AI on Instagram: Reflecting Reality or Corrupting Mental Well-being? | Mental Health-Anxiety | Essay

In this video essay analysis, we explore the complex network of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Instagram, a dominant social media platform, and we investigate its dual role as both a reflector and a shaper of user mental health, with a significant impact on adolescents and young adults.

Does Instagram's AI merely display our inherent likes and curiosities, or does it subtly influence our preferences, desires, and, eventually, our self-perception?

How does our interaction with this personalized virtual world impact our self-esteem and anxiety, significantly when the platform continuously exposes us to polished, idealized lifestyles?

The essay examines various studies revealing the alarming mental health implications of Instagram usage, scrutinizing the connection between high levels of social anxiety, contingent self-worth, and Instagram engagement.

A thread of concern runs through the narrative, highlighting how users compare their own realities to the often unattainable lives displayed on their screens.

Exploring the social comparison theory, the piece sheds light on the psychological mechanisms that may drive individuals into a cycle of perpetual comparison, dissatisfaction, and consequent impacts on mental well-being. The contemplation further questions Instagram's role in the delicate balance of self-perception and mental health among the youth.

In light of these reflections, the essay initiates a pressing dialogue about the potential and ethical considerations of AI, asking whether algorithms can be developed to prioritize mental well-being and crafting a virtual environment that fosters positivity, realism, and genuine connection, thereby shaping a healthier digital experience and reality for its users.