Is Social Media a Threat or Guide to Teens’ Authenticity?

Excessive use of social media contributes to a repeating trend in “performative” identities, especially among today’s youth in a search for a unique yet universally accepted version of themselves. 

In 2023, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that 95% of teenagers aged 13-17 are now using social media apps. In an era where most teens have an online presence, the question must be asked: Does it change the path they take in the journey of discovering themselves? 

Fitting in is a universal human desire; it’s in our biology. A million years ago, someone who was ostracized from their tribe was essentially given a death sentence. Now, that same drive to fit in can be observed through how teens express themselves, either on social media or in real life.  

By scrolling on TikTok or Instagram, teenagers can see what trends or opinions everybody else is participating in or sharing. Sophomore Xzavier McCain, an avid user of social media, uses it as an outlet to voice and view opinions. 

“There’s a lot of freedom on social media to express your opinions and find people who agree with you,” McCain said. 

Though some teens use social media as their way to be heard, many teens find themselves sacrificing their sense of self for peer approval; they begin to crave the validation of likes or upvotes. This inhibits personal growth, changing how an adolescent grows into themselves.  

Recently, the term ‘performative’ has been used to describe how some people fake their personalities, a trend that has grown significantly due to the desire for approval on social media. 

“Social media compels young people to design their lives based on a façade of perfection reinforced by dopamine from likes, emojis, comments, and retweets," according to an article by Choosingtherapy.com. 

Teens often compare themselves to others online who are given immense amounts of approval, usually pertaining to their looks.  

“I would see people online with, for example, super chiseled jawlines, and I was really envious and upset because I knew I couldn’t do anything to change myself,” McCain added. “It really messes with your self-esteem.” 

Content explicitly comparing people’s looks and emphasizing insecurity due to appearance reflects a dark angle of social media, but it is sadly targeted toward impressionable teenagers. Termed “Black pill” content, it disguises itself as a realistic outlook on the world.  

However, in reality, it preys on vulnerable teenagers looking for validation. This completely sways a teenager’s point of view into one that is most cynical, damaging their relationships and self-identity. 

Because of the numerous negative effects of social media, the simple answer for teenagers would be to delete their social media accounts. Sophomore Carina Luna deleted social media a year ago and finds herself much more productive than she was before. 

“I don’t doomscroll anymore. Now, I do my schoolwork, because it’s not like I can just pick up my phone and scroll on TikTok,” Luna said when asked about the benefits of not being on social media. 

Although it’s the easiest solution, being a teenager without social media has its own challenges. There is so much teenage culture found online that those who aren’t in that culture frequently miss out on connections made through social media. Sophomore Stella Laning, an individual who has never had social media, understands what it means to experience ‘FOMO’ (Fear of Missing Out). 

“It sometimes bothers me when people make references I won’t understand because then they have to explain them to me, and I feel as if I’m not in on the big inside joke,” Laning explained. 

There are many dynamics of how social media affects teenagers growing up, and there is no one way to answer the question of whether the effect is positive or negative. Though it fosters connections that would be untethered without social media, it can be easily abused and has many negative impacts on adolescents. 

With or without, teenagers can still travel the road to a unique identity if they don’t let the need for validation overtake them.