A healthier relationship with social media.
Social media has become a defining part of growing up in the twenty-first century. For some of us, it is a platform for positive exchange, ideas and sharing; for some, it becomes a virtual competition where whoever has more likes automatically wins.
For most of us, social media is both.
We have a complicated relationship with social media: it is not one-dimensional. It can foster comparison, a drive for validation and pressure to perform in a certain way. All the while, it can enable us to engage with others, learn something unfamiliar, find communities and express something that may not otherwise have been seen.
My name is Andrea, and my experience of social media began when the COVID-19 pandemic started. I had freshly transferred to a middle school and was in the process of making friends when lockdown started. As an only child, I longed for social interaction. Seeing that I could not even step out of my house, I resorted to social media.
To say that my first interaction with social media was a magical experience is an understatement. I was fascinated with this new world I had discovered: I thought I had found a solution. Snapchat filters that gave me dog ears, baking tutorials on Instagram, and silly dances on TikTok, all while being able to share them with my friends. I was able to talk to my friends as soon as I woke up, share funny dog videos in the afternoon and even talk to them right before I went to bed.
My story: Why I created this book
Over time, something changed. I became increasingly awkward during face-to-face interactions, as most of my conversations were through a screen. Taking photos felt like an obligation without the Snapchat filters. I became more self-conscious about my appearance, while subconsciously comparing myself to other people.
However, social media is not fully negative.
Through social media, I found my passion for baking, art and music. I’ve encountered supportive communities that share my interests, passions and views. It has helped me discover parts of myself, rather than just making me feel insecure about myself.
That paradox – of both sides of social media integrating with each other – prompted me to research the psychology behind the algorithms and mechanisms behind the platforms.