Social Media and the Society We Create | Annelise Jackson | TEDxClassicalAcademyHS

Introduction

Speaker: Annelise Jackson, a 17-year-old former social media user who reflects on her experiences and findings regarding social media and mental health among teenagers.

  • Observing the escalating mental health issues in adolescents and assessing how social media might exacerbate these problems in various ways.

  • Acknowledging the prevalence of social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr in young people's lives.

The Captivating Nature of Social Media

  • Annelise shares her personal experience with social media, explaining how these platforms are designed to be engaging, often leading users into cycles of excessive screen time.

  • She provides a relatable example illustrating distraction by trending content, such as the viral 'yodeling boy' video, which pulls attention away from more productive activities.

  • Annelise discusses 'call-out culture,' elucidating this term to describe toxic online interactions where users publicly criticize or reprimand individuals or groups, influencing the social dynamics and mental health of users.

Attention Dynamics on Social Media

  • Explore how social media is intentionally crafted to capture user attention, utilizing eye-catching content and interactive features to keep users engaged for extended periods.

  • Insights from Eric B. Preston highlight how algorithms are designed to prioritize posts based on user interaction metrics such as likes, shares, and saves, shaping what content is most visible to users.

  • Social media platforms generate revenue through prolonged user engagement, which is further incentivized by targeted advertisements, leading to a feedback loop of addiction and consumerism.

Political Engagement and Anonymity

  • Discusses the positive aspect of social media as a tool for enabling democratic expression; it provides a venue for users to critique government actions and societal issues freely.

  • Anonymity on these platforms empowers users to vocalize political beliefs without fear of retaliation, offering a sense of security in expressing controversial or dissenting opinions.

  • Annelise also addresses the prevalence of 'cancel culture,' discussing its impacts on celebrities and politicians, where public backlash can lead to significant consequences for individuals based on their social media presence.

Pressure and Toxicity in Online Spaces

  • Annelise describes how social media can propagate unrealistic beauty standards, fostering an environment where comparisons become frequent and detrimental to self-esteem.

  • She shares her personal decision to delete Instagram, citing overwhelming political and social pressures accompanied by feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.

  • The discussion extends to the broader implications of how distorted portrayals of life on social media adversely affect self-perception, particularly within vulnerable teen populations.

Impact on Mental Health

  • Citing a compelling 2017 study on social media’s effects, Annelise discusses how the distortion of body image on these platforms is a significant contributor to eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia.

  • Emphasizes the crucial role parents play in helping teenagers navigate online content, encouraging open discussions about the realities vs. portrayals seen on social media.

Personal Reflection Questions

  • Annelise encourages her audience to engage with their social media experiences by reflecting on questions such as:

    • Do you feel suffocated or insecure when using social media?

    • Is there a desire for more authenticity among your online interactions?

Suggestions for Positive Change

  1. Be Kind: Small acts of kindness can create ripples of positive impact.

    • Encourages readers to offer genuine compliments rather than criticisms, promoting a more supportive online environment.

  2. Be Candid: Advocates for honesty in personal online posts, fostering an atmosphere of relatability and safety for users.

    • Emphasizes respect for individuals who opt not to share their lives openly online.

  3. Think Before You Post or Read: Urges users to consider multiple perspectives before forming opinions.

    • Highlights the necessity of critical thinking in processing political or celebrity news, rather than reacting impulsively.

  4. The Rule of Ten: A reflective tool encouraging individuals to assess their feelings about a post after 10 seconds, 10 minutes, hours, days, and ultimately years.

    • Stresses the importance of evaluating whether you will feel pride or regret over past social media actions.

Conclusion

  • Annelise concludes with a powerful call to action, urging her audience to contemplate the lasting impacts of their personal actions and contributions on social media.

  • Encouragement to adopt a positive and constructive approach to interactions on these platforms, fostering a more inclusive and supportive online community.