How Social Media Shapes the Worldview of Young People

"When I was fourteen, I had just placed my Barbies in my little sister’s room because I felt it was time to say goodbye to them."
That’s what I recently told a fourteen-year-old boy, who – without laughing – told me he felt like he had already failed in life.
Why?
Because he wasn’t a millionaire yet. According to him, he should have already been “making moves” at his age.
Let that sink in for a moment.

What kind of world are we living in today?

The pressure young people experience nowadays is immense. The constant stream of videos on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube makes them believe that success must come early, and fast. They see peers or influencers pretending to be peers—stepping into luxury cars, flashing cash, working from Bali on a laptop, or starting their own companies at thirteen.
What they don’t see is what’s left out of the frame: the debt, the exaggerated stories, the team behind a single “personal” account, or simply, the lie.

Social media has created an illusionary world. One where likes seem more important than self-love, where performing appears more valuable than having fun, and where failure doesn’t feel like an option.
Young people compare themselves to unrealistic examples and, as a result, place unbearable pressure on themselves.
The consequences?
Burnouts at a young age, depression, identity crises, suicidal thoughts… or turning to crime, because fast money starts to feel like the only way to be seen.

We've forgotten that adolescence is supposed to be a time of discovery, of trial and error—not of Excel sheets, business plans, or millionaire anxiety.

That’s why it’s time for a dose of perspective. For real conversations. For reality.

At Media at School, we help young people develop a critical eye toward what they see online. Through playful and interactive methods, they experience how media is made—by creating it themselves.
They learn how image-building works, how storytelling is used to impress, and how important it is to look beyond the screen.

We teach youth not just to consume media, but to create it.
Because once you’re the one behind the camera, writing the scripts, or editing the videos, you start to understand how many choices are made to create a certain image.
That opens eyes. And brings relief.

Our goal is not to keep young people away from social media—that’s not realistic. But we do want to equip them with awareness, so they can stand strong in this digital world.
So they understand that their worth is not in numbers, followers, or likes—but in who they are, with all their insecurities, growth, and strength.

Let’s build a generation together, one that isn’t led by algorithms, but learns to live for themselves.

Laat me weten of je het voor iets specifieks nodig hebt, dan kan ik het eventueel nog finetunen!