Social media is used to post, tweet, share, like, friend, unfriend, block, and tag photos. This virtual playground has created an even easier way for people to get caught up in the comparison game. Many of these photos are taken under optimal circumstances and by people with access to personal trainers, make-up artists, and wardrobe stylists. After the pictures are taken they are enhanced with software like Photoshop to shave off pounds, erase blemishes, and change the lighting.

 

They are used to represent an "ideal" self or situation. You're not going to find a lot of self-published photographs of someone looking terrible. You are going to see what they WANT you to see. It's important to encourage youth not to create their online image based on how they want others to think of them. 

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It's easy to get caught up in the online popularity contests. A youth's place on the social totem pole can be determined by watching the number of likes and dislikes they get for a post, whether they are tagged in party pictures, and how many followers they keep. This opens them up for criticism, ridicule, and cyber-bullying. Often the worst comments come from people they don't even know.

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Social media can be a lot of fun and a great way to communicate with friends and family. People can find others who share their interests, have important discussions, and be entertained. It should never be used as a way to tear people down or create isolation, but as a way to connect with others.

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