Social Media and Self-image

Reading passage — قطعة القراءة

When Mariam opened her phone before school, the first video showed a student who claimed to complete three hours of exercise, read two books and prepare a perfect breakfast every morning. The comments praised the creator's discipline. Mariam compared that routine with her own rushed journey to school and began to feel that she was not doing enough. She did not notice that the video contained several cuts and had probably taken a long time to record.

In a media-literacy lesson, the class examined how images can influence self-image. Their teacher asked them to identify what was visible and what remained hidden. They saw attractive lighting, carefully chosen angles and a message that suggested success had only one meaning. Then they discussed the things the video could not show, such as rest, family responsibilities and the creator's difficult days.

Mariam decided to make her own realistic plan: enough sleep, time to study and a short walk after school. She also followed accounts that shared varied experiences rather than perfect performances. Social media could still give her useful ideas, but she would no longer treat every polished post as a rule for her life.