(Posted on 4th September but on another site)
As social media continues to play a crucial role in our lives, it enables identity expression, exploration, and experimentation. Maintaining a social media account can be entertaining yet stressful for some. With comments and likes quantifying influential power and gaining affirmation, social media increases a person’s exposure to body shaming, promotion of body obsessions, comparisons and competition in general. Almost everyone tries to put the best version of themselves on social media platforms and differences between our “real” and online identities can shape not only what others think of us but also our self-perceptions, creating an avatar. Our social media selves do not show all the aspects of our personalities, usually focusing on the universal approved traits and characteristics and not the flaws. Online avatars can be the ideal way a person want to represent themselves which often effects other online followers and their mental health. However, this is not true for everyone. As an aspiring makeup artist, I love social media. I get to post different looks online which showcase my makeup artistry and aesthetics. Likes and comments motivate me to develop my existing skill set. Therefore, for some it’s an escape and for some its freedom of expression. For me, its the latter.
