Across the globe, as the new year celebrations usher in a new beginning, revelers reflect on the past year with anticipation of a fresh start. Resolutions develop as ways for people to better themselves, but it is necessary to evaluate the origins of these ideas. Do resolutions stem from thoughtful self-reflection, or from the desire to conform to social media-fueled expectations? As online platforms offer a distorted view of real life while promoting unrealistic standards, it is critical to examine their influence on resolutions for the new year and acknowledge a better way of setting goals that originate from a place of self-examination and thoughtful reflection.
Various social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat have a potent influence on people’s perception of themselves and their day-to-day lives. These platforms display current trends and social expectations, especially through social media influencers, who can reach a large audience from their pages. A study revealed that 70 percent of impressionable teenagers say that they place their trust in influencers due to their relatability, according to bark.us. Many children look up to these influencers and their lives, possibly wanting to have the same lifestyle shown on social media, and 44 percent of Generation Z reported purchasing an influencer-recommended product, according to insense.pro. The desire to live up to these social expectations motivates people of all ages to constantly strive for the current standard of trends.
In this constant struggle to maintain the status quo, the media suggests that New Year’s resolutions are a way to “fix” oneself in unrealistic and unindividualized ways. Teenagers may see the “perfect” life that social media displays and feel pressured to meet the standards they see online, according to psy-ed.com. After hypnotically scrolling through countless influencer pages, users feel empowered to change themselves to achieve a certain appearance or lifestyle. This phenomenon causes users to suppress their individuality to conform to societal expectations for social validation, according to seebeyondmag.com. Social media forces teenagers to emulate unattainable standards, that leads them to criticize themselves. This negativity results in New Year’s resolutions that focus on unwarranted changes to their appearance and their individuality.
Social media also entices users to change how they look, with 76 percent of teenagers agreeing that online platforms encourage them to change their physical appearance. An additional 70 percent of teenagers view content related to weight loss, according to linkedin.com. When New Year’s resolutions circulate on social media at the end of the year, people may feel pressured to drastically alter how they look. These desires to alter one’s appearance have their roots in the pressure of social media and self-criticism. Creating ambitions that stem from changing someone’s figure or life, such as exercising seven days a week or redecorating their house, is likely to create a negative self-image and is unlikely to result in fulfillment, according to foundationswellness.net. These objectives can be unrealistic and may not cater to people’s individual needs, as they encourage people to pick themselves apart, instead of adding on to who they already are as unique individuals.
While motivation is an aspect of accomplishing any goal, the ability to maintain enough incentive to follow through with an objective requires a deeper sense of self-understanding. Impactful and sustainable resolutions are those that come from self-reflection and the desire to improve oneself for personal reasons, not for the social standard. The basis of a resolution is attaining a new mental habit, which takes 63 days to form, yet most people give up by day four, according to linkedin.com. This is because the process of making a change is complicated and takes time, mind management, and mental skill. Dr. Warren Holleman, director of MD Anderson’s Faculty Health and Well-Being Program, commented on the importance of thoughtfulness and self-awareness as the foundation for personal change.
“Most New Year’s resolutions are doomed to failure because it takes a lot more than a resolution to change,” Dr. Holleman said, according to mdanderson.com. “It takes a self-understanding, skills, strategies, and support.”
Common resolutions, such as losing weight, are more complicated than they appear and need an intricate process of self-reflection and accessibility to be effective, according to mdanderson.com. This self-understanding stems from asking oneself questions such as why they want to achieve this goal, what could be stopping them currently from accomplishing it, and what the true worth behind reaching their goal is.
Ultimately, by using this approach, people can prepare themselves to attain their aspirations by becoming aware and equipped to their personal needs. By catering to themselves as individuals and what they need to achieve their goals, people will have the right resources to become who they want to be. Their goals will then be more sustainable and grounded in self-improvement, instead of pleasing the public view.
Individuals should consider that their New Year’s resolutions do not need to satisfy every social expectation. As social media platforms flood users’ feeds with unrealistic ideas and expectations to keep up with what is trending, it is imperative to recognize that these ideas are superficial. As social media is inherently a prominent part of modern life, people can help prove that resolutions can make a positive impact on people’s lives by taking part in thoughtful contemplation and meaningful reflection.
Featured Image by Avery Quake ’26
