Describe the impact of social media on self-esteem and mental health, and one protective factor.

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Multiple Choice

Describe the impact of social media on self-esteem and mental health, and one protective factor.

Social media can influence how people view themselves and affect mental well-being because it exposes everyone to highly curated images, feedback through likes and comments, and constant social comparison. The best answer recognizes both sides: it can shape body image and mood, sometimes negatively, while also pointing to a protective factor that helps reduce these risks. A good protective factor is critical media literacy alongside supportive online networks. Critical media literacy means learning to question and analyze what we see online—recognizing that images are often edited, posed, or presented to elicit a reaction—so comparisons aren’t seen as real-life standards. Supportive online networks provide encouragement, validation, and a sense of belonging, which can buffer against insecurity and anxiety. Other statements fall short because they claim there is no impact, or that social media always improves mood, or that it never causes anxiety. Real-life experiences show that social media can affect self-esteem and mood in both directions and can be a source of stress for many users.

Social media can influence how people view themselves and affect mental well-being because it exposes everyone to highly curated images, feedback through likes and comments, and constant social comparison. The best answer recognizes both sides: it can shape body image and mood, sometimes negatively, while also pointing to a protective factor that helps reduce these risks.

A good protective factor is critical media literacy alongside supportive online networks. Critical media literacy means learning to question and analyze what we see online—recognizing that images are often edited, posed, or presented to elicit a reaction—so comparisons aren’t seen as real-life standards. Supportive online networks provide encouragement, validation, and a sense of belonging, which can buffer against insecurity and anxiety.

Other statements fall short because they claim there is no impact, or that social media always improves mood, or that it never causes anxiety. Real-life experiences show that social media can affect self-esteem and mood in both directions and can be a source of stress for many users.

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