An article written by KOAA in Colorado Springs gives a very interesting insight into how social media can affect a person's life.
The article talks about the experiences of Megan Carroll and her freshman year at college. When she moved out to start attending university, she didn't want people to think that she was going to gain the 'Freshman 15'. To achieve that goal Megan lived on less than 500 calories a day. She would later comment on her social media saying, "Every day revolved around what was I going to eat, when was I going to eat, how was I going to tell people that I wasn't eating."
Thankfully Megan was able to get control of her life. After a torn esophagus and abnormal blood work, she checked into a recovery center in Denver. It was at this point to that she would stop using social media altogether. "I got off Facebook because I was seeing how happy all my friends were and then I was seeing how much I was struggling," she said.
Recent studies show that 75% of Facebook users are unhappy with their bodies. 51% of those same users said that using Facebook makes them feel worse about themselves and has a direct impact on how they socialize with people. Joe Eiben, a therapist at the center where Megan was treated, said, "Facebook is the new fashion magazine on some levels, women and men alike will start to have drops in self esteem after being online and looking at pictures of friends, looking at how they want to look, looking at old pictures if they've gained weight, it's a great way to self torture and it's on our phones."
Have you had any good or bad experiences with you self-image while using social media? Share your thoughts in the comments.
source: KOAA.com
I have always been hesitant with Facebook and it wasn't until I read this article that I realized why. Although I love keeping in touch with friends from back home, at school and places I travel, I don't want the whole world knowing exactly what is going on in my life. At the same time, I am very open about my life so if you ask I will tell you anything you want to know. So why don't I keep the Facebook community updated on my life? Simple. Because I don't want my current self to be compared with the old me or the potential me that I haven't reached yet or should have reached. Facebook is like a high school reunion every day. How are you aging compared to the other people you grew up with? What accomplishments do you have so far in life? Is your boyfriend, husband or significant other attractive? There are way too many outlets to fall short in or disappoint others. Thus, I avoid posting and frequently checking Facebook.
ReplyDeletei agree, sometimes facebook makes you feel you're the worst person in the world when you saw people's life are brighter than yours. But i also found some benefits in fb, like you can still keep in touch with your old friends or with your friends who lived far away from you. I think it depends on with whom you are be friend and how often you play it. Just my thought, Im sorry for the bad grammar in here. im not really good in english, actually.
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