Social media has revolutionized how people socialize and interact with one another. It allows individuals to connect and share their lives with the world.

With the rise of social media influencers and celebrities, fame, and popularity have become highly valued commodities. However, chasing popularity has its risks, especially to mental health.

Obsessing over likes and followers

The pursuit of fame and popularity can lead to an unhealthy obsession with likes, comments, and followers. Social media users can become addicted to these metrics and base their self-worth too heavily on them.

Obsessive monitoring of likes and followers can lead to feelings of disappointment, inadequacy, and low self-esteem when these metrics drop, which can have negative implications on mental health.

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

Seeing others achieve social media success can evoke feelings of FOMO and pressure to keep up with the latest trends. Social media has amplified feelings of inadequacy and the need to constantly compare oneself to others.

The fear of missing out can lead individuals to spend excessive amounts of time and money trying to obtain popularity and status, leading to added stress and pressure.

Cyberbullying and online hate

Popularity brings with it increased visibility and the potential for public scrutiny. Social media users are increasingly vulnerable to cyberbullying, online hate and negative comments.

The anonymity of the internet can embolden individuals to make hurtful statements that they would not make in person. Cyberbullying and online hate can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicide in extreme cases.

Popularity on social media platforms can be a measure of social status, leading to unrealistic comparisons and social pressure.

It is easy to compare oneself to others and develop feelings of inadequacy when observing the seemingly perfect lives of others. Social pressure to maintain a certain image online can lead to feelings of anxiety and the constant need to present a false image of oneself. This pressure can contribute to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.

Lack of privacy and online harassment

Increased visibility can lead to a lack of privacy, with some social media users sharing personal information and details that can leave them vulnerable to online harassment.

Harassment, stalking, and even identity theft are all real risks associated with online activity. These threats can cause anxiety and distress, and lead individuals to restrict their online presence, which may result in isolation and a lack of social connections, thereby negatively impacting mental health.

Pressure to maintain a constant online presence

Popularity on social media platforms often requires a constant online presence to remain relevant.

This can lead to a blurring of boundaries between online and offline life, with individuals spending more time focused on their online personas and less time engaging in real-life experiences. The pressure to maintain a constant online presence takes an emotional toll by increasing stress and anxiety.

Impact on real-life relationships

The pursuit of popularity on social media can lead to a prioritization of online relationships over real-life relationships.

The constant need to create, post, and share content can draw users away from important relationships, thereby leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. In some cases, online relationships can displace real-life relationships altogether, resulting in a lack of meaningful human connections and impacting on mental health.

Conclusion

Chasing popularity on social media platforms can lead to negative impacts on mental health.

The obsessive focus on likes and followers, fear of missing out, cyberbullying and online hate, unrealistic comparisons, lack of privacy, maintaining a constant online presence, and impacts on real-life relationships can all combine to exacerbate mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. It’s essential that individuals take measures to protect their mental health while engaging in social media activity, such as setting boundaries, cultivating real-life relationships, limiting screen time, and engaging in self-care activities.