Social networks change the way we interact with other people. They represent a tool that allows us to interact impersonally with others and with which we can obtain information in a permanent and updated way.

In other words, it is a means to connect with the lives of others quickly and efficiently. For this, it is not necessary to know or have physical contact with the people contacted.

But what happens if they become a problem until we affect our behavior, self-esteem, and character?

Social platforms were created with many objectives, connect with family and friends, show activities and trips, sell a product or service; in short, to transmit and receive all kinds of information.

But, some users show an obsessive behavior that drives them to make daily publications and to be updated in order to obtain a “like” and the approval of their followers.

This remarkably influences the valuation and perception they have of themselves, because of not receiving the interaction from others, these people feel affected in their self-esteem.

How does this happen?

The search for the acceptance of others through publications increases anxiety; on the other hand, a permanent comparison of what we see on social networks is generated, what we are and have -for example, slender bodies, fashion clothes, travel incredible, perfect relationships, popularity- in many cases this trend can confuse real life with virtual.

A high percentage of adolescents and young people have come to value their own image according to the amount of likes they receive in their publications.

If the teenager receives a positive assessment of their publications, then the levels of self-esteem increase while if the results do not correspond to their expectations, their low self-esteem affects even the character of the person.

A dependency arises to social networks giving an exaggerated importance to what other people think, taking as reference the Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram profile.

These people are responsible for editing the photographs to achieve a final result according to the canons of beauty of social networks, trying to please the users or followers who will see their publications.

Social platforms are an excellent tool to communicate with other people and achieve permanent interaction with them; it should be seen as a social channel and not as an instrument of measurement of acceptance that can affect our personality and much less self-esteem.

Studies related to this issue in many cases are contradictory, some say that they allow us to feel less alone; that is, accompanied even by people who we have never seen or had physical contact, others believe that social networks affect our self-esteem and increase the appearance of disorders in eating behavior.

On the other hand, when information or an image is published, the possibility of using filters to improve it leads to believing in a false reality that shows that we are almost perfect or more physically attractive.

This mirage can be extended to simulate a life of extravagant luxuries or illusory appearance, seeking in response social approval, if this goal is not achieved, there is a decrease in self-esteem or perhaps a social or behavioral problem.

A study by the University of Córdoba on the influence of social networks on the image of young people and an analysis of the frequency of advertising videos published on networks such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to publicize how they affect everyday life of users revealed that for the young population, the influence of networks increases as young people are more connected to them.

It has been scientifically proven that this connection is greater in women than in men. This is because women take into account beauty stereotypes that are handled in networks.

The study also showed that many women recognize the retouched stereotype that is used in the image that is always aimed at the thin woman, but when asked about the ideal of beauty and image, they say it is close to the stereotype of the web.

Given this reality, the following question arises: what happens to those who do not adapt to that beauty canon or how far are they willing to go to achieve the stereotype?

This is when eating disorders occur to obtain a change in weight and image through unhealthy behaviors.

Health and nursing specialists recognize an increase in people with eating disorders and consider that social networks have been a factor of great influence on these conditions.

It is clear that the implementation of educational and dissemination programs and campaigns is necessary for the care and acceptance of oneself and their own image, with the intention of promoting greater confidence and security in young people before starting to use social networks.

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