Current Events > Anderson Cooper: "Instgram depresses the hell out of me"

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https://www.justjared.com/2021/10/06/anderson-cooper-says-instagram-depresses-him-i-feel-worse-about-my-own-life/?=morehere

Anderson Cooper made an admission about Instagram.

During his episode of Anderson Cooper 360, the 54-year-old host was speaking with Jennifer Grygiel, an associate professor of communications at Syracuse University. They spoke about the harmful impacts social media can have on teenagers.

What were seeing on Instagram is an imminent threat to teenagers. I am seeing self-harm, Jennifer said on the program. Im talking about starvation teenagers cutting themselves.

Im on Instagram and I enjoy it. I follow friends and look at art sites and things like that, Anderson said, but then added, But I gotta say, it depresses me. I mean, I leave feeling worse than when I got on.

He continued, I feel worse about my own life, I cannot imagine what a teenager feels. I mean, Im supposedly an adult. What some kid feels looking at other peoples lives and how their lives seem much more exciting than their own.

Its all fraud shit. Idk why anyones on there and it definitely cant be good for kids constantly trying to compare themselves to these ridiculous and unrealistic expectations.

Its basically all soulless photo ops of people pretending to be happy when theyre dead inside

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SSJPurple posted...

Its basically all soulless photo ops of people pretending to be happy when theyre dead inside

This sums it up.

No one is presenting their real selves. It's basically all staged and heavily edited. It's really easy to feel like you're missing out and not living the best life like everyone else is.

More like Anderson Pooper

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A cia agent from American elite family claiming to "get" 14 year old girls doesnt exactly help the cause.

Majority voting yes so far.

the_ruckus posted...

A cia agent from American elite family claiming to "get" 14 year old girls doesnt exactly help the cause.

I had to go reread the op after this post

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He's right about what it can do but it's all personal. I never leave feeling depressed or anything. Instagram really need to do better though.

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It may be because I'm an "old head" and grew up without all of these social media, so I didn't feel the need to "keep up" with what other people are posting.

When it come to all social media sites, you get out of it what you put into it.

You literally control who you follow, so you control what you see.

On FB, I only follow people I've met "in real life". Family, friends, old HS/college people I keep in touch with, etc.

On Twitter, I basically follow Sports beat writers and fantasy football sites.

On IG, the same as FB, save for about a dozen or so people I know "from the internet" (podcasts I listen to, wrestling news sites, etc).

They key to most of these sites it to stay away from the comments section.

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I already have severe self esteem issues, during the era of my space I felt like shit practically everyday because people were constantly flexing their new stereos or game or some other thing they got and just how easy it seemed and how fun and natural it seemed to them, meanwhile I'm struggling to even talk to someone or find an interests I like without feeling like an overgrown kid or a try to hard to be grown up person, And so as already withdrawn as I was I became even more withdrawn which affects me to this day, tomorrow I have to do something everyone does yet i feel horrible, like I'm the biggest scumbag and useless piece of trash ever for worrying so badly about something everybody does and seems to have a natural easy time at doing it. Like how dar I feel this way, what right do I have to feel this way and so on it's like a black pit of despair that churns my heart into a never ending darkness while everyone else shines so bravely I can't even look at them, normalcy feels so so far away from me that the dark is starting to become a comfort, I deserve this despair, this despair is all I've ever known, attempting happiness is futile, ust crawl back into the shadows where no one can see you no one can hurt you and no one can express their disappointment in you.

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tremain07 posted...

I already have severe self esteem issues, during the era of my space I felt like shit practically everyday because people were constantly flexing their new stereos or game or some other thing they got and just how easy it seemed and how fun and natural it seemed to them, meanwhile I'm struggling to even talk to someone or find an interests I like without feeling like an overgrown kid or a try to hard to be grown up person, And so as already withdrawn as I was I became even more withdrawn which affects me to this day, tomorrow I have to do something everyone does yet i feel horrible, like I'm the biggest scumbag and useless piece of trash ever for worrying so badly about something everybody does and seems to have a natural easy time at doing it. Like how dar I feel this way, what right do I have to feel this way and so on it's like a black pit of despair that churns my heart into a never ending darkness while everyone else shines so bravely I can't even look at them, normalcy feels so so far away from me that the dark is starting to become a comfort, I deserve this despair, this despair is all I've ever known, attempting happiness is futile, ust crawl back into the shadows where no one can see you no one can hurt you and no one can express their disappointment in you.

Hang in there.

ZannoL posted...

Hang in there.

"Thoughts and prayers."

I'm the CEO of my own billion dollar company I started from nothing, and here's the key to my success! I start every morning by waking up at 4 AM to a breakfast prepared by the finest chefs. Then I fly to Hawaii and jog 100 miles on the beach while answering business emails. Then I fly back home to say goodbye to my 20 wives before driving to work in my Bugatti Veyron!

I just follow sexy bitches and ask my wife f shed wear the clothes.

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ZannoL posted...

Hang in there.

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Social media was a mistake.

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Celebrity worship has been a thing long before Instagram, where people see models/celebs on ads/TV/tabloids, and believe that those celebs are so much prettier/richer/happier than they are, making them feel like shit.

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bigblu89 posted...

When it come to all social media sites, you get out of it what you put into it.
You literally control who you follow, so you control what you see.

Would you trust teenagers to be mindful and recognize what content would be unhealthy for them?

I made a deliberate decision to never open a Facebook account back in 2007 since I knew I'd stalk people I know, wanting to know everything they're doing with their lives compared to my stagnant life, and would have everyone seeing insane comments I make (and this board barely tolerates me as it is). For "well adjusted" sociable kids, they're going to go on social media and follow what their friends follow and it'll lead to them feeling pressured to live the life each other is living, whether it's having the looks or having X kind of success or experience, basically keeping up with the Jones. On top of that is the attention people will start craving which is also profitable. It's cycle that will tear into their self-esteem where they'll constantly not feel good enough but still feel incentivized to stay on the platform.

Partially related, but here's a video on Instagram's fraudulent influencers which are influencing kids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsXU3uayBAM

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SSJPurple posted...

Its all fraud shit. Idk why anyones on there and it definitely cant be good for kids constantly trying to compare themselves to these ridiculous and unrealistic expectations.

Its basically all soulless photo ops of people pretending to be happy when theyre dead inside

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eh he's sorta on the right track. to some extent every social media service has that problem. the actual issues that make instagram uniquely bad (as I see them) are a bit more nuanced though:

-complete inability to make posts without images or videos
-no links to anything offsite except in your bio
-almost no web functionality

basically it's designed to keep people in the app and generate lots and lots of really shallow engagement with what people post

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Sad_Face posted...

Would you trust teenagers to be mindful and recognize what content would be unhealthy for them?

I made a deliberate decision to never open a Facebook account back in 2007 since I knew I'd stalk people I know, wanting to know everything they're doing with their lives compared to my stagnant life, and would have everyone seeing insane comments I make (and this board barely tolerates me as it is). For "well adjusted" sociable kids, they're going to go on social media and follow what their friends follow and it'll lead to them feeling pressured to live the life each other is living, whether it's having the looks or having X kind of success or experience, basically keeping up with the Jones. On top of that is the attention people will start craving which is also profitable. It's cycle that will tear into their self-esteem where they'll constantly not feel good enough but still feel incentivized to stay on the platform.

But this is a social construct that has been around virtually forever, it's just on a larger scale now.

The desire to be looked at as one of the "cool kids". Listen to the cool music, wear the cool clothes, watch the cool shows. Kids wanting clothes and shoes their parents can't afford, because it'll raise their social status.

Only difference is you're comparing yourself to a few million people, as opposed to the few hundred you went to school with.


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People like the pauls brothers and other douchebag rich kids showing their consequence free lifestyles damages kids as well

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the_ruckus posted...

A cia agent from American elite family claiming to "get" 14 year old girls doesnt exactly help the cause.

Its weird how claims of someone being a cia agent gets thrown around a lot on social media & message boards.

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tremain07 posted...

People like the pauls brothers and other douchebag rich kids showing their consequence free lifestyles damages kids as well

Any more or less than the Jackass guys did 20 years ago, when social media was in it's infancy?


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Instagram, social media in general but IG especially, is a highlight reel, that you're comparing your B roll to.

Nobody going on there to post every errant thought or bad photo

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Yeah everyone is going to post what makes them look good, which gives a false impression that everyone has a better life than you do. I don't blame people, especially kids and teens, to be able to understand that and can have ever lasting damages on their self-esteem.

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wackyteen posted...

Instagram, social media in general but IG especially, is a highlight reel, that you're comparing your B roll to.

Nobody going on there to post every errant thought or bad photo

But back when all we had were actual physical cameras, did you frame and hang up all the pictures, or the dozen or so that may you, your friends, and your family look the best?

Again, IG is basically a digital version of the same shit we've been doing for years.

Showing the public the absolute best we have to offer to make us look as cool as possible.

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I literally use IG to look at girls i post a meme or random google image everynow and then to keep up appearances but plz know im on Creepazoid Demon Time on IG

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How is it different than teen magazines with brushed, glorified images of their peers having fake fun?

bigblu89 posted...

But back when all we had were actual physical cameras, did you frame and hang up all the pictures, or the dozen or so that made you, your friends, and your family look the best?

Again, IG is basically a digital version of the same shit we've been doing for years.

Showing the public the absolute best we have to offer to make us look as cool as possible.

The difference is that IG is something you check frequently vs maybe once a week or month or something

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bigblu89 posted...

Only difference is you're comparing yourself to a few million people, as opposed to the few hundred you went to school with.

And that difference is the critical difference that turns what was an ordinary life obstacle into a societal crisis. We're too connected.

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Sad_Face posted...

And that difference is the critical difference that turns what was an ordinary life obstacle into a societal crisis. We're too connected.

I guess.

Like I said, I'm "old" compared to the people that this truly affects, so maybe I just don't see it the same way they do.

I just personally find it easier to control what you see as opposed to back in the day, when seeing the "cool kids" in school openly make fun of you was unavoidable.

There was no "unfollow" or "block" button I could press to avoid the bullies and the cool kids at my school.

If there something on IG that you have an adverse effect to, just unfollow that account.

Sometimes, you need to find your own solutions. There's no one account that every teenager MUST follow. You literally get to pick and choose who's pictures and posts you see.

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bigblu89 posted...

I guess.

Like I said, I'm "old" compared to the people that this truly affects, so maybe I just don't see it the same way they do.

I just personally find it easier to control what you see as opposed to back in the day, when seeing the "cool kids" in school openly make fun of you was unavoidable.

There was no "unfollow" or "block" button I could press to avoid the bullies and the cool kids at my school.

If there something on IG that you have an adverse effect to, just unfollow that account.

Sometimes, you need to find your own solutions. There's no one account that every teenager MUST follow. You literally get to pick and choose who's pictures and posts you see.

Its so different tho im the same as you i got out of high school like right before smart phones & social media there was only facebook. But kids now get picked on in person and online so its actually different


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iPhone_7 posted...

Its weird how claims of someone being a cia agent gets thrown around a lot on social media & message boards.

I see what you're saying, but that cooper is a cia agent is a fairly mainstream conspiracy theory

I stopped using Facebook because it made me depressed seeing all these happy people doing things I never will get to do. I only use Twitter to follow people I like and content creators I like just to keep up to date. Never bothered with Instagram.

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Social media, while not responsible for, contributes to and exacerbates our feelings of depression and social anxiety. They really are bad for you.

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Southernfatman posted...

I stopped using Facebook because it made me depressed seeing all these happy people doing things I never will get to do. I only use Twitter to follow people I like and content creators I like just to keep up to date. Never bothered with Instagram.

I stopped using it because I would jerk off to women's pictures and then some people started posting these things like in order who visited your profile the most and I was like "oh shit they can track this!?" so I just stopped logging into it.

Instagram is a marketing vehicle for advertisers

Why bother with it

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the_ruckus posted...

I stopped using it because I would jerk off to women's pictures and then some people started posting these things like in order who visited your profile the most and I was like "oh shit they can track this!?" so I just stopped logging into it.

Bruv IG is better for the fap game word to motha


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Nasty_Nitro posted...

Bruv IG is better for the fap game word to motha

Yeah this was years ago.

This society always blaming others. If you cant handle seeing someones success, but you continue looking and seeking new things to be mad at, then thats all on you.

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Nasty_Nitro posted...

Bruv IG is better for the fap game word to motha

I have literally never made a single post with my IG account

It's used exclusively for following celebs and other people who post sexy pics
:/

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Sad_Face posted...

Would you trust teenagers to be mindful and recognize what content would be unhealthy for them?

You are a bad parent if your kids never learned this.

HylianFox posted...

I have literally never made a single post with my IG account

It's used exclusively for following celebs and other people who post sexy pics
:/

i just post random google search images lol im here for tha creepin


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gatorsPENSbucs posted...

This society always blaming others. If you cant handle seeing someones success, but you continue looking and seeking new things to be mad at, then thats all on you.

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Tiktok is worse.

When I was a teen this was the same conversation except the focus was on physical magazines somehow misleading the regular female populace.

Its never gonna go away now.

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ZannoL posted...

He looks like if Daniel Craig had lost weight.

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Cocytus posted...

How is it different than teen magazines with brushed, glorified images of their peers having fake fun?

Because with instagram/tiktok/facebook you have instant access to it as long as you are connected to the internet. It's bombarded through advertisements and it's constantly in your face. Teen magazines you can't even see it unless you check out the magazine stand and you had to pay for it too. Teen magazines the content was better at least.