This was previously published in our October 2024 issue.
In an era dominated by social media, high school events have increasingly become elaborate productions, with 60 percent of teens feeling pressure to present a perfect image online, which often detracts from their enjoyment of the occasion, according to the American Psychological Association. Additionally, according to the Pew Research Center, 72 percent of teens use Instagram, a platform that fosters a culture of comparison and validation through likes. Research from UCLA indicates that this focus on capturing moments for social media can lead to decreased satisfaction with real-life events, as individuals become more concerned with online perceptions than the experiences themselves.
From prom nights to graduation ceremonies, students prioritize their social image over the genuine experiences these milestones are meant to celebrate. As they build their online personas, the focus shifts from meaningful connections and memories to meticulously staged photo shoots and Instagram-worthy moments. This shift raises important questions about how the quest for likes and shares is negatively reshaping the way students engage with their high school experiences.
When it comes to high school events, the buzz is often all about the outfits and the perfect photo-ops. Students spend hours picking out what to wear, coordinating with friends, and even scouting out the best spots for those Instagram-worthy shots.
Take prom, for example. Instead of just dancing and having fun, many students are more focused on getting that one perfect shot in their stunning dresses or sharp suits. They’ll spend ages posing, adjusting their hair, and making sure the lighting is just right. You can see groups of friends huddled together, not just to enjoy each other’s company but to capture the ultimate group photo that will get all the likes.
This obsession with capturing the perfect picture can turn what should be a fun celebration into a bit of a performance. Instead of laughing and making memories, everyone is busy posing and trying to get that one shot that will get the most attention. It’s hard to tell the difference between having a blast and just trying to look good on social media.
I saw this firsthand on the day of homecoming. Dozens of students, ready to capture a photo of their sparkling dresses and well-fitted suits, lined up at Lockridge Park. Eager to frame their night, they spent over an hour taking photos at the park, but only an hour at the actual dance. On the dance floor, a majority of the crowd had a phone in their hand, causing them to live in the moment on a different day. The mosh pit looked like a sea of screens with an endless amount of phones.
The phones in general made homecoming a mess. While some students were on the dancefloor, many were wasting away their homecoming experience on their phones, creating their newest instagram post that only 100 people were going to see. The entire experience was affected by the annoying amount of devices in students’ hands.
The endless amount of photos have a lot of downsides, but they also come with some positives. Capturing these important memories from your childhood to show you future children is something that many parents want to do — but sometimes it becomes too much. The best memories are the ones you can look back at. When you record every second of a special moment on video, it can take away from the excitement and make it harder to just enjoy the memory later on.
High schoolers are just too into their social media self. I think we would all benefit from leaving the second persona in the past and just being ourselves in person and on social media. I think all of us should just put down our phones and live in the moment. We shouldn’t spend our time looking back and spend it living in the moment.
