The Dark Side of Digital Fame: Social Media and Mental Health issues with teenagers

Shama Khanam

“At 2 a.m., I stared at my screen, scrolling through comments.

Some called me beautiful, others said I was fake, plastic, a

disappointment. I had 300k followers but in that moment, I felt

more alone than ever.”

—A 16 year old digital influencer, anonymous.

We started living in an era where validation is counted in likes

and identity is filtered through a digital lens, the pursuit of online

fame among teenagers has become a double edged sword.

Social media,which was originally designed to connect, inspire,

and entertain, is now quietly eroding the mental wellbeing of an

entire generation as people get addicted and create virtual

world leaving behind the real. As teenagers chase viral stardom

to be famous, they often trade authentic living for the

exhausting performance of perfection. Behind the glitter of ring

lights and perfectly curated posts lies a shadowed world of

anxiety, fear, loneliness, and silent cries for help.

The role and rise Teenage Influencer: A New Dream with Old

Costs

Not long ago, children aspired to be astronauts, doctors, or

teachers. Today, many dream of becoming influencers,

YouTubers, or TikTok stars. The transition from traditional

aspirations to digital fame is not inherently harmful or

poisonous. The problem arises when fame becomes

synonymous with self-worth.

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, nearly 57% of

U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 years said they have considered

becoming a social media influencer because they get name and fame so easily and without investing much energy .In India, the

number is even higher. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook,

TikTok etc have democratized fame, making it accessible but

also dangerously addictive. These platforms are designed to

reward performance, virality, and aesthetic perfection which is-often at

the expense of authenticity and emotional health.

Consider the case of Charli D’Amelio, who rose to fame on

TikTok with dance videos. At just 15, she became the most

followed teen on the platform. Despite her success, Charli has

publicly spoken about panic attacks, anxiety, and the mental toll

of maintaining a flawless image. Her story is not unique, it is

emblematic of a larger crisis that transcends borders and

cultures.

The Neurochemical Trap: Dopamine Fuels the Addictions

Quickly

Social media platforms are built on algorithms which has

capacity thank exploit the brain’s reward system. Each and

Every like, share, or comment releases dopamine, the same

neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and addiction. For

teenagers, whose brains are still developing, this creates a loop

of dependency. They begin to associate their self-worth with

digital approval.

A study by the American Psychological Association (APA)

reveals that teens who spend more than 3 hours a day on

social media are at significantly higher risk of experiencing

mental health issues, including depression, frustration, anxiety,

and suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, many teens exceed this

limit not out of boredom but due to pressure with respect to

post, to engage, to stay relevant.

The irony is brutal, harsh and beyond our imagination: what

promises connection is breeding isolation.

The Illusion of Perfection: When Filters Become Facades and

show reality

Social media is a world of illusions, fake platform where faces

are filtered, bodies are slimmed, smiles are perfected and

plastic smile, and sadness is edited out. Teenagers are

constantly exposed to curated realities that they begin to

mistake for the norm. The pressure to match these ideals leads

to body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and chronic low self-

esteem.

In the United Kingdom, a study conducted by The Royal Society

for Public Health ranked Instagram as the worst platform for

youth mental health. It was particularly associated with issues

of body image and sleep disruption. A heartbreaking example is

Molly Russell, a 14year old British teen who died by suicide in

2017. Her social media history revealed she had been

consuming content related to self-harm and depression

algorithms feeding her despair instead of offering help.

Her father, Ian Russell, now campaigns globally for safer digital

environments, reminding the world that “behind every tragic

statistic is a real child lost.”

Cancel Culture and Cyberbullying: The Silent Epidemic

While fame brings attention, it also invites scrutiny and cruelty.

The digital world has made it easier to judge, cancel, and

shame others, often without understanding context or

consequence. Teen influencers are particularly vulnerable

they are idolised one day and trolled the next.

In South Korea, the suicide of K-pop star Sulli, who was only

25, shocked the world. She had been relentlessly bullied online

for defying traditional beauty standards and for beingoutspoken. Though not a teenager at the time of her death, Sulli

had entered the entertainment industry as a child, growing up

under the gaze of millions. Her story is a haunting warning of

what happens when public exposure begins too early and ends

too tragically.

In India, cases like that of Siya Kakkar, a 16-year-old TikTok

star who died by suicide in 2020, further illustrate how the

pressures of online fame can become unbearable. The

investigation pointed to cyberbullying and performance stress

as potential contributing factors.

Families in Crisis: A Silent Drift Between Parents and Children

In many homes, the glow of a screen has replaced the warmth

of human connection. Teenagers retreat into their virtual worlds,

speaking the words to their parents often don’t understand like

hashtags, reels, stories, trends. The lack of digital literacy

among adults creates a chasm where concern fails to translate

into action.

Many parents are unaware of the apps their children use, the

strangers they interact with, or the toxic content they consume.

What begins as innocent content creation can turn into an

emotional trap. Without active conversations, teens begin to live

double lives, one for their screens and another for their

families.

The Global Mental Health Crisis: Numbers That Haunt

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO),

suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15–19-year-

olds globally.

• The UNICEF 2021 report reveals that 1 in 7 adolescents

aged 10–19 experiences a mental health disorder.• In India alone, 14% of the total population suffers from

mental health issues, with adolescents making up a significant

share.

These are not just statistics; they are alarm bells echoing

across continents.

The Emotional Cost of Being “Always On”

The social media age doesn’t allow teenagers to rest.

Notifications interrupt sleep, DMs blur boundaries, and the fear

of missing out (FOMO) keeps them constantly tethered to their

screens. There is no pause button, no off switch. The result is

emotional exhaustion.

A study published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

highlights the link between night-time social media use and

poor sleep quality, which in turn exacerbates depression and

anxiety. Teenagers wake up more tired, more irritable, and more

disconnected from the real world. Even when they appear to be smiling in selfies, many are silently screaming.

Reclaiming the Narrative: Building Safer Digital Spaces

While the digital world has a dark side, it also offers a chance to

heal, connect, and empower, if used wisely.Countries are now beginning to act. In the United Kingdom, TheOnline Safety Bill seeks to hold tech companies accountable for harmful content. France has proposed age verification systems for social media apps. In the United States, debates are ongoing about banning under-13s from social media altogether.

India has recently announced plans for a Digital India Act, which

includes child safety measures. Tech giants, too, are beginning to introduce features like screen time management, AI content moderation, and mental health prompts. But more is needed. Regulation must go hand-in-hand with education.

The Role of Schools, Parents, and Society

The onus is not on teens alone. Schools must include digital

wellness in their curricula. Teachers need to recognize signs of

distress and not just falling grades, but emotional withdrawal,

social fatigue, or sudden obsession with online trends.

Parents must become allies not critics. Instead of blanket

bans, what teens need is guided mentorship. Conversations

must replace control, understanding must replace suspicion.

And society, at large, must shift its definition of success. We

must stop glorifying virality and begin valuing vulnerability. We

must applaud teens not just for their popularity, but for their

courage to be real.

Stories of Hope: The Other Side of the Screen

There are sparks of hope even in this darkness.

• Teen mental health advocates like Emma Lembke, who

founded the “Log Off Movement” in the U.S., are educating

youth about mindful social media use.

• Campaigns like #StopThePressure in the U.K. and

#UnplugIndia are helping raise awareness and foster digital

detox.

• Influencers like Ankita Chhetri in India have begun

talking openly about anxiety and burnout, encouraging followers

to seek help.When teens use their platforms to discuss pain, healing, and

resilience, they change the narrative from performance to

purpose.

Conclusion: Beyond the Hashtag

Fame is seductive. For a teenager, it can feel like everything

they ever wanted. But in the race for relevance, too many are

losing themselves. The likes may come fast, but so does the

loneliness. The followers may grow, but the fear often grows

faster.

Digital fame is not evil, but it is not innocent either. It is a world

of opportunities wrapped in invisible expectations. As a society,

we must unmask these realities not to scare, but to safeguard.

Let us remind every teenager: You are more than your feed.

You are not your follower count. You are not the number of

hearts on a reel. You are a whole human being which is flawed,

beautiful, and worthy even in silence.

Because in the end, it’s not about being seen by millions. It’s

about being known, truly known, by a few who care and that,

unlike fame, is real.