As social media algorithms generate content for viewership across various platforms, several Jamaican children have expressed concern about the effects of that content on their mental health.

A recent poll done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) U-Report Jamaica, in collaboration with the Jamaica Observer, found that 71 per cent of the 280 respondents believed that social media was affecting their mental health, due to the high levels of “unrealistic” content being shared on the platforms.

In addition, 64 per cent of the respondents said that they had to take mental health breaks from social media due to the contents being shared, while 14 per cent said they have blocked users, and nine per cent said they have deleted applications from their devices.

A 17-year-old girl from St Thomas explained that while youth feel pressured by the expectations placed on them, there is an added pressure to live a “perfect life” because of what they are being exposed to online.

“Social media has this stranglehold on teens that is stifling. And to add peer pressure to that — to be able to fit-in in today’s society means you have to look a certain way, and you have to do things a certain way or you’ll be bullied or cancelled on social media.

“And with trying to fit in with your peers, trying to be perfect for social media, not having anyone to speak to about your feelings, and being pressured to do so well in school, it is challenging for everyone, but it is especially hard on teens,” said the teenager.

One youth said that the decision to frequently step away from social media was a good one, as the vast difference between reality and the online world was a dangerous pill to swallow.

He said that in addition to the lack of media literacy experienced by youth, the shared content may influence their perception of what is real versus fake.

“With the rise of social media influencers and public figures, it is far easier for unaware social media users to fall prey to holding themselves to unrealistic and unattainable standards. Nowadays, visiting social media like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube will provide you with a surplus of videos of people living the ‘rich’ lifestyle,” the youngster said.

“It’s always videos with people spending obscene amounts of money, driving high-end and luxurious vehicles, living in immaculate houses that are an object of fascination and dreams for the unassuming, average social media user. Not being able to have these things is a constant source of declining mental health often times,” he said.

Jamaican children, like others worldwide, are also experiencing issues surrounding body image, the youngster pointed out. Unknown to a lot of youngsters, images being uploaded to social media platforms are usually altered and edited to match a certain aesthetic. However, he maintained that those images were playing a massive role in affecting how youngsters view themselves.

“There is also the matter of physical appearance, as teens, especially, will see others who are viewed as beautiful, and hold themselves to that standard [while] belittling themselves. These influencers do this because it generates wealth. There is a conversion point between views and money, and so presenting themselves in this manner is merely their job. The effect that this has, however, is ever-present,” he explained.

A 14-year-old girl from the Corporate Area, in her response to the poll question, said that more needs to be done to shed light on that side of social media to assist the youth who are falling prey to what they view online. She also argued that more resources are needed for youth across Jamaica.

“I think that there needs to be more resources to help those with mental health issues, and also shine light on the fact that social media is a highly edited and romanticised version of someone’s life. A greater emphasis needs to be placed on reducing the stigma around mental health in Jamaica because people, especially older Jamaicans, don’t believe that it is a legitimate issue,” she said.

Touching on the issue of adult supervision, a 16-year-old girl from Clarendon stated that the absence of a parent or guardian could influence how youngsters relate to the content they view online. In sharing her experience with social media, the girl said that she has had to satisfy her curiosity through the Internet.

“Children often learn about the world from social media. I frequently hear adults exclaiming how kids can find anything by taking up their phones. The fact of the matter is, we wouldn’t need to go online for information if adults were upfront and honest with us in the first place,” she said.

“I learned a lot about the world from the Internet because I knew that these were not topics that my parents would ever address — topics they still haven’t even attempted to address, given my age. Due to how early my curiosity started, I now know way too much information on certain topics that have impacted my everyday living,” she said.

“I’m positive that if I had known my parents would answer my questions, then I wouldn’t have turned to social media. I think parents should stop isolating children for their natural curiosity and instead be honest with them,” she added.