Social media pressures on teenagers and how to handle them

The advent of social media has redefined the way we view success. The traditional journey of finishing school, completing higher studies, getting a professional degree, surviving the probation period, acquiring skills and then flourishing over a period of several years, have been significantly shortened by the social media where a content creator can get “viral” overnight and become popular.It also offers a massive amount of money in a very short span of time which is tempting enough for any aspiring youth to try their hands on social media content creation. We have witnessed thousands of “rags to riches” stories that may lure us into the digital world. Into the world of name, fame, success and money in a short span of time.
What’s more, social media offers huge independence and flexibility for content creators. Digital content can be from education to entertainment and everything in between. If they are unique, interesting and packaged with a captivating presentation style, they will reach millions. Therefore, Like, comment, share and subscribe are the new parameters of success.
However, success comes with a price and for thousands of online creators it is costing mental sanity.

Not everyone is emotionally equipped to handle harsh criticism. Most importantly, when the defamation is on a public platform, open to a global audience. The shame and humiliation suffered by some of the content creators sometimes go beyond their threshold of tolerance. They choose to terminate their lives instead of terminating the social media account. They are already too invested in this media, too involved and too dependent on “comments” for their self-validation.
It is absolutely important for all content creators to understand and remember that they will be dealing with highly opinionated people, and a bigger set of ill-mannered audience who has the liberty to hide behind fake profiles or names and can literally spit venom at the creator.

Many times the content creators are just subjected to displaced anger where the audience, so full with their own failure and negativity come to relieve their frustrations by using foul, ruthless, demeaning and humiliating comments. For them, it’s a release of their own pent up negative emotions.



In the digital world, where the audience reactions, criticisms, comments and feedback are uncontrollable factors, the content creators must develop the maturity and understanding that not everything is about them. It is about the audience’s own shortcomings and negativity as well. It costs them nothing to post a negative comment or raw feedback which can, and most often will give sleepless nights, depression and anxiety to the creators.
The youth must approach this social media with caution and care that they will be exposed to such harshness that may go beyond their tolerance. It would be wise for the youth to focus on education, knowledge and skills that matters the most at their age. Instagram, reels, Facebook, YouTube are just ways to express oneself. Life is much bigger and beyond those. The young minds must also learn to pick their own battles and not to engage with every comment that is posted. It is difficult to teach the audience to keep their comments respectful. It is much easier to delete or hide unwanted negativity or turn them off totally if possible. If at all making a social media career is important, one should focus on authenticity, creativity, uniqueness and pure entertainment. They should put their best and move on with making it better. But first, it is important to put on that “emotional helmet” to protect oneself from psychological injuries and accidents.
By Dr. Sreystha Beppari, Consultant Psychologist, Apollo Clinic , Viman Nagar