Page 46 - Waterfall City Dec 2023_Jan 2024 Issue

or thousands of followers because of the
44 Waterfall City Issue 12
• Direct messages (DMs)
skilful posting they do; in fact, they only DMs allow users to share posts,
really know a handful of those people videos, photos, voice messages
and are friends with even fewer. and calls with each other. Even if a
teenager’s account is set as private,
For the teen with fewer followers, the anybody with an Instagram account
assumption then is that they are less is able to DM another Instagram
liked, less connected and therefore user. Human nature being what it is,
less popular. The seduction comes curiosity may get the better of your
into play where the ‘less popular’ teen teen, and they may let themself be
must create a post which will get more exposed to someone or something
followers, or they must be more active you would prefer them not knowing
on Instagram. about or seeing.
• Influencer culture
The idea of “Followers” versus Influencer culture is a fascinating
“Following” is an irony in itself. The goal thing. Influencers promote products,
is to have more people following you services, apps, etc. to the target
than who you follow. When this goal is audience. These titbits are not
looked at objectively, it is ironic. Having always easy to uncover as they are
more people following you cannot housed in benign-looking posts and
demonstrate popularity or being may mislead teens into wanting
well-liked. It demonstrates the account- something promoted on their feed.
holder’s ability to use people for their • Mental health challenges
goal of achieving status/popularity. As mentioned above, edited photos
and enhanced photos are the norm
More realistically, the number of on Instagram. These create false and
people they are following back shows unrealistic expectations for teens
how many people the account holder to try to meet. Teens strive for more
actually engages with in real life – ‘likes’ by editing their photos. Body
that is, how many people they know image, and by extension mental
personally and choose to follow back health and wellbeing, become
is a better reflection on their social eroded. Cyberbullying also takes
standing. place between friends who are
fighting or former romantic partners
For example, if a teen has 1,500 who are now in conflict – exposing
followers but is only following 350 photos are posted to cause one of
back, this reflects pseudo-popularity/ the parties distress and to lash out at
like. Out of the 350, 250 to 300 of those them due to personal hurt.
may represent a truth closer to reality • Live streaming
of the number of people the account Live streaming is another concerning
holder engages with in real life. The feature of Instagram when it comes to
process of choosing who is ‘worth’ teenagers. It allows users to connect
following back is harrowing and is with followers in real-time. This has
another discussion altogether. all sorts of problems with regard to
exposure, let alone the grooming and
Key points to consider: abuse that can sneak into a teen’s
• Hooked on scrolling feed. Online bullying is also prevalent
Most social media platforms are in “live chats”, where friends discuss
designed to keep users engaged others in an open and real-time live
for long periods of time. Instagram conversation.
does this very effectively by allowing
users to scroll indefinitely. Teens and Pointing fingers
adults quickly lose track of time while Problems with new technology get
scrolling. Sleep gets disrupted and blamed on technology. If we want to
relationships become strained as find a solution to these problems, we
families no longer communicate with need to take ownership of our role in
one another. the situation and take cognisance of
2023/Issue 1 2024