What are the negative effects of 'gaslighting' on young people from influencers?

Due to the popularity of social media, influential accounts called 'influencers' are gaining popularity. Teenagers in particular are vulnerable to the temptations of influencer culture and can be negatively influenced. Robin Stern, a psychoanalyst and co-founder of the Yale University Center for

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/power-in-relationships/202503/likes-and-lies-the-effects-of-influencers-on-teens

As a psychoanalyst, Stern specializes in the study of 'gaslighting.' The term gaslighting comes from the movie ' Gaslight ,' and refers to psychological abuse in which a husband badmouths his wife, mentally torturing her to make her doubt her sanity and manipulate her into doing what the husband wants.

What does it mean to 'manipulate the other person'? - GIGAZINE

by Send me adrift.

Stern has been researching the negative effects of social media in a study he conducted with the Center for Emotional Intelligence, working with his contacts at Meta and high school students who participated in Stern's Teens and Social Media group, and he points to the central role of 'influencers' as a central and unavoidable part of teens' lives.

Stern says there are differences between boys and girls in the reasons why teenagers are attracted to influencers. Girls tend to be more attracted to self-care influencers, such as makeup, style, and fashion, and by following them, they use them as role models to boost their confidence and get tips on self-expression. On the other hand, constantly looking at perfect photos and sophisticated lifestyles can have negative effects such as making you feel inadequate with your current self, damaging your self-esteem, and becoming too obsessed with looking better.

Boys tend to follow influencers who have been successful in competitive fields such as sports, games, and money making. While these influencers can encourage self-discipline and affirm effort, some influencers have harmful aggression, praise the idea of winning at all costs, and completely deny the opinions of others by saying 'people who don't do this are stupid,' sending out extreme ideas. As a result, Stern points out that this can lead to stereotypes of 'masculinity' and unhealthy desires.

Stern says the negative impact that influencers often have on young people is similar to gaslighting. Many influencers talk about their amazing success stories and broadcast their luxurious lives and glittering appearances. When taken too far, it creates a reality in young people that they will never be enough unless they behave in a certain way or buy certain products. Influencers often hide the fact that their wealth and status are the result of some privilege, effort, or environment, leading young people to ask themselves, 'Why can't I be like that?' and 'What is wrong with me?'

Stern lists the following four points as measures to prevent anxiety and confusion caused by social media.

Question what you see. Are influencers sharing their real lives, or are they lying or showing only a partial truth to sell a product or ideology? Developing critical thinking skills on social media is key to avoid falling into the traps of influencer culture.

Browse more positive and authentic content. Not all influencers are toxic, some are just inspiring and motivating.

Changing your perspective on a situation can be beneficial when digesting negative media.

A healthy balance can be achieved by limiting your social media use, participating in offline activities, and spending more time with real-life friends and family. Also, if you find yourself following an influencer and it makes you feel bad, unfollow them immediately.

Teens may not realize they are being gaslighted by toxic influencers, so it's important for parents and others to ask about and evaluate the influencers their children follow while encouraging them to spend more time offline. 'Influencers will continue to be around, but that doesn't mean young people need to be swept away by their influence. With self-awareness, healthy boundaries, and parental support, you can enjoy their content without it affecting how you feel about yourself. It's important to appreciate influencers for their entertainment and inspiration, but also to know when to take a step back and look at reality,' Stern said.