By Daniela Cooper
After investigating perception, social media, and mental health through this exhibition project, I realized that these three topics are deeply connected in ways I had not understood before. At first, I thought the ideas were separated. However, as I explored them further and discussed them with my teammates, I began to see how perception shapes the way we experience social media and how social media can strongly influence mental health. This project helped me understand how the mind works and how easily it can be influenced. I learned that it is crucial to be aware of the connection between what we see and how we feel, because perception and mental health are intertwined in ways that are often subtle but significant.
One of the most important things is that perception is unique to every person. Two people can look at the same image or situation and interpret it completely differently. During the project, every time my teammates and I discussed the concept or reacted to an example from social media, we realized how personal perception truly is. It depends on one’s experience, mood, personality, and even what they have been exposed to online. This helped me understand that perception is not just about what we see, it’s about how our mind makes meaning out of what we see, and how our interpretations can affect emotion and behavior.
When we connected perception to social media, I began to understand how powerful these platforms are in shaping the way people think. Social media does not simply display content, it influences how we interpret the world. People often post their happiest moments, achievements, or appearance, but really, there are struggles or failures. This creates a curated version of reality, and because our perception is already subjective, social media can intensify self-doubt, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. One of the most important lessons I learned is that social media affects mental health not only because of the content that is posted but also because of how our perception reacts to it (Pew Research Center, 2020).
Studies show that people how use and perceive all the online content it helps a lot in the mood and the self-esteem and all the health problems also affecting anxiety levels (Lopez et al, 2021)teenagers face weird pressures they feel all the need to always compare themselves to everyone and that causes fear of missing out which everyone called it fomo wich makes them feel emotional stress when they create a post in any social media page Social media can amplify concerns about body image, social status, and the success which can really affect their mental health (Farduouly & Vertanian, 2016)also the exposure to a label context it can change a lot of percetuonsa about mental health and decreasing a possibility of seeking help. (Uunion, Ccollege,2020) In Latin America. For example, studies have shown that Ccovid- 19, the pandemic, increaseds a lot of social media use with higher levels of cases of anxiety, depression, and a lot of issues with teens and kids (Bravo et, 2020).
This project helped me understand that being aware of how social media shapes perception is crucial for mental well-being. Understanding that perception is personal allows us to critically analyze what we see online and reflect on how it affects our emotions. By being mindful of this connection, we can better protect our mental health, develop healthier habits when engaging with social media, and foster a more balanced understanding of ourselves and the world. It also highlighted the importance of open discussion, critical thinking, and self-reflection when navigating digital environments that constantly shape our thoughts and emotions.
Bravo, P., et al. (2020). Redes sociales virtuales y la salud mental en tiempos de COVID-19: Una revisión de literatura. [Literature review on social media and mental health in Latin America].
Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2016). Social media and body image concerns: Current research and future directions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 9, 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.09.005
García-Maldonado, G., et al. (2021). Adolescent perceptions of social media and its influence on mental health. Universidad de Murcia.
Lopes, B., et al. (2018). Social media use and its relationship with mood, self-esteem, and paranoia. Psychiatry Research, 270, 420–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.09.027
Pew Research Center. (2020). Influence of social media on mental health: A systematic review. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org
Union College. (2020). Stigmatizing content on social media affects perceptions of mental health care.
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