5 ways social media makes you hate yourself

Social Media represents a powerful influence on the entire world population, few are those who remain indifferent to this trend. All social networks, Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, among others are designed to capture the user's full attention. Each social network distorts reality in its own way and that generates harm to users.

Here are five ways social media makes you hate yourself.

#1.You become something you are not

Many users create a distorted representation of themselves on social networks. When the time comes to compare their real image with the one they project in the digital realm, a deep dissatisfaction arises towards their own person. This phenomenon is particularly common among young people. In the Internet and social networking environment, presence is critical; if you are not online, you don't seem to exist. This leads to the need to build an image or profile that generates acceptance and success.

Selfies and filters become key tools for many to stand out in this digital world. Through this process, the perception of oneself and even one's identity can be completely altered. One of the factors that leads an adolescent to develop self-hatred is the tendency to identify only with their virtual image, dismissing their reality. They accept and value themselves only through the use of filters.

#2.You create poor quality bonds

Some people choose to make emotional attachments on various social platforms, often resulting in deep disappointments. Technology has intensified these damaging dynamics. Thus, one of the ways in which social networks can foster dislike of oneself is through regret for having placed trust in someone.

There are, for example, friendships that are not genuine. Individuals who, for a time, become our daily references and support, only to then suddenly disappear. This can lead to a sense of personal discomfort for having hastily placed our trust in someone you have never even met in person.

#3.Fake news

On numerous occasions, people are victims of fake news. In addition, there are times when, without realizing it, we fall for a scam or hoax that originated in a Facebook group.

The experience of having been deceived not only causes frustration, but it is also common to experience personal discomfort for having been so gullible in believing in that publication.

#4.You are envious

Social networks function as connections that allow us to observe the lives of others, albeit often through numerous filters. On a daily basis, items are presented to us with which people can identify or which people wish to possess. This desire to acquire something stimulates buying behavior. In this context, Instagram stands out as the platform that most provokes in users the emotion of envy, as most do not carry out a critical analysis that allows them to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Young people's self-esteem can be affected by social comparison, leading them to question their physical appearance, their lifestyle and every aspect of their identity. Indeed, this has been a reality. Today, many teens believe that influencers enjoy a life superior to their own, leading to constant feelings of self-loathing.

#5.You don't have the willpower to leave social media

Social networks deprive users of essential elements of their individuality, such as time, productivity and personal judgment. Hours are absurdly wasted when using platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. It is well known that, at times, these networks can negatively affect mood, generating days filled with frustration and hatred. There is an awareness that much of what is presented is misleading, showing fictitious happiness and unattainable perfection.

Despite this, people continue to feel the need to attend to every notification, constantly checking “likes” and other notices. In fact, one of the ways in which social networks encourage self-loathing is by making evident the dependence on them. However, acknowledging this situation is a positive step. It acts as a wake-up call, a warning system that invites reflection on the need for a more conscious use of these tools. The key lies in turning them into a simple entertainment within the daily routine, instead of allowing them to become a way of life.