A couple of scrolls is all it takes for an adolescent to feel like they are falling behind in life.
Social media amplifies others’ accomplishments without showing the reality of the hardships that come with those accomplishments. When it comes to college or other plans after high school, which can be a sensitive topic for some, it can be easy for fear and comparison to take over decision-making.
This is where college counselors on social media come in. College counselors, according to an article by The Princeton Review, can help students apply to and evaluate schools. While they are meant to benefit users and help teenagers navigate the college admissions process, some posts that show what applicants need to get into their dream schools can create a toxic environment and unnecessary fear that an applicant will be rejected because of a minor weakness on an application.
For example, some posts or videos that imply that one needs a passion project or else they will get rejected are a false narrative. It creates pressure so that students believe a specific aspect can change their whole future, even though an admissions officer’s decision widely varies depending on the circumstances and context.
Such exposure to harmful advice that one needs to achieve something to get into college creates fear-mongering. Fear-mongering, according to the Bryant & O’Connor Law Firm, can lead people to make decisions based on fear rather than rational judgment, which is detrimental to their confidence.
Enforcing the idea that there is one way to achieve success is inaccurate, and spreading misleading information about success can harm adolescents’ mindsets. According to an article by the Pew Research Center, 16% of teens reported that pressures and expectations are the one thing they think most negatively impacts their mental health, illustrating how fear-mongering can create toxic comparisons that can make teenagers feel unsuccessful relative to their peers.
In fact, I have watched a lot of college counselors on Instagram because I was scared of rejection and wanted to improve my application. I believed I needed to be outstanding in every part of my application, from high grades and over 100 hours of community service to numerous awards and a perfect essay.
However, after going through the college application process myself, I realized that it is unrealistic to be perfect in every way, and there is no guarantee of admission to a dream school, since everyone is different. Even colleges don’t expect applicants to be perfect.
Rather than discouraging people for what they have not accomplished, content creators and counselors should encourage the idea that there are multiple ways to achieve success, whether it is finding a job, finding a place in a community, or getting into a dream school.
Success is not defined by one path or one mistake. It can be defined by how someone grows from failure, rather than through comparison and fear.
