ENRICH

Directions: Read an article/research about the effects of technology to self-esteem. Determine the
following data from the document read. 
1. short background of the study
2. findings of the study
*Use APA 7th edition in citing your reference

TECHNOLOGY TO SELF-ESTEEM

Technology has been one of the most popular advancement that the world has embraced
that help not just on convenience and on the comfortability of usage of it. As of 2019, the Statista
had recorded 74 million smartphone users in the Philippines, this means that 68% are users of
smartphone out of the total population of Filipinos. It signifies that there are indeed many users
of technology making them enjoy the benefits of it, but also be prone to things that can result to
the downfall of the person. In most cases technology has made a negative impact to its users in
terms of self-esteem, relationship, stress, coping skills and even sleep.

Many researches have been fascinated by these effects and wanted to investigate it
whether social media and mental health has any relationship or correlation with each other. The
National Institute of Health (NIH) had published an article that explains how there is no
conclusive evidence that suggest that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can lead
to depression, but signs and predictors that a person is experiencing depression can be observed
on the way he or she behaves online.

On the other hand, social media has been a medium of showing affirmation and
appreciation. Somehow it shapes how a person conveys ideas that is so called “normal” and
“important” to their peers. In other words, it has been a bridge for assessing an individual’s self-
worth based on how they assimilate with their peer groups. Moreover, social networking has
provided an opportunity to constantly compare with others in many variables like body image-
like how someone should fit in to current trends and failure to do so leads to inferiority. Another
way of degradation of media to one’s self-worth is through the fear of missing out, this involves
peer pressure that makes that person to feel anxious that his or her interests would not match
with his or her friends. Social media also triggers stress from the vulnerability of users to
bullying. It makes them worry about the sentiments that others might give to them. Therefore,
social media or technology would let its users know that they are being left out which would lead
them to feeling of depression and a decreased self-esteem.

Although the implications of social media and technology are complicated, it is important
to support how these affect one’s thought of their self-worth. So, viewing these issues it should
be addressed because depression is a serious thing. Many users might be at stake so this side of
technology should be changed or improved to avoid the risk of destruction of one’s mental
health.

References:
Powers, S. (2017, August). Self-Esteem, A Social Media World.

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/PDFs/Social-Media.pdf

Sanchez, M. (2020, July). Smartphone users in the Philippines 2015-2025

https://www.statista.com/statistics/467186/forecast-of-smartphone-users-in-the-philippines/

Yael (2016, May). How technology effects teenager self-worth. Sage Day. Therapeutic

Education That Transforms

https://www.sageday.com/blog/how-technology-effects-teenager-self-worth