METHODOLOGY
Within this case study, the researcher will summarise and outline the effects of Instagram on gen Z consumers, specifically surrounding the area of mental health. In addition, there will be discussion including the advantages and disadvantages of the photo-based app, as well as informing the reader of the many elements that contribute to these factors. The four chapters within the essay will aim to investigate the following: The Rise of the Influencer and Trolling including culture and trolling/cyberbullying, Body Image and Eating Disorders and how this could stem from anxiety and depression which could be caused by the app/users on the app, Cosmetic Surgery and the influence Instagram has on such procedures and finally, Instagram as a community in regards to social and political movements, as well as support networks. Furthermore, a key community within the Instagram app includes the Black Lives Matter movement, which is another important aspect of Instagram and society as it gains justice; even if it is at a steady, but slow pace. This case study will discuss the positives and negatives of both significant factors, and consequently the impact it can have on its consumer. Instagram has quickly become a concern due to the huge role it plays in mental health among its consumers and the effect it has on society. The effects on mental health are emphasised by research from the NHS; back in 2017, a survey regarding social media was conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), asking 14-24 aged individuals in the UK of their thoughts and experiences of social media. The aim for the researcher was to be able to rank the five most used platforms with their findings and as a result, Instagram came last, having the worst impact on mental health and well-being (NHS, 2017). This 14-24 age demographic are known as the ‘digital natives’, and are the generation of people who have lived in a world full of technology and have never been without the internet (Halton, 2019).
7
