Selfie Culture - Is social media damaging your (and your child's) mental health?

My guest today is Paul Asay Sr Associate Editor of PluggedIn.com an author and dad. We're talking about selfie culture and how comparison can harm your (and your child's) mental health. We discuss some steps to take to help mitigate the harmful effects of social media, ways to make sure you are staying in the moment and not trapped behind a screen, and we even discuss some photography tips and tricks. (Save some money by shooting your engagement photos at Olive Garden instead of Italy!)

According to a 2018 survey, 82 percent of U.S. adults under 34 had taken and posted a selfie on social media. It’s safe to say that number has since increased. Instagram has over 53 million photos tagged with the hashtag #selfie. There’s even an entire industry dedicated to selfie events.

But have today’s youth and young adults become so preoccupied with being seen on social media that they no longer enjoy real-life experiences? And is the obsession with posting that allusive “perfect photo” leading to an increase in low self-esteem and depression?

Sadly, self-image on social media has had a devastating impact on many young adults’ confidence — even leading to an increase in demand for plastic surgery the past two years.

Feel free to follow Paul Asay on Twitter @AsayPaul.