Many teens place themselves under a microscope. 

They dissect every detail and flaw of their being like a science project, using the models and supposed perfect people online as the control group to determine what they deserve.

Self-worth is that internal evaluation of one’s characteristics to determine whether they are good enough for attention or appreciation. 

Social media is a constant source of comparisons, one main victim of this growing issue is the topic of body positivity. People of all genders, ages, and ethnicities have all at one point fallen to the fault of fake posts picturing the “perfect body.”

The media has played a large part in people’s mental dissatisfaction with their appearance. Editing platforms such as Photoshop and Adobe have made changing one’s appearance effortless. Changing their physical traits to make themselves look more appealing. 

“I have seen many girls who supposedly have perfect bodies on social media. You can tell because some of the images are warped weirdly if you look closely. These images make me feel as if I’m not good enough. That I will never have the perfect body,” a Dallastown sophomore girl states.

The idea of this golden ratio many strive to achieve comes with a cost.

According to an article on mentalhealth.com, a number of studies have shown that “besides misusing exercise and/or drastic reductions in caloric intake, there are other dangerous practices that some teens may use to control or reduce weight. For instance, some teens will use diuretics (water pills), diet pills, tobacco, or other drugs in an effort to control their weight.”

These habits can cause more problems than solutions when it comes to one’s future. These “perfect” people may look good on the outside, but the patterns and habits these people have developed aren’t healthy.

Trying to lose weight can often be compared to addiction to a drug. Once someone starts and gets used to it, quitting can be extremely hard.

However, physical appearance isn’t the only thing people tend to falsify online.

Scrolling to see lavish vacations, 5-star restaurant visits, and extraordinary shopping sprees. But in reality, most of them are editing and green screens. 

Showing off one’s wealth and throwing out cash for views and likes on social media isn’t exactly the smartest way to spend their life savings. But in reality, most of them are an illusion. 

Fake posts are a sad reality of the online world, bragging about the parts of life no one sees knowing they aren’t real. It can cause shame and comparison when thinking about others and how they seem “better off”.

“Yes, sadly I have plenty of times but then I realized that no one has a perfect life so I stopped comparing,” senior Kylee Bahn says on the topic.

While Social media has had its inherently negative points, not all of it has caused harm. 

 “Social media has had positive and negative effects on my mental health. Sometimes, it motivates me to do certain things and take initiative in certain aspects of my life so I can attain the things I want like financially or academically. It is also a good source of information sometimes when used correctly,” Dallastown Junior Sarah-Divine Amani says.

Though social media has its highlights, it has still consistently sourced false material that has destroyed the self-worth and well-being of the current generation. 

Though there are so many ways to find support, and though struggling may feel solo, you are never really alone. There are so many amazing communities that can help with the challenges that social media may provide.

It’s been said that comparison is the thief of happiness.  When teens put themselves under dissection, they are looking so closely trying to figure out what’s wrong with them.

In reality, the control group doesn’t really have everything under control either. 

When putting oneself under that microscope, it’s important to remember that we all live under social deception.