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How Social Media has Been Affecting Our Generations Self Image

Social media has infiltrated almost every aspect of billions of people's lives across the globe, Tik Tok specifically. In the United Kingdom, there are about 23.38 million users per month, according to Statista, the most popular age bracket among UK users is 18 to 24-years-old. 

People in this age group, as well as the younger age groups, are often viewing videos by Tik Tok stars labelled ‘Influencers’. 

Influencers are named after what they do, influence the public; the public being their audience on the app. A popular trend among influencers is creating videos called ‘Get ready with me’s, and in these videos the creator records themselves talking, picking out their outfits, and putting on makeup.

Many of these videos use filters and editing to make the creator seem flawless, while their young and impressionable audience watches along. Karlee Friemoth, 15, uses Tik Tok almost daily, she said: “I’ve used Tik Tok for years, I see so many videos of girls that are either my age or older than me. Whenever I see a viral video of a girl getting ready, she’s either being praised in the comments or bullied, all because of the way she looks.” 

A lot of the time that influencers will post on any social media platform, they promote unrealistic body standards and expensive products to their young fans, which can cause kids to develop things like eating disorders as well as materialism at an early age. 

McKenzie Brackenridge, 16, has been on the app since she was 13, she said: “I think the way I perceive myself since I started using social media has changed. It’s hard for me to look in a mirror without pointing out all the things about myself that I wish were different.” 

Whether a creator or viewer is posting or just commenting under a video, they are vulnerable to being attacked by others who disagree with you. “I’ve had people tell me I’m ugly or worse in comments because they didn’t like what I said about a video,” said Brackenridge. 

The effects Tik Tok has had on the younger generations has made many people overly critical of themselves and others, and has given many the confidence to bully and send hate to others.

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The King's Coronation

King Charles waited 74 years to become the king of the United Kingdom; on the 6th of May, 2023, he finally had his coronation and amassed an audience of 20 million people around the UK watching the live broadcasts, according to the Guardian. 

During the coronation, London’s Metropolitan Police reported making 52 arrests of anti-monarchy demonstrators. A protester, Brianna Birch, 20, witnessed the arrests from the sidelines, she said: “I joined the demonstration because I think it’s wrong for the monarchy to be spending so much money on the coronation when more and more people are going homeless because the rent just keeps getting higher.” 

While Buckingham Palace hasn’t released the official cost of the coronation, CNBC says it is estimated between £50 million and £100 million. This is an extreme price especially considering many UK citizens are struggling to afford the basic necessities as the country struggles with the ongoing cost-of-living-crisis. “I’ve had to cut back massively on what I buy at the grocery store, simply because it’s between affording more food or my rent,” said Birch. 

Outside Buckingham Palace, thousands of fans of the Royal family gathered to watch the King’s Procession from the palace to Westminster Abbey. Gia Defran, 27, came all the way from Pennsylvania, United States, to see the King’s Procession. She said: “I’ve always wanted to visit London, so there wasn’t a better time to come than now. It’s been 70 years since there’s been a coronation here, it’s like watching history happen right in front of you.” 

While not everyone may agree with the high expense for the coronation, many others believe that following the tradition of past coronations is especially important. “This is the way it’s always been and they should keep doing it like this. Events like this bring people from everywhere together,” said Defran. 

It is understandable why the demonstrators held a protest, people across the United Kingdom are struggling to make ends meet, so seeing such a large sum of money being spent on something that seems outdated and unnecessary in the time of a crisis is disappointing, to say the least.

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Police Brutality

After the death of George Floyd in May of 2020, riots filled the streets of every major city in America, fighting for the protection of people of colour from the racism and corruption from members of the United States’ police force. 

The ‘Statista Research Department’ compiled a graph showing that as of May 1st, 2023, there have been 344 fatal police shootings, with 42 of the deaths being African Americans across the United States. 

Rickay Martin, 18, Public Health student at Hartwick College, who took part in the protests in NYC in 2020 said: “I have never in my life felt safe around cops, and it’s a terrible feeling because I am supposed to feel protected by them. But I can’t because there have been so many other black people who were completely innocent that were killed by the hand of the police.”  

Most recently, on March 6th of 2023, 28-year-old Irvo Otieno was killed while being brought to a mental health facility in Dinwiddie, Virginia. The Washington Post reported that the police in the US shoot and kill more than 1,000 people every year and in the past 12 months, 1,087 have been killed. 

Some people are in between on the matter, they understand that the police force is corrupt, but don’t believe there’s a way to fix it, like Hunter H., a 21-year-old business student who said: “I completely understand the reason for the protests, but I don’t think that some of their values are correct. Some Black Lives Matter protesters believe that society would be better if we completely abolished the police force, and I just can’t stand behind that” 

No matter how people may feel, the fact is that the United States has the highest number of police killings of any developed country, according to the World Population Review; for a country that stands for the freedom of its citizens, it should be fighting harder to fix the corruption and systemic racism that has affected thousands of citizens every year

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An Active Warzone: the American School System

In the United States, you are trained from your first day of school as a 4 or 5-year-old, that there is a big possibility you may have to hide from someone threatening your school. 

Every day, parents in America send their kids to school knowing there is a chance that they won’t return home. According to The Guardian, there has been at least one shooting reported in the US per week, with 202 mass shootings since the beginning of the year. 

I remember the fear I felt when my school went into lockdown the first time after the Parkland shooting. Everything stood still as the principal announced over the loudspeaker: “Lockdown! Lockdown! Lockdown!” I will never forget how I felt texting my already graduated sister that I love her, my brother who was home sick from school, and my parents, for what I thought would be the last time. 

Unfortunately, I am one of millions who have felt this stomach churning fear, a fear that feels like looking death in the eye. Jaquelyn Eldon, a hairdresser that graduated high school in 2022 said: “I missed a lot of school and I fell behind a lot because I was so anxious all the time thinking that my school would be the next school, especially because it was so often that we would get bomb and shooting threats.” 

Many students in the US feel the same way as Jacquelyn, and many others have lost hope, this is considered the new normal for students. Many parents feel helpless, they do everything in their power to protect their children, but the one place they should feel most comfortable sending their kids has turned into a shooting range. 

Lisa Doyle, 47, shop manager said: “I am so thankful that my kids made it all the way through school without any incidents. In my daughter’s final year of high school I was so anxious about sending her back, I almost bought her a bulletproof backpack.” 

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New York City Subway Violence

New York City is the most populated city in the United States of America, with over 8.4 million people, which brings a higher crime rate to the community. In March of 2023, the New York Police Department announced the citywide crime statistics stating that there were 31 murders in the month, along with 2102 felony assaults. 

The NYC subways are no stranger to violence and I witnessed first hand an attempted murder while on the Uptown E train. The journey started normal, everyone boarded the train, found their spots and stayed out of everyone else’s space, until the peace was disturbed by two men brawling. 

Grace LaPosta, 19, Forensic Science student at John Jay College, who also was in the subway while the fight happened said: “It was crazy, one second I’m sitting there on my phone, then all I see is a dude being slammed into the window in the other car.” 

Another witness, who was on the next stop’s platform, Camryn Gaylor, 18, Criminal Justice student, saw the rest of the fight as it escalated off of the train. She said: “I was just waiting for my friend and then all I saw was a man pinning another man against the train, then he tried to push him between the cars so he would go under the tracks.” 

Thankfully, before the man succeeded, a swarm of MTA officers handled the situation, breaking up the two men and called for backup from NYPD officers. 

This was one of many crimes committed on the subway trains through all the boroughs of New York City, many residents don’t feel safe on their daily commute through the city, including LaPosta who said, “I see stuff like this happen often but I never get used to it. I never travel alone at night, and try to go with a friend when I can, just to feel more safe.” 

With over 10,000 crimes in March of 2023 alone, traveling to and from work makes anyone living in NYC’s stomach turn; turning what should be a worry-free journey into a realistic fear. 

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Tube strikes and their effect on everyday lives

Tube strikes affect everyone in London who depends on public transport in their day to day lives; for reference, according to the Government Department of Transport, in 2022, there were 5.1 billion singular passenger journeys on different modes of public transport.

Dominick Labery, a 20-year-old politics student said: “I actually missed my mum’s birthday because of the tube strike on January 3rd. But still, I get why they’re on strike.”

The reason train workers are striking is for better working conditions and a higher pay rise. According to City Monitor, unions have continued their strike due to pay rises that have not matched the rising inflation.

People all around London have stories about how the tube strike affects them. Rosie Platt, a 20-year-old illustrator from Shoreditch said: “It’s annoying because you’ll plan to do something with your day, but the tube’s on strike.”

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Possibility of the homeless population of the UK increasing

Photo by Sarah Kramer

The cost-of-living crisis has saturated the housing market in the United Kingdom. UK housing prices have skyrocketed in recent years, making it difficult for many people who make an average income to afford.

Lucas Curran, 23, an aerospace engineer student said: “I’ve been looking for flats outside student accommodation for next year and it just seems basically impossible for anyone to actually afford.”

“I’m worried that everything’s just going to get more and more expensive, to the point that no one can afford anything,” said Curran. Because housing became more expensive, the amount of families that possibly will be at risk of homelessness, or are already homeless went up by more than 23% in the past year, according to Inside Housing.

Bonnie Hunt, 21, a uni student in London, hopes for a change, but isn’t optimistic. “I do want a future where housing is affordable for everyone, but I’m also nervous because it doesn’t seem possible.”

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Summer and spring holiday prices are skyrocketing

Photo by Sarah Kramer

Prices for spring and summer holidays are already more expensive than that of last year, with long haul flights costing around 27% more. This means it’s going to be difficult for many people to pay what it will cost for traveling in and out of the UK.

For many people, including Kayley Brummel, an international student studying in Birmingham, 18, traveling long haul is a necessary expense. “I was planning on flying home for spring break, but I’d rather travel to Europe or something so I don’t have to spend all my money on tickets,” said Brummel.

According to a graph made by Google of the best priced round-trip ticket from London Heathrow to John F. Kennedy airport, it shows that from the end of March to mid April 2023, tickets are almost 2 times the price than ones at the beginning of March and the end of April.

This makes it difficult for not only international students, but many people who are trying to go somewhere warm for their holidays. Jacob Hemming, 24, from Preston said: “Me and my mates were going to plan a summer holiday, but all the hotels and airbnb prices are mad.”

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Cutting back on food expenses

Photo courtesy of Shutter Stock

In 2022, food and drink prices rose at its fastest rate since the late 70s. This brings up concerns for many United Kingdom residents and families.

According to the Office of National statistics, 23% of the surveyed individuals said they reduced the size of their meals or even skipped meals, due to being unable to afford the rising costs of groceries. Typically low cost items like tea now cost more, with inflation above 20%.

Connie Hawthorne, 20, university student from Wembley, is also concerned about the rising food costs. “I usually don’t get everything I plan on when I do my shopping. Like, I look at the prices and I don’t want to spend all my money, so I leave things on my list out,” said Hawthorne.

Some other students, like Rachel Elliot, 22, have also had to reach out to family members for extra support. “It got to the point where just my money wasn’t covering it, and I had to ask for help from my parents,” said Elliot.

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The cost-of-living crisis is damaging the social aspect of University

The cost-of-living crisis has affected over 45 million individuals nationwide, including countless university students.

In a study conducted by the Office of National Statistics, 4000 students were surveyed. In this survey it’s reported that 49% of students have had some sort of financial difficulty; for 45% of these students, this resulted in a worsening in their mental health since the start of the autumn 2022 school year.

Dan Green, 21, a uni student from Liverpool said: “I’ve had to turn down a few nights out, usually because I’m worried that I’d need that money to pay my rent.”

“It’s hard to go out and have fun if you’re constantly worried about affording basic human needs,” said Green.

Other students are looking for different ways to pay rent, while also being able to afford to go out. Tonje Brennsæter, 22, from Norway, plans on ditching her student accommodation next year and finding a flat on the outskirts of London. “It’s so expensive for such a tiny room. I’d rather pay less for a flat further away, but it’s going to be harder for me to see my friends,” said Brennsæter.

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Small businesses on the cost of living crisis 

On November 17th, Jeremy Hunt gave the Autumn Statement at the House of Commons.

Hunt, the United Kingdom’s newest Chancellor of the Exchequer tells the House: “High inflation is the enemy of stability.”, with the inflation going up to 11.1%, there are now many serious problems and worries for the future of the economy, and most importantly, the citizens of the UK.

To get perspective I asked a small business employee; Dane, 30, from JB Carpets, on whether or not customers will have enough extra money to splurge this Christmas season: “Possibly not, they’d have to go cheaper.”

Like Hunt said, stability is already being thrown off due to the higher inflation. With the fuel cost rising, small businesses are getting affected greatly.

I asked Mark, 38-year-old fruit and veg stand owner about him limiting his own budget this Christmas. He says: “Oh yeah, definitely.”

But Mark is still hopeful for a happy Christmas season, telling us: “Everyone’s had such a bad few years; Christmas is the time everyone wants to make the most of.”

Even though the news about fuel and inflation has been rough; it doesn’t put a damper on Mark’s optimism. He sets up Christmas trees to sell while he says, “You can’t work for no money. Get on with it, not really much you can do about it, is there?”