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You’re scrolling through your Instagram feed, mesmerized by the perfectly curated lives, flawless selfies, and exotic travel destinations. It’s a world of breathtaking beauty and envy-inducing experiences, all just a tap away.
With the increasing popularity of this platform, its users continue to soar. According to Statista, there will be roughly 1.35 billion monthly active users of Meta’s Instagram in 2023, which is expected to touch 1.44 billion monthly active users by 2025.
However, there are some hidden health dangers associated with using this platform.
In this blog, we dive deep into the hidden severe health effects of Instagram, shedding light on the health pitfalls that accompany your digital addiction.
Impact on Mental Well-Being
You may not realize it, but every time you open Instagram, you’re stepping into a world where comparison reigns supreme. As you scroll through carefully crafted posts and picture-perfect lives, it’s natural to start comparing your own life to the highlight reels of others.
The constant quest for validation through likes, comments, and followers can lead to an unhealthy obsession with external validation, where your self-worth becomes tied to the number of likes you receive. According to TorHoerman Law, individuals who actively seek social validation on the platform are at a higher risk of encountering mental health issues.
The adverse health effects of the platform are well-known and advocated by many users and studies. Based on a study, Instagram was identified as the social media platform with the most significant adverse effects on the mental well-being of young individuals.
In a few cases, some individuals suffer extreme health conditions due to its use, compelling them to take legal action. They are choosing to file an Instagram lawsuit as a means to seek compensation for the harm they have endured. These lawsuits aim to shed light on the platform’s potential role in exacerbating mental health problems and hold the platform accountable for its actions.
Body Image Concerns
You scroll through your Instagram feed, bombarded with images of perfectly sculpted bodies, flawless skin, and impossible beauty standards. As you compare yourself to these seemingly flawless representations, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of self-doubt and dissatisfaction with your own body. You may find yourself obsessing over every perceived flaw and striving for an unattainable level of physical perfection.
To spread awareness about its potential impact on self-image, the Wall Street Journal’s September 2021 publication of the Facebook Files exposed the findings of internal research conducted by the platform owner. It revealed that Instagram has a detrimental impact on the body image of teenage girls, with approximately one in three affected by worsened body issues.
The main contributing factor is the unhealthy social comparison fostered by Instagram among teenagers. This revelation indicated how the platform growing usage is directly proportional to the negative body concerns.
Social Isolation
While Instagram is a platform designed for connection and social interaction, paradoxically, it can also contribute to feelings of social isolation. Spending excessive time scrolling through other people’s highlight reels can create a sense of detachment from real-life social interactions.
The pressure to uphold a well-maintained online presence can also contribute to feelings of social isolation. Behind perfectly filtered images and carefully crafted captions, there can be a disconnection from one’s authentic self and a struggle to present a flawless image to the world.
According to a recent study published in ScienceDirect, while social media platforms like Instagram offer opportunities for social connectedness, they also create an environment saturated with social comparisons. This environment can intensify feelings of social isolation, anxiety, and loneliness, particularly among the younger generation, who are the primary users of these platforms.
Studies like these can act as a strong driver for the large-scale change needed to sway users away from spending excessive time on the platform.
Eating Disorders
Instagram’s influence on body image and beauty standards can have profound implications when it comes to eating disorders. The constant exposure to highly curated and idealized images of bodies can distort one’s relationship with food.
The culture of comparison and perfection on the platform can perpetuate dangerous behaviors and attitudes toward food and weight. Users may encounter triggering content, such as pro-anorexia or pro-bulimia communities, which can further exacerbate the risk of developing an eating disorder.
In 2021, Bryn Austin, a professor at Harvard, published an article in The New York Times, shedding light on the increased risk of developing eating disorders among teens who excessively use social media platforms, particularly during the pandemic. The constant exposure to images found online leads to a continual comparison of one’s body, contributing to this increased vulnerability.
According to Austin, this pattern of comparison leads to a negative cycle impacting body image and self-esteem, ultimately making young individuals more inclined to adopt unhealthy weight control behaviors. Her findings make it clear how excessive use of Instagram can lead to eating disorders, which makes one’s life challenging.
Sleep Disruptions
You might find yourself scrolling through Instagram late into the night, unable to tear your eyes away from the captivating content. However, this apparently harmless habit can have detrimental effects on your sleep patterns.
Content consumption on social media can also disrupt sleep quality. The constant stimulation, engagement, and emotional responses triggered by the content can keep your mind active and make it difficult for you to wind down before bedtime.
A recent study found that there are detrimental impacts of using electronic devices on sleep. The findings indicate that late bedtimes, reduced sleep hours, and disturbances in sleep quality are associated with the use of these devices.
The study also highlighted the connection between problematic Internet use and sleep disturbances in adolescents, with problematic Internet users being at a significantly higher risk of experiencing sleep disturbance. These findings call for urgent actions to address and limit the use of social media platforms, which ultimately prevent poor health conditions.
Final Thoughts
This blog explored the dark side of Instagram by delving into the various health pitfalls that lurk beneath the surface of this popular social media platform.
From the impact on mental well-being to body image concerns, social isolation, eating disorders, and sleep disruptions, Instagram’s influence on your lives goes beyond the glossy filters and picture-perfect moments.
However, by shedding light on these health pitfalls, the blog aims to empower you to navigate social media in a healthier way. To do so, you should practice self-awareness, set boundaries, and prioritize your mental well-being.