Social media is part of our daily lives. We scroll between classes, post on the weekends, and stay up way too late watching videos. But behind the entertainment, there can be a quiet effect that many people don’t talk about: how it makes us feel about ourselves.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing your life to what you see online—perfect bodies, expensive outfits and exciting trips—because the images appear everywhere. Even when we know that people have filtered, edited, or staged these posts, it still affects how we view ourselves. Without realizing it, we start questioning whether we’re good enough or successful enough.
Likes, comments, and views can also become tied to our self-confidence. When we post on social media, we can catch ourselves going back to a post over and over again to see updates with likes and comments. But when the post doesn’t get much attention, it can feel like a personal failure. Over time, this can quietly wear down our self-esteem, especially when social media becomes a place of constant comparison. With that said, I am not putting all of the blame on social media but
rather on how we engage with it. Choosing who we follow, limiting screen time, and reminding ourselves that online life isn’t real life can make a big difference. So does social media affect self-esteem? It’s not always obvious, but the impact is there. The more aware that we are, the more power we have to protect our mental health.
