Don’t Get Caught in the Guilt Trap
Why Instagram is the Most Harmful Platform for Adolescence
I was just a child.
At the age of twelve, I recall the standard social media conversation with my mother, asking her, “Please mom all my friends have Instagram, may I please download it? I don't want to be the only one out!” I bet you can relate.
Hesitant at first, she responded, “If all your friends have it I guess you can.”
Five years later I wish she had put her foot down and said — NO.
Without a doubt, Instagram has become an access point, a point of connecting with high school friends, and a point of sharing the joys of life. But at what point does society step back and recognize the negative implications on adolescents whose brains have not fully developed?
In a recent survey, five social media platforms were compared regarding adolescents’ mental health. Of nearly 1,500 teens, Instagram was ranked most harmful. Even though Instagram received positive ties to self-expression and identity, the negative correlations to anxiety, depression, bullying, lack of sleep and FOMO (fear of missing out) outweighed all the former. Youtube gained the most impactful on positive well-being followed by Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat. But why?
In an article published by Jennifer A. Manganello, titled “Teens, Dating Violence and Media Use,” she describes the addictive nature and bottomless scrolling feature, making it hard to step back and recognize just how much time has been spent analyzing others' lives, and how this, in turn, has caused teens to develop negative feelings about their bodies, which may be rooted in the core principles of Instagram as a platform. Researchers and former employers exposed the truth that the company never disclosed information that directly relates Instagram to negative mental implications for young users. According to a Wall Street Journal report, Facebook, which owns Instagram, has known for years that the platform is harmful to the mental health of teenagers, specifically girls, but turns a blind eye. The same people have children of their own. These same people have willingly kept internal research on the matter behind closed doors. This narrative raises the question of whether Instagram kept this information private for capitalistic profits. Even so, who gives them the right to withhold information that directly relates to all users — specifically adolescents who are unaware of the repercussions?
Psychological distress is suggested to be at the forefront of adolescents' minds while scrolling on Instagram. Within the #StatusofMindreport, it concludes, “Seeing friends constantly on holiday or enjoying nights out can make young people feel like they are missing out while others enjoy life.” Followed by, “These feelings can promote a ‘compare and despair’ attitude.”
Instagram can cause unrealistic expectations and promote feelings of inadequacy, which lies in the accessibility to an environment of appearance-focused images. Many might argue that Snapchat can become just as harmful, yet when snap chatting with a peer it is a direct snapshot in time, being sent in a millisecond, distancing a user from staring and analyzing one's looks. The ability to compare one’s reflection in the mirror to an edited unrealistic picture of celebrities and influences, for a limitless amount of time, directly confuses an adolescent mind on what is real and what is fake, what is true and what is false.
In a recent study published by Dr. Sara B. Johnson regarding neuron maturation, she states “The frontal lobes, home to key components of the neural circuitry underlying “executive functions” such as planning, working memory, and impulse control, are among the last areas of the brain to mature; they may not be fully developed until halfway through the third decade of life.” While Instagram cannot be solely blamed for negative self-talk, it is imperative to make the connection between the two.
Parents often feel trapped, not knowing when the right time to allow access is. However, the answers may lie in the hands of Instagram itself. In a recent article published by the Royal Society, they urge social media companies to make changes, which includes a “heavy usage” pop-up. Additionally, they urge a feature that signals when a picture has been edited, exposing the truths of human appearance. Finally, they discuss the government's role, calling for “safe social media use” to be taught during schooling. This could create conversation about the potential negative implications of Instagram on the mental well-being of adolescence, and provide a healthy relationship between beneficial Instagram use and teens' mental health.
You might be left wondering what age should I be allowing my child to download Instagram? The answer is non-linear, however, the most salient response is, when maturity is reached. But when is that? When your child begins understanding the fake-natured environment of Instagram. When your child clearly states the purpose of social media is to be promoting identity and connection, not comparison. Don't allow Instagram to become a main aspect of their daily routine.
Don’t get caught in the guilt trap, be the parent I wish I had.
Works Cited
Johnson, Sara B, et al. “Adolescent Maturity and the Brain: The Promise and Pitfalls of Neuroscience Research in Adolescent Health Policy.” The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892678/.
Manganello , Jennifer. WWW, Sage Publications, www-jstor-org.porterslibrary.idm.oclc.org/stable/26636172?searchText=social%2Bmedia%2Band%2Bnegative%2Baffects%2Bon%2Bteens&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dsocial%2Bmedia%2Band%2Bnegative%2Baffects%2Bon%2Bteens&ab_segments=0%2FSYC-6744_basic_search%2Ftest-2&refreqid=fastly-default%3A83f3c589a386f03db7aada31aef599a4#metadata_info_tab_contents.
Rsph. “#StatusofMind.” RSPH, www.rsph.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/status-of-mind.html.
Rsph. “Instagram Ranked Worst for Young People’s Mental Health.” RSPH, www.rsph.org.uk/about-us/news/instagram-ranked-worst-for-young-people-s-mental-health.html.
Wells, Georgia, et al. “Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show.” The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones & Company, 14 Sept. 2021, www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739?mod=hp_lead_pos7.
