Analyse af 'For Teen Girls, Instagram Is a Cesspool'

It is undeniable that, social media has an immense impact on peoples mental health and self-esteem. Social media is a significant part of modern society, as it influences our daily life, and especially the social relations we make. Social media became an indispensable part of society around the 2000’s, since then countless debates about social media´s influence on users has surfaced, and many are still present. Countless have voiced their concerns and opinions, and many movements focusing on body positivity have been established. However, repercussions are not only persisting, but gradually getting worse. Many opinion writers dive into exactly these issues by writing informative articles that persuade people to take a stance, while simultaneously sharing their viewpoint. The article “For teen girls, Instagram is a cesspool” written by opinion writer Lindsay Crouse, was published by New York Times on October 8th, 2021. The article was published consequently after a senate hearing regarding Facebook's impact on children online, that took place on October 5th, 2021. The hearing was hosted by Senator Blumenthal and featured insights from a whistleblower, with insider information about Facebook's practices and policies, as well as discussed the impact of social media on adolescents. The article highlights Frances Haugen´s (Facebook whistleblower) revelations about Instagram's negative effects on teenage girls' mental health, as well as delves into how technology contributes to harmful ideals and norms, while also raising questions about tech companies prioritizing profits over the user's wellbeing.