THE REAL RISKS YOUNG WOMEN FACE IN THE AGE OF LIKES

WE SHOULD talk about it more: the subtle way scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook can alter what young women believe they need to do, and even risk, to feel loved and seen.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Ask yourself: When was the last time you scrolled through Instagram or TikTok and felt truly content with your own life?

For many young women today, the answer is “never”. Behind every filtered selfie and “living my best life” hashtag lies a growing crisis, one that’s quietly shaping and sometimes shattering the lives of a whole generation.

It starts innocently. Pretty coffee shots. Luxury handbags. A perfect holiday. And before you know it, a 16-year-old feels she must keep up, even if it means living a life she can't afford or one that puts her in danger.

Social media is woven into the very fabric of our lives. In 2023, nearly five billion people worldwide were online, with teens among the most avid users according to Statista.

It’s a space filled with promise and peril

“Social media is here to stay,” says Dr Mary Alvord, a clinical psychologist and panellist for the American Psychological Association. However, that does not imply that we must tolerate its risks.

It’s a conversation that’s deeply personal because so many of us, whether as mothers, sisters, friends or simply as women, know the invisible weight that social media places on young shoulders.

A recent post went viral for calling this out: “We have failed our girls as a society. Clubs let in underage girls. Predators prey on them. And older sisters on social media say it’s okay to sell.”

This isn’t just about likes and followers, it’s about real life, real risks and real consequences.

The performance of “authenticity”