How much time do you spend on Instagram? 15 minutes, an hour, or more? Well, most of us end up spending a lot of time on Instagram in our daily lives. Don’t we? The use of Instagram has increased during the lockdown. In UK, 67% of consumers expanded their use of Instagram. The reason behind this increase was to stay connected to the world in order to cope up with the ‘new normal’. Many people gained popularity by creating content on Instagram and earned millions of followers. Now, they are popularly referred to as ‘social media influencers’. Many start-ups flourished through Instagram.
Considering all the above facts, my concern lies on the negativity it has created around us. Instagram shows us a world which is ‘delusional’ or unreal. People have become pretentious. They try to become what they are not just for the sake of some likes and comments. Facial beauty is overtaking inner beauty. Body shaming, desire to get into a perfect shape, anxiety, etc. are some of the key impacts Instagram is having on teens. In addition to this, the urge to become/behave like a certain person on Instagram has created a feeling of self doubt among teenagers which further lowers their confidence and they get ashamed of their real self. This is the most dangerous consequence of Instagram. As per an article published by the Indian Express, the app made body image issues worse for one in three teen girls who were surveyed. In addition to this, teens blamed the app for increasing anxiety and depression across groups. Around 13% of British and 6% American teen users, who were a part of the study, reported suicidal thoughts and linked them to Instagram, according to the report.
But what can be the solution to this increased insecurity among people (especially teenagers) caused due to Instagram? Would merely uninstalling Instagram from the device help teens overcome the feeling of self doubt or anxiety? Not really. In my personal opinion and from what I have experienced, whenever you feel anxious or low about yourself speak it out in front of the people you trust the most and believe me, they would give you the best advice. Don’t let it pile up inside you otherwise it will be really difficult for you to come out of that zone. Also, utilise your time in learning new skills, reading, or doing anything productive so that you can distract your mind from any kind of negativity.
I would conclude by saying that Instagram is undoubtedly a useful app, if used in a fruitful way. But don’t let it tarnish your confidence. Love and respect yourself for what you are.
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