Social Media and it's affect on young adults in today's society
Social media is part of almost every college student’s daily life. We scroll between classes, post pictures with friends, and share memes that reflect our moods. But underneath all that, social media can also be a source of stress, comparison, and anxiety. After spending time listening to conversations on TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit, I noticed how often students talk about mental health and how there is almost always a sense of shared struggle. Based on what I found, three main themes stood out: the pressure of social comparison, the honesty and support found on Reddit, and how TikTok can both help and hurt mental health conversations online.
A huge trend I noticed on Instagram and TikTok is how easy it is to compare your life to others. Everyone posts their highlights—vacations, nights out, perfect study spaces—and it starts to feel like everyone else is doing better. UC Davis Health even shared that viewing other people’s posts can increase anxiety, depression, and FOMO (fear of missing out). The more we scroll, the easier it is to believe that everyone else has it together. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1WoKsiLlLI). In this video, researchers analyzed over 1,000 TikToks about mental health and found that many creators show “perfect” coping habits (morning routines, self-care days, journaling aesthetics) that don’t reflect real life. It’s easy to feel like you’re failing if you’re not doing all that. The highlight-reel effect makes students question if they’re good enough or working hard enough, when really, it’s just the filtered version of reality.
Social media leaves room for both levels of activity; bad and good
While Instagram shows perfection, Reddit shows the opposite. On subreddits like r/mentalhealth and r/college, students talk honestly about burnout, anxiety, and loneliness. I read one post from a user who said, “I feel like I’m drowning but can’t tell anyone. I just want someone to say it’s okay.” That post got dozens of supportive replies. This kind of vulnerability is rare on other platforms because Reddit allows anonymity, which makes it easier for people to open up. This shows that students crave connection but are scared of judgment when using their real identities. Reddit gives them that space to be real and get help from peers who understand what they’re going through. (https://www.reddit.com/r/mentalhealth/comments/1o5asuy/mental_health_services_should_be_free/)
TikTok is tough because it’s one of the biggest platforms where students talk about mental health, but not all the information there is reliable. On the positive side, creators and even licensed therapists share tips and normalize conversations about anxiety and depression. A Harvard Public Health article says TikTok can actually be a tool for mental health when creators share evidence-based information. But there’s also a downside. Some of the most-watched videos under #mentalhealthtips spread misinformation, like saying you can “cure” depression with a smoothie or equating being sad with having clinical depression. A Guardian study found that more than half of the top mental health TikToks include false or misleading claims. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oswSYRaOsVA). In this video, two college creators react to viral TikToks and talk about how it’s hard to tell what’s real or fake advice online. TikTok can make students feel seen, but it can also confuse or mislead them if they’re not careful about sources.
Conclusion
Listening to these conversations online showed me that college students use social media as both an outlet and a coping mechanism. It’s where we go to relate to others, but it’s also where many of our insecurities start. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok can make us feel like we’re not enough, while Reddit can remind us that we’re not alone. The biggest takeaway from my social listening is that students are trying to take control of their mental health narratives. They’re just doing it in the digital spaces they know best. Social media isn’t all bad or all good, it’s simply a reflection of how complex being a college student really is today.