Problem statement: What’s the significance of using Instagram or TikTok for young people’s emo-tional regulation?
Approach: Qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews, are employed to collect empirical data. The Jeffersonian transcription method is used for data transcription. The study involves three participants aged from 14-25 years old. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analytic approach is used for data analysis. The theoretic frameworks include James Gross’ theory of emo-tional regulation and Lazarus’ approach to negative emotions.
Main findings: The study reveals that social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have a significant impact on the mental well-being and emotional regulation of young people. The re-sults indicate that body positivity is a crucial factor as youngster experiences of body image influ-ence their emotional state and self-acceptance. Furthermore, the study highlights the prevalence of perfectionism on social media, which can lead to stress and psychological strain. Many young individuals also utilize social media platforms to avoid experiencing difficult emotions, employing them as distractions or temporary escape. Algorithms and selective attention play an important role in influencing young people’s emotional states by curating specific content and concealing other information, potentially limiting exposure to diverse perspectives, and hindering the ability to cope with negative emotions. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing young people’s emotional regulations skills and promoting healthy social media use. Addressing issues related to algorithms and digital manipulation is necessary, as they can negatively affect young people’s mental health and foster addictive behaviors. The study contributes to a deeper under-standing of young people’s experiences of emotional regulation in TikTok and Instagram, empha-sizing the need to consider these factors in future interventions and guidelines.
Conclusion: Constant exposure to perfect images on Instagram and TikTok contributes to body insecurity, leading to the suppression of emotions to maintain an idealized image. TikTok serves as a means of distraction and emotional regulation, as algorithmic filtering hampers critical think-ing. It’s crucial for young users to be mindful of their selective attention and actively seek alterna-tive perspectives.