Social media’s impact on teen self-esteem has become an increasingly popular topic in IELTS Writing Task 2 essays. This theme often appears in questions related to technology, youth, and mental health. Based on recent trends, it’s likely to remain a frequent subject in future IELTS exams. Let’s explore this topic through a carefully selected question and provide sample essays for different band scores.

Analyzing the Question

Some people think that social media has a negative impact on the self-esteem of teenagers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

This question directly addresses the relationship between social media and teen self-esteem. It’s an opinion-based question that requires you to state your position and support it with relevant examples and explanations. Let’s break it down:

1. Topic: The impact of social media on teenagers’ self-esteem
2. Task: Express your opinion on whether this impact is negative
3. Key points to consider:
   • Different aspects of social media that might affect self-esteem
   • Potential positive and negative effects
   • Real-life examples or studies to support your argument

Sample Essay 1 (Band 8)

In the digital age, social media has become an integral part of teenagers’ lives, leading to heated debates about its effects on their self-esteem. While I acknowledge that social media can have some positive influences, I largely agree that its impact on teen self-esteem is predominantly negative.

Social media platforms often present a distorted view of reality, which can be particularly harmful to impressionable teenagers. Users tend to share only the highlights of their lives, creating an illusion of perfection that is impossible to match in real life. This constant exposure to idealized images and experiences can lead teens to make unfavorable comparisons, fostering feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth. For instance, a study by the Royal Society for Public Health found that Instagram, a popular image-sharing platform, was rated as the worst social media platform for young people’s mental health and well-being, particularly in terms of its impact on body image and self-esteem.

Moreover, the validation-seeking behavior encouraged by social media can be detrimental to teen self-esteem. The number of likes, comments, and followers becomes a tangible measure of popularity and acceptance, creating a toxic cycle of seeking external validation. This can lead to anxiety and depression when the desired level of engagement is not achieved, further eroding self-esteem. Additionally, the anonymity provided by some platforms can facilitate cyberbullying, which has devastating effects on teen mental health and self-perception.

However, it would be remiss to ignore the potential positive aspects of social media. These platforms can provide opportunities for self-expression, creativity, and connection with like-minded individuals. For some teens, particularly those who feel isolated in their physical communities, social media can offer a sense of belonging and support. Nevertheless, these positive aspects are often overshadowed by the more pervasive negative influences.

In conclusion, while social media does have some redeeming qualities, its overall impact on teenage self-esteem appears to be more negative than positive. To mitigate these effects, it is crucial for parents, educators, and platform developers to work together in promoting healthy social media usage and fostering resilience in young people. This could involve educating teens about the curated nature of social media content, encouraging critical thinking, and promoting offline activities and relationships.

(Word count: 370)

Sample Essay 2 (Band 6)

In today’s world, social media is everywhere and many people think it’s bad for teenagers’ self-esteem. I agree that social media can have negative effects on how teens feel about themselves, but I also think it’s not all bad.

One big problem with social media is that it shows a fake version of life. Teens see their friends posting only good things and perfect photos. This can make them feel like their own lives aren’t good enough. For example, if someone sees their classmates posting about parties they weren’t invited to, they might feel left out and sad. Also, seeing so many edited photos of beautiful people can make teens unhappy with how they look.

Another issue is that social media makes teens care too much about getting likes and followers. They might think that if they don’t get enough likes, they’re not popular or good enough. This can make them feel anxious and lower their self-esteem. Cyberbullying is also a big problem on social media, where mean comments can really hurt a teenager’s feelings.

However, social media isn’t all bad for self-esteem. It can help some teens connect with others who have the same interests. This can make them feel less alone and more confident. Social media also lets teens express themselves creatively, which can be good for self-esteem. For instance, a shy teen might feel proud sharing their art or music online.

In conclusion, I think social media does have more negative than positive effects on teenage self-esteem. But it’s not completely bad. We need to teach teens how to use social media in a healthy way and help them understand that what they see online isn’t always real.

(Word count: 283)

Social media impact on teen self-esteem

Explaining the Band Scores

Band 8 Essay Analysis

This essay demonstrates the qualities of a Band 8 response:

1. Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with relevant, extended, and well-supported ideas.
2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear progression throughout. It uses a range of cohesive devices effectively.
3. Lexical Resource: It uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features. Key phrases like “distorted view of reality” and “validation-seeking behavior” demonstrate this.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy. Complex sentences are handled with ease.

Band 6 Essay Analysis

This essay demonstrates the qualities of a Band 6 response:

1. Task Achievement: The essay addresses the task, presenting a relevant position, though the ideas are less developed compared to the Band 8 essay.
2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally coherent with some clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are used but not always effectively.
3. Lexical Resource: It uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task. There are attempts at using less common vocabulary, though not always successfully.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. There are some errors, but they don’t impede communication.

Key Vocabulary to Remember

1. Integral (adjective) /ɪnˈteɡrəl/ – necessary and important as a part of a whole
2. Impressionable (adjective) /ɪmˈpreʃənəbəl/ – easily influenced or affected by others
3. Fostering (verb) /ˈfɒstərɪŋ/ – encouraging the development of something
4. Inadequacy (noun) /ɪnˈædɪkwəsi/ – the state of being not good enough
5. Detrimental (adjective) /ˌdetrɪˈmentl/ – causing harm or damage
6. Validation (noun) /ˌvælɪˈdeɪʃn/ – recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings are valid
7. Cyberbullying (noun) /ˈsaɪbəˌbʊliɪŋ/ – the use of electronic communication to bully a person
8. Resilience (noun) /rɪˈzɪliəns/ – the ability to recover quickly from difficulties

In conclusion, mastering essays on social media and teen self-esteem requires a deep understanding of the topic and the ability to articulate ideas clearly and coherently. Practice writing essays on similar topics, such as “The impact of social media on mental health” or “The role of technology in shaping youth culture.” Remember to always analyze the question carefully, plan your response, and use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures appropriate to your target band score.

We encourage you to practice writing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This active practice is an excellent way to improve your writing skills and prepare for the IELTS exam. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!