According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics, 91% of 16-24 year olds use the internet for social media. On social media, we are often shown illusions of perfection. Instagram photos are edited and showcase “ideal” body types for men and women, friends constantly perform status updates showcasing all the fun they are having, people are creating personas of themselves online presenting themselves as who they want to be, not who they are.

These illusions are distorting our perceptions of ourselves. Studies have shown that when young girls and women in their teens and early twenties view Facebook for only a short period of time, body image concerns are higher compared to non-users.

No longer is it enough to be good, nor to be better. To achieve recognition, we must become the best. Around 70% of 18-24 years olds would consider having a cosmetic surgical procedure, compared to 40% of millennials. No longer are good-looking bodies enough, people want the best-looking bodies.

I first experienced the industry around ideal male body types when I joined social media in middle school. Posts often recommended books, exercise equipment and nutritional supplements that claimed to help the user obtain a certain body type. This type of body expectation still endures, as shown by the more than 12 million Instagram posts with the hashtag #sixpack.

Over time, my perception of myself got twisted. The constant exposure to the “best-looking bodies” created a social expectation I couldn’t meet, creating feelings of unworthiness. Although I have currently gotten over caring about such social expectations, those negative feelings have remained deep within me, causing many mental health issues.

Social media is not entirely negative. People have used social media as an effective platform to express positive self-expression and body image. And while social media can be a cause for mental health issues, studies suggest that young people with mental health issues use social media more often, allowing online healthcare services the opportunity to help and support those in need.

Research into the full effects of social media on mental health are still being conducted, but people are starting to take notice. Congress has met with CEO of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg about the effects of Facebook and recently the Wall Street Journal uncovered that Facebook knows how toxic Instagram is for teenage girls. Change, such as Instagram allowing users to hide the amount of likes a post receives, is happening.

Changing is not the end. But rather, continuing to change is the beginning.

   If you want to learn more about social media and mental health, read our InDepth story, “It’s Not All Likes and Views”, on pages 21-23.