After waking up and scrolling to the Instagram account with a cell phone in hand, it has become a common thing for many young adults in the western world. For some, it has become like a daily routine. But how does this app affect people's mental health?
Recently, Frances Hughes, a former Meta employee at Facebook, leaked a lot of information about harmful social media. He says Instagram is more harmful than other social media. The company's own research has shown that it can be harmful.
At the time, Instagram said, the study showed the way to understand the complex and difficult problems of Instagram. Politicians, on the other hand, are scrutinizing social media. The BBC spoke to five people about the experience of using Instagram.
Increase contact
Dani's love and hate relationship with Instagram has two kinds of relationship. Dani, 29, from South Wales, earns a living from the platform. He has brought together transgender people online. But he has been abused because of his appearance.
"Instagram is both a blessing and a curse in my life," he told the BBC. When you are a transgender and the account is not personal, it makes it very easy to abuse you in any way. The hate speech was disgusting. They also used to make fun of my pictures. Dani, who has given up alcohol addiction, said she has seen how social media gives the feeling of addiction.
Francis Haugen told the Joint Committee of Lawmakers that Instagram makes social comparisons with the human body, the human lifestyle, which can be harmful to children.
However, Sir Nick Clegg, vice-president of Metar Global Affair, the parent company of Instagram, said on behalf of Instagram that a large number of teenage girls enjoy using the app. The company will bring some tools to prevent misuse of the app.
Attitude towards the body
Hannah has been using social media since adolescence. He spends six to 10 hours daily on social media. The 24-year-old studied at the University of the West in Ayr, Scotland. He said he has accounts on almost all social media including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and TickTock.
"It has become my bad habit to wake up every morning and check all the notifications," he said. I check for the last time before going to sleep again. I spend all day on social media. I'm really addicted to tickets. In one sitting I can easily scroll it for a few hours. I know I'm really wasting time… sometimes there are times when I try to limit my use of it.
On Instagram, she followed influential people who made her feel bad about her own body.
"Following them made me think that my body needs to look like theirs and I started to have unrealistic expectations of being slim," she said. Later I saw that it was worsening my mental health. Then I stepped back a bit and unfollowed them. I felt that not everyone would be a slim and six-foot-tall model. It improves my self-confidence.
Hannah also received hateful comments on Instagram. Some people have told him that he should lose some weight. He is getting very fat. These comments made him feel negative about his body.
Toxic environment
Scarlett and Anisa of Hornsy Girls' School in north London told the BBC they were aware of the harmful effects of social media. Scarlett, 15, uses platforms other than Facebook. He doesn't think Facebook is for people his age.
"I follow YouTubers," he said. They create content with fashion. Such as Emma Chamberlain. I love him. But when I see someone very beautiful, I really feel like they look at me. Because I'm just past adolescence. That's why I unfollowed a lot of accounts.
15-year-old Anisa is in the same situation. He also unfollowed several accounts due to negative content. However, he said, even after unfollowing some accounts, what you don't want to see online comes to the fore.
Not using social media
Not everyone at school uses Instagram. For example, 15-year-old Leah did not get permission from her mother to open an account on Instagram. According to Leah, all the negative things go around on Instagram. So he believes his mother's decision.
"I also want to have an account," Leah said. Because I have friends and sometimes I feel like I'm lagging behind. But I also know the downside. I heard my friends got some embarrassing pictures and horror videos in the inbox that our peers shouldn't see.
In September, Facebook reported that the company plans to create an app called "Instagram Kids" to give Instagram experience to under-13s.
Meanwhile, Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said it would take time to listen to parents, experts, policymakers, and regulators.
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