Page 10 - MMP Project Lauren Pratt 6536544

IMPACT Of SOCIAL MEDIA on USERs
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Although social media is a great way to express oneself and maintain social connections, like anything, there are some implications. One of the most apparent is the impact it can have on an individual’s mental health. In fact, studies suggest that spending more than two hours a day on social platforms can lead to higher psychological distress, such as anxiety, depression, and stress (Mackson et. al., 2019).
Whether they are aware of it or not, influencers tend to have a large contributing factor to these mental health impacts. As a Emma, Molly-Mae, and Krissy fan, there is no doubt in my mind that these three ladies have any intentions of creating psychological distress on their fans. However, here are some ways that their content may unintentionally do so.
EMMA CHAMBERLAIN
As previously stated, Emma is considered to be one of the youngest, most successful influencers of our time. Her many partnerships with prominent brands and her almost instantaneous rise to fame can arguably encourage social comparison. The theory of social comparisons (proposed by Leon Festinger) suggests that we as humans have an instinctive drive to compare our attributes and abilities to those of others (Festinger, 1954).
The demographic of Emma’s fans are mainly adolescents and young adults (around the same age as her). These individuals may feel as though because their lives do not look like hers, they are not doing something right. Personally, as a fan of Emma’s and the same age as her, I have found myself at times envious of her impressive lifestyle. Although she does not flaunt, it is hard not to compare oneself to her and wonder how nice it must be.