How does the accessibility to social media affect younger generations and more importantly how does music play a role in spreading awareness of this?

By Tegan 27/4/25

I am sure we are all sick of constantly hearing messages spiralling around, telling us what we consume daily, what we find comfort in, is all just rotting us. But in reality, we know it is. We are constantly seeking approval, constantly comparing ourselves. “Ultra-thin is IN! Eating food was soooo last year…” Sure, it may be a child's right to access information, but is social media the way to go?

With every negative idea on social media, there becomes a positive. Social media provides platforms for young people to connect, form communities and express themselves; therefore enhancing the child's social skills, but is this always a good thing? This constant connection, this new maturity, the exposure to such curated content, can affect mental health leading to people having issues with body image, depression and anxiety.

In my opinion, music plays a crucial role in spreading awareness about such issues. But, how?

The strong emotions that music evokes makes it a powerful tool for conveying messages about the impacts of social media on mental health and social issues. It is not uncommon for the opinions of artists, in particular those within the indie genre, to rub off onto the world of their music creation, whether that be general biases or politically. Both musicians and songs can influence culture and shape perceptions, that help de-stigmatise mental health issues, and further promote responsible social media use.

If we were to focus on body image as an aspect of mental health, Welsh punks “Panic Shack” and their new single “Gok Wan” would be a perfect example of music spreading awareness, and powerfully addressing the depressive, captive world of diet culture (which is more political than you think! Who would be more “obedient”? Malnourished, hungry, and tired women who don't have the energy to speak their mind; or those who are well-fed, confident, and couldn't care less about the carbs they consume? I will let you think about that one…) Taken from the kerrang.com interview with Panic Shack, the band wanted to convey how “growing up in the ‘00s” left them “bombarded with constant images of super skinny models and ‘IT girls’ as well as TV shows all about ‘looking good’ and ‘being thin’.”

The single kicks off with the lyric “I squat for two hours a day”, and as the song furthers, the numbers increase, going on to say “I squat for twelve hours a day”, which highlights the obsessive and addictive nature of eating disorders. Another aspect of these lyrics we can focus upon would be the anaphora of the commonly used, toxic phrase “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” emphasising the clueless and quite frankly ludicrous ideas behind the “skinny is in” culture.

Therefore, we notice that because of the immense comfort that an artists work provides to their fans, the issues that have become seen as taboo, (even though they are so common),

Being highlighted and mocked in their favourite songs, delivers a mental message, showing the listener the dangers of social media’s “influencers”.

An example of the futile structure of doom scrolling and social media being ridiculed, would be “Thomas Street” a song by Chloe Slater, a “south coast escapee”, who is frustrated at the world and all its issues. If you love a good indie banger I would recommend her, as she is exactly what indie should sound like in 2025!

Chloe’s lyrics act as an anger releasing mechanism for her fans, who deeply resonate with them. She digs deep into topics that all of us are too ashamed to talk about, providing a perfect space to let all your anger at the world, release. Whether it's someone so out of touch constantly appearing on your feed, or even the struggles of not knowing when to put down the endless loophole of horror that it is you consume. To provide an example of the comparisons that Chloe uses in her songs which scorn the alienated rich people of this world, the lyrics:

“We watch the tv and i preach about the world i see

They build a shelter and didn’t keep it up for a week

600 a listers claiming they’re like you and me

Sat empty bellied

Because thin is back in”

Would be a perfect example. The talent of being able to connect such a range of people, and within just a few minutes have so many emotions validated, feels so refreshing. The malleability of Chloe’s lyrics makes the immersive listening experience improve. Such as the lyric; “They build a shelter and didn't keep it up for a week” which I interpret two different ways. One way being that these rich people have sheltered themselves away from any bad thing they have said through, apology videos, giveaways, etc. Yet, within a week they have already gone against everything they “cleaned up”. They have already shown how unreliable they really are. How disconnected they are with human emotions and necessities. However another way it could be interpreted, is the way it is said. Building shelters. Bracing themselves and preparing for a disaster or problem that they have most likely caused themselves. This undeniably shows how money can shape a person. Being able to think of such extremities, and then being able to provide them for yourself, even though most common people would be struggling to even provide food for their families. Never even thinking about helping those below you, unless of course, it benefits you, or gets you that 200 thousand extra likes on that social media post you made. Chloe highlighting that “600 a listers” are “claiming they’re like you and me” shows the dehumanisation that fame brings, speaking volumes about the manufactured relatability that's become so common. Expanding upon this, celebrities often curate a false image of normality, trying to connect with their audience and fans through carefully created personas. Moreover, Chloe hints at this underlying hypocrisy that lies within this act, suggesting that the high levels of wealth and privilege creates an unbridgeable gap between them and their fanbases. Another theme explored is disillusionment, specifically in relation to promises of fame and fortune. Initially, the image created of building shelter, having connotations of community and safety, however is later juxtaposed with abandonment. It could be suggested that it relates to the fleeting nature of celebrity relationships, and mostly empty promises of a life lived in the spotlight. Chloe's music, specifically this song serves as a reminder to her more susceptible audience that behind images you see online, there is often an absurd and complex reality.

Building on these themes, it's interesting to draw a parallel with the band “My First Time” and their song “Workwear”, as in their respective ways, both songs encourage listeners to critically examine the systems and structures that shape our lives and to question values most often taken for granted. Like Chloe Slater, My First Time uses their lyrics as a power move. They constantly use mockery, and sarcasm, whilst still covering serious topics. This puts almost a cover of protection over their listeners as being exposed to such topics like eating disorders, politics, and the detrimental culture that surrounds modelling and materialism, in a manner that makes fun of it ensures that they won't be influenced by it from other sources. This entire song has elements worth analysing especially for this topic, however to focus upon how social media affects the life of younger generations, the fake children that MFT creates for this song, is a perfect example. Through the lyrics:

“My kid, Madeleine, has just got into modelling

She's loving all the labelling

The short, the tall, the fat, the thin”, ‘My First Time’ emphasises the potentially harmful aspects of the modelling industry and the labels it imposes, particularly on young people like Madeleine. It draws the focus on physical attributes "short, the tall, the fat, the thin" and the pressure to conform to certain standards, suggesting a critique of the industry's superficiality and potential impact on self-esteem. Additionally this could be linked into the pursuit of validation within the dark world of social media. A culture has been created where self-worth is tied to metrics, like likes, comments, views and followers. This is damaging for young people, particularly those in the modelling industry who may already be struggling with body image and self esteem. When self worth is based on the validation received externally, individuals may develop a distorted sense of themselves. Most definitely, they would prioritise presenting an image of perfectness online, even if it is not entirely authentic. Leading them to feel even more inadequate when they fail to meet such unrealistic standards. Not only does the band focus on how society affects women, but also men and young boys. “And, my kid, Benjamin, is having to take medicine

From all the rumours circling

And all the kids that pick on him” stresses the immense importance of mental health, especially for the younger generation and their underdeveloped brain. The “medicine” inferred is most likely antidepressants because it is implied that Benjamin is being bullied, and rumours are being spread. Although it is not said, this bullying is most likely occurring online, as the anonymity afforded by the internet can embolden bullies. Less inhibition would be felt when hiding behind a screen. “From all the rumours circling” links into the idea that social media can be used as a tool for public shaming, where in this instance, Benjamin would be humiliated and ostracised in front of a large audience, making him feel belittled and helpless. Finally, “Well, with my kid Angelina

I'm struggling to even feed her

Those magazines she likes to read

Tell her what and what not to eat

A different size on every high street

It's like converting European shoe sizes for your feet” The frustration of clothing sizes reflects the pressure to conform to unrealistic body standards. To a fuller extent this quote could be seen as a commentary on the societal pressures that contribute to eating disorders, including the media's portrayal of ideal body types, the emphasis on dieting, and the prevalence of body shaming.

In summary, social media, the issues surrounding it, and music are closely linked as found throughout this article. However they are linked in a way that contrasts one another, music is seen as a coping mechanism for many because of the issues caused by social media that we have all become ironically “influenced” to just putting up with. Think about it, how many times have you been deep into a doom scroll, when a video to do with something diagnosable pops up and frantically you rush to google just to look up symptoms? And then you instantly find yourself spiralling down a rabbit hole of worst case scenarios, highlighting how intertwined our digital lives are with our mental and physical wellbeing. Now imagine this but with the teenage, or even child's brain, where they are still developing. Take the prefrontal cortex as an example, responsible for impulse and decisions. This being so undeveloped makes them instantly more susceptible to the addictive nature of social media and its bad effects like doom scrolling. Furthering this point, adolescence is one of the most crucial points of a person's life for the formation of their identity. By social media creating these pressures of unrealistic expectations, their self esteem is lowered and potentially for life.

Thank you for taking your time to read this article. It is very much appreciated! Keep an eye on this space for interviews with artists, song and album reviews, more articles like this and so much more!!