Nirjhar Kumar Patel
In today’s digital world, social media platforms like Instagram have become a big part of everyday life, especially for young people. While Instagram and similar apps allows for creativity and helps people stay connected, it also raises some important concerns. Issues like the prevalence of inappropriate content, the impact of fast-paced, attention-grabbing reels, and the overwhelming amount of information can affect mental health and cognitive function, especially among youths. This article delves into these concerns and examines how they might impact young minds.
The prevalence of vulgar and half-naked content
Instagram being a visual medium, has become a go-to platform for sharing images and videos. However, the platform has also seen a rise in content that many consider vulgar or inappropriate. People follow each other and start sharing the same content that suits their mindsets beliefs and fancies. So along with good content vulgar content also gets approval and unfortunately it also reaches to the audience that should not be subject to this especially teenagers. Explicit language, sexually suggestive content, violations of community guidelines, controversial hashtags and, overtly sexualized memes or jokes are typical examples of this. One instance of this can be complaints filed against actresses like Poonam Pandey and Sherlyn Chopra, as they have been known for posting provocative content. Now this may be a subject for debate and freedom of speech, but it’s not suitable for all audiences, there is no denial on this fact.
According to a 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center, nearly 60% of teens reported encountering inappropriate or sexually suggestive content on social media platforms, including Instagram. This exposure to half-naked or sexually suggestive images can have significant psychological impacts. Studies indicate that frequent exposure to such content can distort body image perceptions and contribute to unrealistic beauty standards. For instance, research published in the ‘Journal of Adolescent Health’ in 2023 found that exposure to idealized body images on social media can lead to increased body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem among adolescents.
This is just the tip of the iceberg! In addition, normalization of sexualized content can influence young people’s attitude toward sex and relationships. People who engage in such content are more likely to exhibit risky sexual behaviours and hold perceptions of intimacy and consent, which is skewed. So, awareness and training towards such sensitive issue must be prioritized.
Attention span and impact of reels
Another significant concern is the effect of Instagram’s short-form video content, such as reels and stories, on attention span. While this exists on Facebook and youtube as well, the problem is that Instagram focuses solely on reels. The platform’s design has been built in such a way that it encourages users to scroll through a continuous stream of quick, engaging videos. Research conducted by the University of California, Irvine, in 2023 found that the average attention span has decreased by nearly 25% over the past decade, with social media consumption being a major contributing factor. When the brain is bombarded with excessive amounts of information, it becomes difficult to process and retain meaningful content. A study published in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications in 2023 highlighted that excessive exposure to short-form videos can impair the brain’s ability to focus on longer tasks and complex problem-solving.
People, especially youths, today waste so much time in mindless scrolling thinking the “next reel” will be better, and only a few seconds more, which neither satisfies them also creates issues like feeling drained, exhausted, unproductive etc. So judicious use of time and peace of mind becomes a big concern. The challenging things that help and develop us, like reading, playing, picking up a hobby, etc. are not preferred as they put a strain on our mind which we tend to avoid. Not forget the ads we see and things we buy and realize after a day that we don’t even need them. So, are we improving as a human being? That’s an issue that needs to be discussed in more detail. At the same time, meaningful content is often ignored as they are too “long” or “time consuming”. Due to this reel culture, many young people don’t even have enough patience to sit and watch a movie, even if the movie is good.
Examples and Case Studies
Several high-profile cases illustrate the impact of Instagram on youth. For example, in 2022, the suicide of a teenager in India was linked to severe body image issues exacerbated by social media. The teen was reportedly distressed by the unrealistic beauty standards and comparisons fueled by Instagram influencers and celebrities.
Fake news spread easily due to reels and issues like mob lynching have become a reality now.
In the U.S., a 2023 survey by the National Institute of Mental Health found that teenagers who spent more than three hours a day on social media were 50% more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety compared to those with limited social media use. Instagram was specifically noted for its role in exacerbating these issues due to its focus on visual content and user engagement metrics. Mental health and physical health are getting hampered, more and more.
Summary
Remember the tagline “Modern problems require modern solutions”? The issue of inappropriate content and excessive skin exposure on social media demands fresh approaches for resolution. It’s crucial to raise awareness and educate people on this matter. Tech giants such as Meta must step up and take their responsibility seriously and it is important that parents, educational institutions and governments address this issue as well. While social media has connected people and helped us in the sharing of new ideas and experiences, it has also exposed us to content that can cause a lot of damage to us in the long run. Young people should also remember to be conscious of what they feed their minds, remembering that it has real consequences!
