Is Social Media Defining Self-worth?

This article explores how social media influences self-worth, examining the psychological impact of likes, comparisons, and digital validation on individual identity and mental health.

Table of Contents

Context: Social media’s pervasive influence on self-worth, especially among youth, is a growing concern in India and globally

Current Usage Trends in India

India’s digital landscape has grown dramatically. As of early 2024 there were roughly 462 million social media users in India (about 32% of the population).
In total, 886 million Indians (≈58% of the population) were internet users by end-2024. Notably, 55% of internet users now live in rural areas, reflecting rapid rural adoption.
Smartphones dominate access: Indians spend on average about 2h 28m daily on social apps and nearly 3h 57m on mobile internet.
Popular platforms include YouTube and Facebook (hundreds of millions of users) and fast-growing Instagram (over 360 million users by 2024).

Challenges Associated

Curated perfection

Influencers project “curated perfection” (flawlessly styled lives) that many viewers internalize.

Eg., the popular “morning routine” genre features one fitness influencer’s 3:52 AM routine (including journaling, ice baths, mouth-taping, etc.) went viral with 668 million views, but was widely mocked as “unrealistic”.
This reflects how social media can set absurd benchmarks: young users see content emphasizing aesthetic results (low body fat, perfect schedules) and compare themselves unfavorably.

Algorithmic echo chambers

Platforms tend to show users more of what they interact with (e.g., a diet video-watcher will see more weight-loss tips).

This creates filter bubbles of idealized content.
Eg., In India’s context, some analysts observe that leading influencers mostly come from urban, upper-class backgrounds and promote a homogenized “modern” lifestyle.
- Those images of luxury and success (designer clothes, exotic travel, skinny bodies) can feel out of reach to average teens, reinforcing feelings of relative deprivation.

Influencer impact

The “looking-glass self” effect is strong: youths absorb feedback from online peers and stars.

A Bengaluru child psychologist notes that identities are increasingly tied to physical appeal online – e.g. gym bodies are seen as solutions to emotional problems.
When influencers showcase quick “fixes” (fitness hacks, diet plans) and glamorous outcomes, impressionable young followers may tie their self-worth to achieving similar results.

Mental Health Effects

A survey of Indian adolescents found that many Indian adolescents and young adults experience heightened anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem linked to social media pressures, including the fear of missing out (FOMO) and compulsive checking.
- Participants also reported sleep disruptions.
Body image issues are prevalent among Indian youth who are exposed to filtered and seemingly perfect bodies and lifestyles online, setting unattainable standards.
- A 2025 review of Instagram use indicated that teenagers who are exposed to polished “ideal” images online often experience body dissatisfaction and reduced self-worth.
- Teenage girls often experience this more acutely, spending more time editing photos and reporting higher levels of social media anxiety compared to boys.
Over 65% of Indian teens report feeling inadequate when comparing themselves to influencers or peers online.
Clinicians in India caution that these issues are amplified by the design of social media platforms, such as constant notifications and endless feeds, as well as the tendency for social comparison.

Illustrative Cases and Events

Blue Whale Challenge: In April 2024, an Indian student in the USA died by suicide after reportedly playing the Blue Whale Challenge, a dangerous online “suicide game” that had previously prompted government warnings.
- This case highlights the potentially fatal consequences of viral online challenges.
Pranshu (Instagram influencer): In late 2023, a 16-year-old transgender boy from Ujjain who had a beauty Instagram account died by suicide.
- He had faced weeks of homophobic trolling and cyberbullying, including comments urging him to take his own life, following his posts featuring him in make-up and traditional Indian attire.
Misha Aggarwal (influencer): In May 2025, the suicide of a 28-year-old Mumbai influencer who posted upbeat beauty videos shocked her followers.
- Her Instagram comments reportedly revealed anxiety, and she apparently became depressed after experiencing a sudden decline in followers and likes.
- Reports indicated she suffered from anxiety, self-doubt, and depression linked to the need for social media validation.
Cyberbullying and Harassment: Media reports have emphasized the deadly potential of cyberbullying.
- Following Pranshu’s death, LGBTQ activists urged Meta, Instagram’s parent company, to take stronger action against queerphobic cyberbullying.
Body Image Pressures on Boys: In 2024, child psychiatrists in Bengaluru cautioned parents about new pressures faced by boys, citing studies that show how online “alpha-male” body ideals and expectations for muscular physiques with flat abdomens can significantly harm boys’ self-esteem.

Mitigation Strategies and Solutions

Platform-level interventions: Social media companies can be nudged to redesign features that drive comparison.
- For example, experimenting with hiding “like” counts and adding screen-time reminders has been proposed.
Parental engagement: Open family communication is key.
- Rather than strict spying on kids’ phones, parents are encouraged to talk openly about online content.
- Guides like the Hyderabad Police’s “Digital Parenting” advise setting clear but fair rules (e.g. no phones at dinner, limits on nighttime use) and explaining the reasons behind them.
School and community programs: Educators can incorporate digital literacy and emotional resilience into the curriculum.
- Introducing “digital detox” periods (phone-free classes or device drop-off) has shown benefits: Indian schools that banned phones report better attention spans.
- Counselors and peer-support groups (Social & Emotional Learning programs) help students process online stress and build offline friendships.
Content creation norms: Influencers and users alike can shift culture by promoting authenticity.
- Campaigns emphasizing body positivity and media literacy (e.g. National campaigns, NGOs) aim to teach youth that online images are often misleading.
Professional support: Teenagers showing signs of anxiety or depression should be connected to mental health services.
- Child psychologists urge schools to have counselors on staff.
- Some experts have called for training “influencer-coaches” – much like sports coaches – to guide content creators on psychological well-being.