POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF INSTAGRAM USE IN THE FEMALE SOCIAL VALIDATION PROCESS

Abstract

The present article discusses the use of social media as a theoretically positive tool in the process of social validation for women, where people in this cyberspace share their experiences through these networks. In a very subtle way, the text also seeks to show, from a holistic perspective, the challenges these individuals face when confronted with criticism and demands regarding the obligation to take a stance on social media for their followers. It also touches on the biased and targeted use of Instagram’s structured algorithms, which lead these users into a bubble of like-minded individuals, where thinking differently is not part of the plan, thus creating an unprecedented social modulation, where freedom is curtailed, and anxieties become apparent. Finally, it presents the positive and negative factors that this virtual technology can bring to its users.