Victims of the image

Current social changes have seriously influenced the last generations.

I will not surprise anyone if I say that Millennials (Generation Y) and Zoomers (Generation Z) have been greatly influenced by the social changes generated in the last decade. But has it benefited them?

Let’s go back to the past. Not more than 20 years ago, when social networks made their way, the first giant MSN Messenger appeared (a social network that was created with the intention of bringing people from anywhere in the world closer together through instant messaging) is with the passing of the time was losing the strength that characterized it, being finally replaced by Skype in 2013.
The same happened in Spain with the memorable social network Tuenti, which, like the previous one, also disappeared in 2017, due to the fanaticism created later through Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
Apparently, they all share that initial objective, and even diversifying in their priorities, they all stand out in the business market that has been created around them, becoming a source of income for a relevant percentage of society, both for companies and for the small autonomous. However, it is not what I am here to talk about, but about the negative repercussions that all this social evolution has brought us, since not everything is joy that is breathed in these sources of image and information.

Through this article, I would like to show how conditioned young people are since the evolution of social networks, how they negatively affect our lives, on many occasions without being aware of it.
Social networks have brought a variety of negative repercussions for users (the vast majority being young), even affecting the reduction of social values in society.

One of the most relevant problems that the management of these social networks entails is Cyberbullying. It is proven that cyberbullying has increased significantly in recent years; This leads to insecurities and mistrust in oneself and with others, which translates directly into social relationships, both love and friendship.
Another problem that is generated is the idealization of bodies, where they constantly sell us an image that must be achieved, because of course a good appearance will make you achieve more things, really? Sometimes we simply believe what we read without stopping to think that it is what we need to achieve our goals. Truly, I believe that both cyberbullying and the idealization of bodies lead to a lack of direct self-esteem for the user of the applications.

Another point that I would like to highlight, and that affects us directly, is latent cowardice. Young people have become more vulnerable, more submissive, in short, less brave, because it will always be easier to write it than to say it; we constantly hide through screens, showing even the face that perhaps we would not dare to show in public; and my question is are we being ourselves?

I close this article with an indisputable quality that characterizes social networks: they have become the greatest source of entertainment, dedicating a large number of hours to them and leading to a constant loss of time, leading to less dedication to oneself and with this to the personal growth of the individual … even sometimes, we move away from those who are closest to us. THINK ABOUT IT, Don’t you think we’re a bit conditioned?

Written by Lourdes Pareja Ormeño