364 - Beyond ‘Liking’ or ‘Not Liking’: Co-Created Stories for Social Media Resilience

Social media has woven itself into the fabric of our lives, transforming how we interact and perceive ourselves and others – and not always in a good way. Young people are particularly vulnerable to unrealistic portrayals of life designed to increase ‘likes’, attract advertisers, and promote a comparative mind-set. Research indicates that overexposure to these unrealistic, overly crafted narratives can severely harm the self-esteem, mental wellbeing, and body image perception of young users. As approximately 95% of young people actively engage with social media by age 15, there is an urgent need to protect youth wellbeing from these harmful effects.