One of the effects that occur is that social media use often leads students to make indirect social comparisons. When viewing various posts about other people’s achievements, appearances, and lifestyles, students can feel that others’ lives seem better than their own. In fact, content shared on social media often only shows the best parts of someone’s life.
Apart from that, the culture of showing off that is developing on social media can also influence the way students evaluate themselves. When students continue to see other people’s success or achievements, they can feel like they are less capable or not successful enough. These feelings can cause feelings of insecurity and emotional stress. Furthermore, social media indirectly forms a certain image of standards of success and happiness. A lot of content shows lives that appear perfect, so students need to reach these standards to be considered successful by their social environment.
Based on this discussion, it can be understood that the culture of showing off has created new social pressures for students. Unrealistic digital standards make many students feel like they are not good enough and end up experiencing self-confidence problems. This shows that social media is not only a communication tool, but also a space that can influence the psychological condition of its users.
