1

Brianna Castrillon

Mr. Gardiakos

ENC1102

02 April 2024

Finding the In Between: Social Media

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, revolutionizing the way people
connect, communicate, and share information. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
TikTok have transformed how we interact with others, both locally and globally. This
transformation has not only brought about numerous benefits but also raised concerns about its
potential negative impacts.

On one hand, social media has brought unseen levels of communication and connectivity.
It has bridged geographical barriers, allowing people to stay in touch with friends and family
across the globe. Additionally, social media has empowered users to express themselves, share
their experiences, and engage in more meaningful discussions that include a wide range of
topics. It has also provided opportunities for networking, professional development, and business
growth.

However, alongside these benefits, social media has also been associated with various
challenges and drawbacks. The constant exposure to curated images and idealized lifestyles on
platforms like Instagram can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem among
users. Additionally, the prevalence of cyberbullying and online harassment has emerged as
serious concerns, leading to detrimental effects on mental health and well-being. Furthermore,
the spread of misinformation and fake news on social media platforms has undermined trust in
traditional sources of information.

Research Synthesis/Literature Review

The toll on mental health:

ELIA J:Two surveys conducted among American and German university students revealed
that increased time spent on Facebook was associated with feelings of envy and a
perception that others in their social network were better off. This phenomenon, known
as "FOMO" or fear of missing out, led to heightened stress levels among users.
Additionally, a systematic review of 20 studies demonstrated a link between social media
usage and body image concerns and disordered eating, particularly among females. Even
brief exposure to Facebook negatively impacted mood, with a high appearance
 2

comparison tendency leading to increased desire to change one's physical appearance.

The distance inherent in social media interactions facilitates negative commenting,
contributing to cyberbullying, which in turn has been linked to higher rates of suicidal
ideation, plans, and attempts among adolescents.

Sense of community:
For LGBTQ+ young people, social media and the internet are valuable tools. They're not
just scrolling through feeds or watching videos for fun; they're using these platforms to figure out
who they are and where they fit in the world. In real life, it can be tough for LGBTQ+ youth to
express themselves openly. There are bullies or others who don't understand. Online, they can
create their own space on the internet where they feel accepted and free to be themselves. They
can join communities, follow accounts, and engage with content that speaks to their experiences.
It's not just about finding cool memes or funny videos. They're discovering new labels, finding
role models to look up to, and sharing their own stories with others who get it. It's a place where
they can learn and grow without the fear of judgment. Also, being part of online communities
can be a huge boost for their mental health. They can find support from people who understand
what they're going through, whether it's coming out, dealing with family issues, or just
navigating life as an LGBTQ+ person. So, it's important to develop new ways of measuring the
positive impact of social media on their lives. We need to create tools that specifically look at
how it helps them feel good about themselves and their identities. Because when we understand
how social media can be a force for good in the lives of LGBTQ+ youth, we can better support
them in navigating this digital landscape.

Trying to Avoid Misinformation:

Countries quickly put rules in place to stop COVID-19 from spreading. They wanted to
find and stop the virus while giving hospitals time to get ready for more sick people. At the same
time, lots of research about COVID-19 was published. This helped us learn more about where
the virus came from, how to treat it, make vaccines, and understand how the disease gets worse.
Because of all these rules, people had to spend a lot of time away from each other. This made
individuals feel sad or stressed out. Having friends and family around is important for staying
healthy and feeling good. Some people get help from social media to feel connected, especially if
they have a hard time talking face-to-face. Still, all the changes and worries from COVID-19 can
make mental health issues worse. Studies show that when people are alone a lot, they tend to feel
sadder or more worried. To understand how people are feeling during COVID-19, researchers in
Norway, the USA, UK, and Australia did a big study. They want to compare how people in
different countries are doing mentally and emotionally. They believe that using social media an
extreme amount might make mental health and quality of life worse, and make people feel more
anxious and lonely.
 3

Social Groups and Danger:

Autism sometimes makes it harder for people to communicate and connect with others.
It's different for everyone and some people with autism have trouble with things like talking or
understanding emotions. But, new research says that the problems with communication between
autistic people and those who aren't autistic might not be just because of autism itself. It could be
because their brains work differently. People with autism really want to have friends, but it can
be tough for them to form close friendships and create bonds. This can make them feel left out
and isolated. Luckily, the internet can be a great place for them to meet people and talk,
especially because they're often good with technology. But along with positives, there are also
dangers online, like bullying or seeing things that aren't appropriate, which can be extra risky for
autistic people who spend a lot of time on the internet. Surprisingly, not much research has been
done on what parents worry about when their autistic kids are online. But it's really important to
understand this, because autistic people can be more at risk online. We need to know more about
what both autistic people along with their parents think about online interactions and how to
keep them safe.

Digital Well-being and Self-esteem:

Many American teens use smartphones all the time, and many are always on social

media. This makes it crucial to look at how social media affects teenagers' feelings about their

bodies. Research shows that when teens spend a lot of time on social media, especially posting

and looking at perfect pictures, they can feel negatively about how they look. This happens more

often with girls. They might compare themselves to others online and feel sad or want to change

how they look to get more likes and attention, especially from boys. This problem seems to be

getting worse. Most studies about this have focused on older teens and young adults, but we

don't know as much about how younger teens feel about their bodies because of social media.

Younger teens, who use apps like Instagram and Snapchat a good amount, care a ton about what

their friends think of them. This can make them feel bad about their bodies, especially girls. This

study aims to understand just what makes younger teens feel bad about their bodies on social

media and how it affects their feelings. The idea is that seeing pictures of celebrities or friends

looking perfect online might make girls feel worse about themselves and could make them feel

sad or stressed out. Even though we know some things about how social media affects people,

there's still a lot we don't understand. I want to see if using social media for a long time has any
 4

lasting effects on how we feel and behave, especially for different types of people. By looking at

this in a lot of different ways, the study hopes to give us a better idea of how social media shapes

our lives today.

Methods/Results:

Growing up under the public eye can have both positive and negative effects on a person.
On one hand, being in the public eye can provide opportunities for fame, success, and influence
at a young age. It can open doors to exciting experiences, lucrative career opportunities, and
connections with people from all over the world. Public figures may also have access to
resources and support that can help them navigate challenges and achieve their goals. On the
other hand, growing up in the spotlight can also come with significant pressures and challenges.
Constant scrutiny from the media and the public can lead to a lack of privacy and autonomy.
Public figures may feel like they have to constantly maintain a certain image or meet high
expectations, which can be stressful and overwhelming. They may also face criticism, judgment,
and even harassment from strangers online or in the media. This can take a toll on their mental
health and self-esteem, leading to feelings of anxiety, depression, or insecurity. Additionally,
growing up under the public eye can impact personal relationships and development. Public
figures may struggle to form genuine connections with others or trust that people are interested
in them for who they are rather than their fame or status. They may also miss out on typical
childhood or adolescent experiences.

For my project, I decided to do a more observational research route. I am researching my

topic by specific observation. My goal is to display both the good effects along with the negative
ones that come with being a member of the social media community. I have chosen the most
followed influencer on Instagram (Selena Gomez), and did the same on TikTok with Charli
D'Amelio. I then look at a few of the top comments, and scroll to view some of the bottom
comments so I'm getting a mix of time frames and ideas. I am aiming to choose specific topics
that prove just how beneficial or detrimental social media can be. Additionally, I will look under
the hashtags of these influencers names to view posts other users have created about them. Some
terms I will be using to sort my information include: harmful, supportive, hateful, and idealizing.
I will use hateful to describe comments/posts that make their views known out of jealousy. I will
utilize the supportive category to display posts and comments that seem as if they want the best
for the influencer they're following; it will come from a place of love. The idealization category
will be for comments that have an unhealthy obsession with a celebrity. This shows one of the
negative sides of these platforms. It causes negative body image and self-consciousness. Finally,
the harmful category is for comments that threaten a user's safety. As sad as it is, many people
send threats and harmful messages in order to place fear into others. Depending on the situation,
there needs to be serious precautions and measures that need to be taken.
 5

For example, I began by looking at Selena Gomez's Instagram page. After looking at it, I
discovered she has now restricted her posts and limited the comment section. In the past, she
received numerous negative comments and I assume she has had enough of the negativity. For
instance, I scrolled down to a selfie of hers from March 2023. One of the comments was: "She
looks like she doesn't shower". This alone can make someone feel terrible about themselves and
begin their negative self image journey. Although I can't categorize all of the comments, her
page is an example of what more individuals should do to their page. You can't control others,
but you can control what goes on on your own profile and feed. If you feel as though the
comments are negatively affecting you, you can set restrictions to only allow certain words or
people to comment. This is a step towards a healthy relationship with these platforms.
For educators, parents, mental health professionals, policymakers, and social media companies,
this research provides valuable insights into the complexities of social media use and its effects
on individuals' well-being and behavior.

After viewing Charli D’Amelios Tiktok, a few things can be found. Charli blew up and
began gaining a following in 2019. Since then, she has amassed more than 154 million followers.
That is unheard of. She was known for posting dancing videos and relatable content. Now, she
doesn’t stick to one genre of posting. With that many followers, hate comments are guaranteed.
Not everyone has the same opinion and people on the internet in today's age love to voice them.
Charli D'Amelio, like many people in the public eye, has faced her share of hate comments on
social media. While it's difficult to pinpoint her exact feelings about them, she has spoken out
about the impact of negativity online. In interviews and social media posts, she has expressed
that hate comments can be hurtful and discouraging, but she tries not to let them affect her too
much. D'Amelio often emphasizes the importance of focusing on positivity and surrounding
herself with supportive people. However, it's important to note that everyone's experiences and
coping mechanisms are different, so her feelings about hate comments may vary depending on
the situation. Recently, a popular event went on for influencers called Coachella. Many people
dress up, usually in more revealing clothing items, especially because of the heat in California.
Charli’s friend posted a Tiktok of her outfit while they danced. It was a revealing dress and she
received alot of backlash. Numerous Tiktoks were uploaded in response, some positive views
along with many negative ones. A creator by the name of “Malloryfig” released a video on April
18, 2024 backing D’Amelio up, with her main point being “Charli D’Amelio can wear whatever
she wants”. One of the comments responded by stating, “It’s so sad to see how hyper analyzed
she is. She is literally almost 20, she isn’t 15 anymore.” This brings up a great point in my
opinion. Charli D’Amelio has grown up under the public eye of millions. What was acceptable
for her as a child is different from what’s appropriate as an adult. As people grow older, their
style , appearance, and personality will vary from who they were. It’s not fair for Charli to be
judged when she is an adult who can make her own choices.

Discussion/Implications

The research on social media's impact, both positive and negative, has crucial lessons for

anyone interested in understanding how it affects people worldwide. This includes teachers,

parents, mental health experts, policymakers, and companies that run social media platforms.
 6

The research I did brings in information from different platforms in order to give a clear picture

of how social media affects individuals’ well-being. By looking at both the positives and

negatives, my paper gives a fair view of the different issues that take place. This can help guide

decisions and actions to make social media better for everyone. If we all do our part to fix it, it’s

possible for social media to become a more beneficial place.

Additionally, the sources I mention give new ideas to explore. For example, I focus on

how social media affects LGBTQ+ youth, showing how it varies for different groups. This helps

us understand social media's effects more fully and includes everyone's experiences. Practically,

my research can be used by teachers and parents to teach young people how to use social media

in a more healthy way. Mental health professionals can use it to help individuals deal with issues

like cyberbullying. Policymakers can use it to make rules that keep social media safe. Companies

can use it to design platforms that make people's well-being a top priority. Looking back on my

research, I see that it's important to carefully check the quality of the studies I include. In the

future, I'll make sure to include a wider range of perspectives and maybe release a survey to

people my age to talk to more people involved. This will help make my research even more

useful and inclusive for everyone to understand in social media's impact.