Suicide is the third leading cause of death in the age group between 15 to 29 years in Spain. The causes that can lead to such acts are discussed, indicating the presence of psychological disorders motivated by the use of social networks.
In several recent studies, teenage and young adult users who spend the most time on Instagram, Facebook and other platforms were shown to have a substantially higher rate of reported depression than those who spent the least time. One reason the correlation seems more than coincidental is that an increase in depression occurred in tandem with the rise in smartphone use.
Every day there are more than 4,200 million likes on the Instagram social network, much more than the compliments and hugs we share in the "non-digital" life. Therefore, it is inevitable that these virtual recognitions have become today the new unit of measure of the level of integration and social success.
To achieve the desired recognition, young people try to convey a vision of themselves as similar as possible to their reference models, such as the so-called influencers, and social patterns that are considered generally accepted. It is about giving an image that is as attractive as possible, which generates interest, admiration and the maximum of positive interactions by its followers.
Actually, this need for acceptance is nothing that did not happen outside the digital environment, with the proviso that now the feedback received on the Internet is very immediate, so it cannot correspond to the "real life". And it is in this phase where there are problems of self-esteem or frustration that the youngest can suffer.
“Many girls are bombarded with their friends posting the most perfect pictures of themselves, or they’re following celebrities and influencers who do a lot of Photoshopping and have makeup and hair teams,” explains Dr. Hamlet. “If that’s their model for what is normal, it can be very hard on their self-confidence.”
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is the use of digital media (such as the internet and text messages) to make another person annoyed, feel sad or afraid, and usually, repeatedly. Some examples of cyberbullying are: send instant messages or in a chat to hurt a person, post shameful photos or videos on social networks and create online rumors.
REFERENCES
NoeliaNavarro-Gómez. (2018). Suicide among young people in Spain: Facts and possible causes. An analysis of latest data available. Clínica y Salud.
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