Today we have a blog post from one of our Master’s level interns, Jillian Young, about social media. Jillian strives to honor each client’s unique story, approaching therapy with compassion, curiosity, and genuine presence.
She believes that therapy is most impactful when it feels like a real connection—one where you feel comfortable, understood, and move at a pace that feels right for you. Her style is both warm and grounded, offering steady support, gentle encouragement, and thoughtful structure when it’s needed most.
She creates a safe space where clients can be honest about the hard things, feel supported through the process, and even find moments of lightness along the way. Together, she will help you explore what matters most to you, building insight, resilience, and a path toward a life that feels more authentic, aligned, and meaningful.
How Social Media Is Quietly Impacting Your Self-Worth
We live in a world where we have access to see what others are doing at any given moment. Social media allows us to keep up with friends, celebrate milestones, and stay in contact in real time. While these platforms create connections, they can also quietly influence how we see ourselves.
The impact is subtle and starts to gradually build over time. The endless scrolling on social media begins a spiral of comparison, pressure, and the feeling that everyone is doing better or is happier than you are. Over time these thoughts can impact our self-esteem, confidence, and overall mental health.
The Comparison Trap
Social media is designed to capture your attention in an instant. It often places us in environments where comparison happens automatically. Within seconds of opening an app, we may see fitness transformations, vacations, relationship milestones, promotions, and other highlights from people’s lives.
Even though you may logically understand that these posts are curated highlights of someone’s life, our brains absorb them emotionally. This can create a narrative that says: “I’m behind, I should be doing more. Why don’t I look like that? Why doesn’t my life look like that?” – which can harm one’s self-worth.
If you find yourself comparing your life to what you see online, I want you to know that this is a common human experience. Social media is designed to capture attention and comparison often happens automatically. Noticing it without judgment is the first step toward changing it. These thoughts do not mean there is something wrong with you; they simply reflect the pressures of living in a highly connected digital world.
Why Social Media Has Such a Strong Influence On Mental Health
We, as humans, are naturally wired for belonging and connection. Social media intensifies this by exposing us to thousands of people in a single day — far beyond what our minds were designed to process.
When we are constantly evaluating where we stand socially, emotionally, physically, or professionally, it can increase anxiety, lower self-esteem, and contribute to feelings of loneliness, body image concerns, and symptoms of depression.
Research has shown that frequent social comparison can negatively impact life satisfaction and emotional well-being. Because social media often highlights the best moments of people’s lives, it can create a distorted perception of reality and leave us feeling like we are falling short.
Creating Healthier Boundaries with Social Media
Improving your relationship with social media does not necessarily mean deleting every app or disconnecting completely. Often, small intentional changes can make a significant difference in your mental health.
Some healthy strategies include:
- Taking regular breaks from scrolling
- Unfollowing accounts that trigger comparison or anxiety
- Setting a screen time limit
- Spending more time in face-to-face relationships
- Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness
Social media can be a wonderful tool for connection, but it should not become the measure of your worth. The moments you see online are only a small snapshot of someone’s life, not the full picture. Giving yourself permission to step away, set boundaries, and focus on your own values can create space for greater confidence, self-compassion, and emotional well-being.
Resource: Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport — A practical look at creating healthier relationships with technology.
An affirmation I would like to leave you with is this: “My worth is not measured by likes, comparisons, or online approval. I am valuable and enough exactly as I am.”
Jillian Young
We hope you found Jillian’s insights on navigating social media helpful. If her message resonated with you, this could be the perfect time to take meaningful steps towards your healing and peace. To initiate your work with Jillian, please feel free to call our office at 615-510-3797 or click here to learn more.
