How Social Media Trends Can Lead to Self-Criticism  Social media has made connection easier. However, it also has had negative impacts on users’ mental and physical health.  I was a teenager when Facebook came out. I saw the beginning of overconnectivity. In middle school, my friends and I made accounts. We only posted our best pictures. We wrote our diary-like statuses. We gave our opinions. The likes we got were validating, innocently. As I got older, Instagram was the new thing. Users scrolled pictures endlessly. Likes felt even more important [...]

How I Survived Social Media   My experience with social media started at age 10 with the app Musically. I danced every day, and I dreamed of being a dancer. When I heard about the app Musical.ly, I immediately downloaded it. Musical.ly helped shape my identity! Dance was a goal I wanted to achieve. It boosted my confidence and gave me pride. It also helped me cope with anxiety. After a couple of years went by, I was in middle school at the time and was bullied for my weight. I [...]

The holiday season can be a time of great joy and gratitude. Movies, commercials, pictures in social media, all give the impression that every family (except our own) is perfect.  For many, however, the holidays can be very stressful. Many families experience difficult situations including estranged relationships, personal disappointments, loss, and grief. These difficulties hurt in a very real way. Here are some tips to help prepare for this time and experience less stress during the season. Plan ahead to feel empowered. Many people feel pressured during the holidays to [...]