By Today, almost everyone has an Instagram profile, whether they use it actively or sporadically. That establishes the reinforcing nature of social media. Using it activates your brain’s reward center by releasing dopamine. It is a ‘feel-good chemical’ connected with enjoyable activities like social interaction and consuming tasty food. However, social media has been designed in a way that it is addictive and can lead to depression and anxiety in teens.
Sometime back, Instagram made headlines for hiding ‘likes’ to reduce comparisons and negative feelings linked with being popular. But has this step been successful in fighting against mental health challenges? Or are they just another band-aid solution?
Jacqueline Sperling, PhD, a psychologist at McLean Hospital, says that it can be looked upon as a baby step in the correct direction. She further added that, despite this initiative, the problem of self-comparison and anxiety exists. And that results in tension and various other mental health issues.
In this article, we will explain how using Instagram can lead to stress and create body and self-image issues in teens. We will also share how affected individuals can seek legal action and get compensated.
Instagram and Anxiety: Is There a Link?
Anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem–these are some ways social media affects teens, according to a new federal lawsuit. In October 2023, The Spokesman-Review reported that Washington State had declared that along with various other states, it had also sued Meta (the parent company of Instagram and Facebook) for increasing mental health issues by developing products that are addictive for users.
The lawsuit claims that Meta had hidden the sneaky ways in which Instagram exploits and manipulates teens. As a result, they fall into a vicious loop of using the app unendingly. Attorneys general across the party lines from nearly 32 states are part of this suit. The District of Columbia and eight other states also declared that they had filed Instagram lawsuits.
There are several ways in which Instagram can lead to anxiety primarily in teens and others. For humans to be mentally healthy, stable, and balanced, they require in-person contact and conversation. It’s fun to converse with a person online. But nothing elevates your mood better than eye-to-eye contact with a person you like or want to connect with.
By giving more importance to social media browsing over in-person interactions, you will develop and aggravate mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
Cyberbullying is another way in which teens face acute emotional trauma that leads to increased nervousness and stress. Today, close to 10% of teens have reported cyberbullying. Many have also been subjected to rude and offensive comments. People have used social media to spread unwanted rumors and insult teens, leaving them with emotional scars.
Since teens don’t know how to process such experiences and share them with their parents, they suffer in silence. Therefore, parents must take remedial steps when they notice the initial symptoms of social media side effects. Some of the early signs are social isolation, anger issues, skipping meals, poor grades in academics, and bouts of sadness.
Can Instagram Cause Self-Image Issues?
Instagram has also been the reason teen girls feel negatively about the way they look and develop body and self-image issues. Olivia Hilton, The Community School junior in Spokane, had a tragic experience with Instagram. She was 13 when she started using this social media platform, and her mental health aggravated within a few months.
When she was a freshman in high school, she suffered from an eating disorder, and she blamed Instagram for it. Hilton said that she came across images of skinny people daily that got ingrained in her brain and started affecting her. Since she was on Instagram for almost 11 hours a day, she was badly affected. Soon, her academic performance declined as she received poor grades.
She reported feeling better after uninstalling Instagram and taking therapy for seven months. There are close to 22 million teens in the United States who actively use Instagram daily and perhaps develop body image issues like Hilton.
It is therefore necessary for teens to identify the illusions that Instagram creates about body and self-image. That way, they will stop feeling inadequate within and save themselves from self-comparison and self-loathing.
Navigating the Legal Path
Many teens, like Olivia, have suffered because of social media use and its side effects. At times, the side effects don’t cost much, and your teen can tackle it. But if you find your teen’s academic life is deteriorating and they are developing mental health issues, it’s time to take legal action.
According to TruLaw, you must consult a lawyer to get clarity on your legal path. Once you share your story with a lawyer, they can determine whether you qualify for a lawsuit. After that, they will study every piece of evidence you have and use it to develop a strong case to attain the compensatory amount. You can use it to cover the damages you’ve endured.
You must work in cooperation with your lawyer and follow what they say. Even though situations might turn challenging, you should not act aggressively, as that can ruin your chances of getting fair compensation. Also, know that your settlement payout will vary as it depends on your suffering, which will not be the same as others.
In conclusion, while Instagram has helped people connect and bond with others, it has also caused much damage to teen mental health. It has resulted in a host of problems that include anxiety, negative body image, depression, and cyberbullying. If you or anyone you know has suffered from these, it is essential to take legal action. Not only will it help to get you the justice you need, but it will also raise awareness about the issue and ultimately resolve it.