Over the past decade, it's no secret that social media has turned into a business more than ever before. It's all about monetary ads and algorithms- which never even seem to make sense! It can begin to feel overwhelming when every few months there's a new trend, dance, or challenge surfacing on the internet. It can even sometimes feel like if you don't get a certain amount of likes or have a certain amount of followers then you don't matter in the eyes of the world.

Growing up, I remember when Instagram and social media used to be casual. Where the aesthetic of the page, the number of likes, and how many engagements didn't matter. When the only people who were verified were celebrities and professional athletes. Man, those were the days, right?

Although, as social media continues to grow, many people see it in a positive light and that it's sole purpose is to bring the community together and connect with others instantly all over the world. And yes this may be true for some, however, not for everyone. As being part of Gen Z, I can vouch social media has been a huge influence on our generation's mental state. So often it can be a leading reason to someone having low self-esteem, feels bullied or threatened, and can even lead to anxiety or depression.

Chances are when someone posts new content, it's always the good stuff and NEVER the bad. And because of this, it's very easy to find ourselves comparing our situation to theirs- it can even be subconscious! Personally, so many times throughout the day I tend to catch myself mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. And almost every time it feels as though everyone who posts has it "better" than me. A "better" and more exciting life, "better" friends, "better" bodies, a "better" car, "better" relationship, more money- whatever it is, it always appears "better" than my circumstance.

Exposing ourselves to this false reality can make it incredibly easy to immediately think negatively about our current situation. Often, we begin to feel jealous, left out (Yes, FOMO is real, especially thanks to COVID), and less worthy. We begin to fall into the cycle of desperately caring what others think about us and relate it to our self-worth. It's just not healthy!

It's apparent the pressure social media brings can still make an individual feel this way and that it doesn't just occur in teens but rather people of all ages. As technology only continues to evolve and improve, it's extremely important to encourage yourself and others to get out of this cycle of self-destruction. Becoming aware of this unhealthy pattern can help us identify when our feelings are leading an emotional response. It's normal to take a break and delete the app for a few days! We're a generation where discussing our mental health is acceptable and it's time to normalize that we ALL have flaws. It's truly what makes us beautiful and special to this world.