BEHIND THAT SELFIE SMILE: THE HIDDEN TOLL OF ONLINE COMPARISON AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES...
In the early hours of today, Philadelphia saw another tragic shooting. This event is not isolated—it’s part of a larger pattern of violence and despair across America. Over the past several years, mass shootings and suicides have become heartbreakingly common. Many people are asking: could the mental health crisis in the U.S. be getting worse?
Some experts say yes. For example, in 2023, nearly 47,000 people died by firearm in the U.S.—and more than half of those deaths were suicides with guns.
https://apnews.com/article/c57bb0852adfb4d85b3670d465a8b890
Even though gun homicides declined slightly in 2023, they are still held at near-record levels. Meanwhile, mass shootings continue to happen. According to Wikipedia, from January to the end of June 2025, there were 211 mass shooting incidents, killing 216 people and injuring 887.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_the_United_States_in_2025
It’s not just gun violence. Suicide rates in the United States have been rising for decades. In 2022, the suicide rate was 14.2 per 100,000—nearly double the rate in 2000.
https://apnews.com/article/c57bb0852adfb4d85b3670d465a8b890
These numbers are shocking. And I believe one reason for the crisis is social media. When people scroll through endless streams of smiling faces, expensive lifestyles, and “perfect” moments, it can make them feel worse about their own lives. This overload of happy, high-energy posts—even by people living normal lives—makes many feel left behind, lonely, and defeated.
Mental Health in the U.S.: A Rising Emergency
In October 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General officially called youth mental health a “national emergency.” Things haven’t improved—in fact, they’ve worsened.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_mental_health_crisis
Since 2014, suicide rates among those aged 10–24 have gone up by 56%. Even more alarming, suicide rates for girls aged 10–14 spiked 167% between 2010 and 2020.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_mental_health_crisis
Social media often gets blamed for making things worse. Platforms can increase feelings of anxiety and depression, especially when they constantly highlight lives that seem perfect and happy. Teens and young people often compare themselves to these idealized posts—and that can push them deeper into despair.
Studies show a link between social media and suicide risk. One New Yorker story shared a heartbreaking case of a teenage girl whose social media feed made her feel isolated; she sadly took her own life at 17.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/10/07/social-media-mental-health-suicide-crisis-teens
However, it’s not all black-and-white. Social media can also connect people in need with help. Some research shows teenagers from troubled families use it to find support.
Still, algorithms tend to trigger negative feedback loops. One study showed that after mass shootings, people talked more about mental health on Twitter—and positivity in those messages declined.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2106.01481
Worse yet, another 2015 study found that school shootings might follow surges in social media chatter, suggesting a copycat effect.
How Gun Violence and Mental Health Are Connected
Exposure to gun violence damages mental health deeply. After mass shootings, survivors and even witnesses often suffer. About 28% of survivors develop PTSD, with many experiencing depression, anxiety, or panic.
A Rutgers study found that nearly 40% of people have heard gunshots multiple times, and those with higher exposure to gun violence showed more signs of depression, suicidal thoughts, and increased mental-health needs.
https://www.rutgers.edu/news/frequent-exposure-gun-violence-associated-depression-suicide-and-mental-health
Yet, it’s important to recognize that most mass shooters are not mentally ill in the clinical sense. Only about 5% show signs of severe mental illness. About 25% have other psychiatric conditions like depression; 23% involve substance use.
https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/mass-shootings-and-mental-illness
Many are driven by sudden stress, anger, or a craving for fame more than by diagnosable illness.
Comparing America and Ghana: Two Very Different Worlds
Living in Ghana, especially in places with fewer material comforts, life can still feel full and meaningful. People know struggle—yes—but everyday joys and deep community ties outweigh the hardships.
Contrast that with the U.S., where many are disconnected. We’ve got nicer homes, new cars, and endless online validation—or the lack of it—and yet more anger, loneliness, and mental breakdowns. In Ghana, a lack of possessions doesn’t seem to cause this despair. In America, possessions alone don’t buy happiness, especially when what we see online looks better than anything we own.
This isn’t to say mental health issues don’t exist in Ghana—they do—but the daily stress of modern technology and perfected lives online seems to magnify suffering in the U.S. Many people are living in a constant spotlight, feeling perpetually inadequate.
Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword
On one side, social media connects people with mental health help—hotlines, communities, therapy. On the other, it amplifies mental health risks. A 2024 supercomputer study found over half a million young adults browsing suicide-related content; that’s serious.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.07718
Apps and platforms often push content that keeps users engaged—sad or angry posts get more attention and keep people scrolling. This can deepen feelings of loneliness and self-worthlessness, especially for people already struggling.
Even well-intended posts can harm. Seeing everyone else’s “highlight reel” can make people with mental health issues feel even more alone. Behind every happy photo, people struggle—but we only see smiles, not struggles.
America is facing a growing mental health crisis. Suicides are at levels not seen since the 1940s, and half involve guns.
https://apnews.com/article/c57bb0852adfb4d85b3670d465a8b890
Mass shootings continue too, harming communities and increasing trauma across the country.
Social media plays a big role. When people see one perfect post after another, it can make them feel worthless—not because their lives lack value, but because they are trapped in a constant comparison game. They aren’t flawed—the digital world is.
We need to wake up. This isn’t about banning social media—it’s about using it responsibly. Kids need real connection, not likes. Adults need mental health support, not just ads and highlights. Communities must talk honestly about feelings, not post happiness only.
America must treat mental health like a public health emergency. That means more services, better access, education, and tools to manage online life. It means policy that reduces gun access for people in crisis, and media that stops glorifying violence.
If we don’t address this now, more lives will be lost—to violence or to silence. Let’s build societies—online and offline—that hold each other up, not tear each other down.
