There’s no doubting the popularity of social media. Keeping up with friends, connecting with new people, engaging in discussion and posting memories are all brilliant parts of it. However, it’s a double-edged sword.

With so much editing, so many filters, and body focused content, social media is one of the biggest fuels for confidence issues in young people. It’s completely normal and understandable to feel insecure as a result of your interaction with social media.

  • A Huffington Post poll found that 60% of people using social media reported that it has impacted their self-esteem in a negative way
  • It also found that 51% of users say social media has made them feel more self-conscious about their appearance
  • Almost a third of British teenagers feel ashamed of their body, with imagery of “idealised” bodies on social media driving their insecurity, a survey of teenagers undertaken for the Mental Health Foundation has found.

You’re not alone if you feel like you are inadequate compared to others.

If you come away from social media feeling like you need to look a certain way to be liked, want to be ‘prettier’, or you feel like other people are better than you, you’re definitely not alone but it doesn’t have to be this way.

We’ve collected some of the most empowering, inspiring and informative accounts for you to follow if your feed needs a fresh start.

Sad Girls Club

Contrary to its name, Sad Girls Club is all about removing the stigma around mental health, providing resources, and showing up for black women and people of colour.

With Ask A Therapist IGTV’s, uplifting reminders, and posts of encouragement, Sad Girls Club is a brilliant community to follow. It’s a great mix of humour, mental health tips, honest opinion and advice for girls and young women.

It’s also an account that is diverse and representative – showing women of all sizes, races, backgrounds and styles – something we all need to see more of on social media.

All Things Lilly Ann

Bright, bubbly and uplifting, this account is bursting with feelgood graphics, wallpapers and captions.

Lilly Ann also sells her designs as notepads, stickers, crewnecks and phone cases, so you can have the beautiful little reminders to carry around with you, as well as on your feed.
Her designs focus around encouragement, thankfulness and reminders of your self worth.

Iweigh

Iweigh was created by Jameela Jamil in an effort to fight back against the media’s focus on women’s bodies and weight. It focuses on women identifying elements of their character and personality that contribute to their worth, instead of being validated by the number of the scale.

If you feel insecure about your appearance, or just need a boost, this page is brilliant for that. Supportive, passionate and inclusive, iweigh is a brilliant addition to your feel good Instagram feed.

Danae Mercer

Danae’s instagram is full of self love, acceptance, and education about our bodies. The most powerful thing she does is video herself in typical ‘influencer’ poses, and then shows the reality behind it. Essentially, she unmasks the filtered, adjusted, and posed world of social media, to show the real life behind it.

Accounts like this are brilliant for reassessing the comparisons we naturally make when we see photos of other women.

She promotes self esteem and accepting the body you’re in – and loving it.

Rupi Kaur

Canadian poet Rupi Kaur’s instagram is infused with the messages of her poetry – empowerment, self appreciation, growth and celebration.

An inspiration to many already, her approach to life and poetry is something to be adored. Rupi and her work has made a massive impact on the world.

She shares snippets from her poetry books on her feed, all relatable and comforting to read. She addresses heartbreak, trauma, body image, and mental health in a beautiful way.

Her feed makes you feel less alone with whatever you’re feeling.

We want to give young people the tools they need to help themselves, and to be helped. Social media plays a huge part in life now, and tackling the toxic methods and secrecies at it’s heart can make a massive difference to the wellbeing of our young people – and ourselves.

Want to know more about tips for feeling happier? We have resources and more helpful blogs for you.