In today’s fast-paced digital society, there are a number of teen social pressures that can affect the mental health and levels of anxiety in young adults. Today we explore three of them.
Social Media
Teens are particularly challenged by the pressures of fitting into their world. Social media can be a great way to connect with friends and express themselves, but it can also be a stressful place that breeds drama, bullying, and comparison. Plus, it can lead to a sense of feeling alone and not enough.
Social media can provide a false presentation of a life that is “perfect” leaving teens feeling as if they don’t measure up. Teens post pictures of the highlighted reels of their lives which leads to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Teens view others’ stories and their lives as being something to try to live up to. They are particularly susceptible to the impact of influencers and can feel defeated by their own level of popularity and success.
Cyberbullying is also a very devastating situation that can significantly impact a teen’s mental health. Teens may participate in harmful statements as a means to try to fit in with social groups. It’s important that teens learn to recognize cyberbullying and find ways to not engage in these patterns. When teens have a healthy relationship with social media, they can reap the benefits of connection and self-expression.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is a huge struggle for many teenagers. It can be difficult to resist the pressure to fit in, especially when everyone else is doing something that seems cool or exciting. Often teens express the sense of not having control or feeling powerless in situations. When teens begin to understand that power comes from their own choices, they can start to take more control over their decisions.
Teens should never feel pressured to do something that goes against their values or beliefs. However, most teenagers don’t even have a strong sense of what their values and beliefs are. This contributes to a chameleon-type approach of putting on different masks to fit into different social situations, rather than standing their ground and showing up as their authentic self.
One way to navigate peer pressure is to have a clear understanding of what they stand for. Teens should take the time to think about their values and beliefs and make sure they are living in accordance with them. They should also surround themselves with friends who share their values and will support them in making healthy choices.
Healthy Friendships
Establishing healthy friendships is not always that easy. Teens just want to feel like they belong. Unfortunately, this causes them to often pretend to be people they are not or hang out with people that they desire friendship with, despite whether they are a good fit.
Positive friendships occur with people who encourage healthy habits and behaviors, provide emotional support, and promote positive self-esteem. Teens can build positive friendships by being themselves and finding others who share their interests and values. They can also participate in activities and clubs that align with their interests, which can help them meet like-minded peers.
It’s important for teens to remember that building positive friendships takes time and effort and that it requires circling into difficult conversations when their feelings are hurt. Often teens want to run from these conversations and will just try to move onto a new group rather than go deeper into the discussions to resolve conflict and save a relationship.
Regardless of what teen social pressures and stressors young adults are experiencing, it is important that they have parents, friends and support people to assist them in navigating the pressures of adolescence.
If your teen is struggling with anxiety due to teen social pressures then access our free parent mini-course to help them manage their anxiety. Click here to find out more.