Last month, a popular social media content creator Misha Agrawal died by suicide. Her family revealed that the influencer was deeply depressed when her followers started decreasing. She was distraught and felt worthless even after gaining loving fans. A statement by her sister stating, “Instagram is not real life and followers are not real love,” should be an eye-opener for social media users.
Video blogging, or vlogging, has become an increasingly popular form of content creation in recent years. With the rise of platforms like YouTube and social media, anyone with a camera and an internet connection can become a vlogger and share their stories with the world. While vlogging offers a platform for self-expression and creativity, it is crucial to acknowledge the complex and often hidden dangers that lurk beneath the surface. The anonymity of the internet often brings out the worst in some individuals. Vloggers are not only susceptible to cyberbullying, hate comments, and trolling, which can have severe emotional and psychological effects but also land into a dangerous obsession with online validation, affecting one’s self-esteem and mental well-being. As influencer-driven content fuels lifestyle envy and social anxiety, online personas are leading themselves to negative self-comparison and a feeling of isolation when excessive vlogging lead to a reduction in real-world social interactions.
A recent study by the University of Portsmouth highlighted issues such as misinformation, endorsement of dangerous products, unrealistic beauty standards, the fostering of a comparison culture, deceptive consumption, and privacy risks. This is because content creators are driven by the pursuit of financial gain rather than genuine expression. As content creators are busy revolutionising the market, shaping consumer behaviour, brand strategies, and even societal norms, viewers will engage in unhealthy comparisons. They may feel inadequate when measuring their lives against those portrayed in vlogs, potentially leading to feelings of depression, low self-esteem, and a sense of underachievement.
From privacy concerns, mental health and ethics social platforms weren’t built to care for mental health, they were built to keep you scrolling experts say. For content creators, social media is built for them to keep up with changing algorithms and posting frequencies. Therefore it is important for content creators and viewers to approach social media with caution, emphasising responsible content creation, digital literacy, and a healthy balance between the real and the filters. It is essential for the stakeholders to promote critical thinking to navigate the world of social media safely and discerningly and the importance of balancing online activities with real-world experiences.
