Impact of Social Media on Youth | Katanu Mbevi | TEDxYouth@BrookhouseSchool

TEDx Talks6 minutes read

Over 60% of Kenyan youth spend at least two hours daily on social media, impacting their mental health significantly by fostering insecurities from comparing themselves to others and creating a social currency based on likes and validation. The fear of missing out (FOMO) on social media can escalate into social anxiety and withdrawal symptoms, emphasizing the negative effects of excessive social media use on mental health.

Insights

  • **Comparison to Highlight Reels:** Kenyan youth's excessive social media use fuels insecurities as they compare their own struggles to others' curated highlight reels, fostering feelings of inadequacy and impacting mental health significantly.
  • **Social Currency and FOMO:** Social media creates a system where likes and shares determine self-worth, leading to individuals removing posts lacking validation. Fear of missing out (FOMO) escalates into social anxiety, with withdrawal symptoms when access is restricted, emphasizing the detrimental effects of excessive social media on mental health.

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Recent questions

  • How do Kenyan youth use social media?

    Actively, spending over two hours daily.

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Summary

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Impact of Social Media on Kenyan Youth

  • Over 60% of Kenyan youth are active social media users, spending at least two hours daily on these platforms, impacting their mental health significantly.
  • Excessive social media usage among youth is leading to insecurities, as individuals compare their behind-the-scenes struggles to others' highlight reels, fostering feelings of inadequacy.
  • Social media has created a form of social currency, where likes, comments, and shares determine one's self-worth, leading to individuals removing posts that don't receive enough validation.
  • The fear of missing out (FOMO) on social media can escalate into social anxiety, causing withdrawal symptoms when individuals are unable to access their devices, highlighting the negative effects of excessive social media use on mental health.
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