Social media

Overview 

Social media offers many benefits such as helping people to:

• keep in touch with friends and family
• make new friends by connecting with like-minded communities and individuals
• find helpful support and advice
• support and influence causes
• keep up-to-date with the latest news

However, there are downsides to social media. These include:

• social pressures
• a distorted perception of reality and comparing our lives to others
• feelings of loneliness, isolation or exclusion
• getting the right balance between online and offline activities
• exposure to harmful content
• exposure to people with bad intentions

Generative AI

Many social media companies have started integrating generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools into their platforms for users to create:

• images
• text 
• other media

Generative AI also personalises your social media feed by selecting content based on your browsing history.

Influencers

Social media offers the potential to capture the attention of a large audience. People can become celebrities or brands, known as ‘influencers’. Social media influencers may often:

• promote certain products, lifestyles or attitudes
• persuade others to act based on their recommendations

Some influencers have risen to fame through:

• highlighting important social issues and causes
• sharing balanced views and information

Others use their platform to promote aspirational lifestyles, for example with content about:

• fitness
• fashion 
• interior design

There are also influencers who have become well-known for sharing extreme and harmful opinions. These can negatively impact on their followers by distorting their views.

It is important to remember that influencers share intentionally selected content and it is often their job to do so. It is easy to compare your life with the carefully constructed images we see online. However, it’s important to think critically about the content you are viewing.

If the content is promoting a product or service, for example fashion, travel or gaming, consider whether:

• it is a paid promotion or an advertisement
• the influencer is promoting it solely because they have been paid to do so
• the images are realistic
• this product or service is necessary
• there are reviews of that product or service elsewhere
• there is a cheaper alternative
• the same product or service is cheaper elsewhere

If the content is sharing a view or opinion, consider:

• why the content has been created
• whether there is a motive behind this content
• whether the content has been edited or constructed in a certain way
• how realistic the images are
• whether the views are balanced
• whether there is any evidence to back up these claims (for example from major news outlets or reputable websites)
• how the content makes you feel
• who or what this content is trying to influence

Managing the influencer effect

It can be a challenge to navigate the positive and negative behaviours exhibited by influencers on social media. Try to remember the following:

• While the lives of influencers may look desirable, they are only showing a small proportion of their lives. These are the parts of their lives they are usually being paid to share. If content from a particular influencer is affecting your self-esteem or mental health, unfollow them. Then seek support from a professional or someone you trust.
• The moment we see posts that shock us, that make us laugh or make us feel angry or sad, is the moment when we are at our most vulnerable. This can make us susceptible to believing biased views or opinions and making unnecessary purchases. Explore alternative views, content or products from reliable sources to ensure you have a balanced view. You can then make your own decisions and form your own opinions.
• Clicking ‘share’ or ‘like’ on a controversial post may cause harm to others by spreading hate or misinformation. Think about your own digital footprint.

Keeping your social media experience positive

It’s natural to want to share the best parts of your life with family and friends. However, sometimes you may find yourself viewing content that makes you feel:

• inadequate
• annoyed
• worried 
• stressed

This can build up and start having a negative impact on your physical and mental wellbeing where you:

• worry about your appearance
• experience fear of missing out (FOMO)
• experience social isolation

Help is available if you or a young person you know are regularly:

• feeling overwhelmed
• feeling anxious 
• struggling to cope

Our help and support page has information on how to access free, confidential advice and support.

Live-streaming on social media

Live-streaming is the broadcasting of real-time, live video using the internet. Young people may use live-streaming services to create their own broadcast or they may watch others live-stream. This can include celebrities, video bloggers (or ‘vloggers’) and ‘gamers’, as well as friends and family.

Live-streaming can be a positive outlet to express yourself and connect with people who have similar interests. However, it can also have serious consequences.

It is important to understand the privacy implications of sharing content.

Before live-streaming, consider:

• what you are broadcasting
• who may see your broadcast
• personal information or your location that you may want to hide
• the settings on the live-streaming service you are using to ensure they are right for you 

Viral online challenges and hoaxes

Online challenges generally involve users recording themselves taking part in a challenge. They then share it on social media and encourage or dare others to repeat the challenge. Online hoaxes are intended to look truthful and can often take the form of an online:

• scare story 
• photograph
• news article
• video 
• meme

If you become aware of a harmful challenge or hoax, it is crucial that you don’t do anything which unintentionally raises awareness of it. 

Limit the spread

When you see an online challenge or hoax your first instinct may be to warn others. However, this may increase other people’s curiosity and drive them to search for the harmful content.

Avoid naming the harmful content

Naming a harmful online challenge or hoax could run the risk of spreading the reach of the content further. It is better not to focus on the details of one specific challenge or hoax. Instead, provide general guidance for dealing with online issues.

Have open conversations where you talk and listen

Online challenges and concerning content can bring up the need to talk about other serious issues like:

• self-harm 
• suicide

Avoid showing upsetting or scary content

It’s important to remember that even when something goes viral online it doesn’t mean that all young people have seen or heard of it. Try to have open conversations about the risks of online challenges and hoaxes without:

• showing any examples
• giving explicit details

Peer pressure

People can sometimes be drawn into challenges because it is what their friends are doing or seem to be doing. Saying ‘no’ can seem like a very hard thing to do.

Support for young people

Support for schools

Support for families

Views from the experts

Help and support