The Impact of Social Media Upon Self Esteem

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At some point in our lives, each of us has let others’ opinions about us influence our perception of ourselves. Whether you’re feeling sad because of a spat with a friend, or elated because of a compliment from your boss on a job well done, you are allowing others’ opinions of you to influence how you feel about yourself.

For many people, young adulthood is when they are most vulnerable to this type of mental process. Caught in the purgatory between childhood and adulthood, young adults often find themselves unsure about almost everything: careers, relationships, and, most importantly, themselves. After living almost two decades as a child in the eyes of society, young adulthood is a time to figure out who you are and who you want to be. These choices differ by the individual, but one desire remains universal: No matter who you think you are, everybody wants to be well-liked and respected.

In the past, young adults would figure themselves on their own terms. They were free to make mistakes and grow in their own way. They were able to let things go without fear that a past slip-up could come back to haunt them.

The world is different now. Thanks to recent advances in technology and the Internet, it could be argued that we are much more social beings. If we need feedback on something, it can be attained in seconds. While this concept does present many possible benefits, there are many disadvantages.

Say an aspiring artist creates what she thinks could be her best masterpiece yet, an intricate self-portrait painted on a colorful canvas. Like most artists, she wants others to appreciate her piece, so she posts it on her personal blog. Within minutes, several people comment to express disapproval of the piece, offering opinions o...

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