of young girls and boys, women and men. It influences the idea and perception of body image, beauty and perfection. Body images on social media statistically affect more women and young girls than men and young boys.

Women and young girls feel that their body has to look a certain way; they have to be skinny, have to have a big bum and big boobs, they can’t have any stretch-marks, scars or any imperfections. As women we can’t have a bit of tummy fat; we have to workout and keep ‘in shape’; we have to have a small waist with a flat stomach, big boobs and a big bum which, in reality, is mostly impossible for everyone to have what is expected naturally.

The scars and ‘imperfections’ are what make every one of us our own person, and not all looking the same, as if all women are clones.

It may seem that women are more affected by their body image, but this is because male body image is rarely recognised, which can give the idea that men are less affected by this than women.

Men and young boys are also affected by the body images on social media. Their mind-sets are taught to think they should lose weight and gain muscle, they need to be attractive otherwise women (in particular) won’t want to marry them. Men are expected to have more money so they can spend it all on their wife/girlfriend. 

Prince Harry has noticed the negative effect social media is having on young children. He says that social media is more dangerous to young people’s mental health than drugs and alcohol. He addressed a round table discussion on children’s mental health, where he spoke to people from charities that include Stonewall and Young Minds about how social media is creating an unhealthy space for cyber bullying.

Social media can cause depression, anxiety, sleep problems, eating issues and possibly disorders in the future and increased suicide risk from cyber bullying and body images. Researchers have recently revealed that the suicide rate has increased 25% since 1999 with most of the blame on social media. Reports say that “using Facebook could lead to symptoms of depression if the site triggered feelings of envy in the user”, people can use Facebook to see how an ex’s new relationship is going or how see how an old friend (that could’ve possibly done you wrong in the past) is doing which will most definitely lead to feelings of depression.

So remember, as long as you are comfortable in your own body then it shouldn’t matter what other insignificant people think. You can be your own perfect.

Holly Wilkins