The Search for Self-Validation Among Teenagers on Social Media and Its Impact on Social Anxiety

Abstract

The rapid development of information technology has brought significant changes to the way humans communicate and interact, especially among teenagers. This research aims to understand the experiences of teenagers in seeking self-validation thru social media and its impact on social anxiety. This research uses a phenomenological qualitative approach involving 3 adolescent and young adult subjects who actively use social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Data were obtained thru in-depth interviews, observations, and documentation, then analyzed descriptively phenomenologically following Creswell's stages. The research results show that the three subjects have different motivations for using social media, but all are rooted in the need for recognition and social acceptance. Social validation in the form of "likes," positive comments, and the number of followers has been proven to affect the psychological condition of the subjects, where positive responses lead to feelings of self-confidence and self-satisfaction, while a lack of validation causes feelings such as anxiety, disappointment, and low self-esteem. Additionally, it was found that social media plays a dual role, capable of boosting self-confidence in online interactions, but can decrease comfort in face-to-face communication. This research emphasizes the importance of balancing external and internal validation so that teenagers can build a healthy self-identity in the digital era, and consequently, their self-confidence and self-satisfaction will also increase.