Confinity's Approach to Redefining Digital Validation in Social Media

Society becomes increasingly dependent on actions meant to seek approval from others, mainly on social networks. As much as it has become easier for people to connect and get creative, platforms are becoming more toxic to mental health through addiction to likes, comments, and shares. 

According to Andrew Przybylski, a researcher from the University of Oxford, “Social networking often plays to people's natural desire for connection but can be detrimental when it prioritizes validation over genuine relationships.” The emphasis on validating metrics in social media has led to shallow conversations that undermine real connections and emotional detachment. 

Validation in social applications like Instagram and TikTok will have the most psychological impact. A 2018 Royal Society for Public Health report noted that "seventy percent of respondents believed that social media had a bad influence on self-esteem."

According to Dr. Jean Twenge author of iGen “Social media encourages performance that is self-optimized for likes and shares.” For most people, this performance-based approach plays right into the cycle of anxiety and unease especially where the users do not meet the criteria for approval.

There is research to be cited for an escalation in mental health problems arising from the appreciation of social media. Recently, the Journal of Clinical Psychological Science reported that youngsters who spend more than three hours a day on social media have a 35% higher risk of developing depressive symptoms. The nature of Instagram and TikTok, which systematically compare multiple things, makes it inevitable for users to suffer from low self-esteem and jealousy.

It is much more alarming among the teens. Because teens seek acceptance and affirmation through these social interactions, they feel immense pressure to project a perfect image leading to inadequacy and self-doubt. These platforms that one would expect to connect people paradoxically facilitate a profound sense of loneliness, so it is essential to recognize the adverse impacts of social media on this most impressionable demographic.

A Pew Research Centre study, 2019, report says 59% of teens are worried about the presentation of their life in perfect pictures. This problem is also caused by the different influencers and curated content that makes even living daily seem insubstantial and promotes anxiety and insecurities. The constant comparison with influencers and curated content fosters what psychologists call the “compare and despair” loop, leading to a decline in self-esteem.

This constant pressure for social approval highly influences the self-esteem of youth, who rely on likes and comments for their approval. The consequence is feeling inferior and embarrassed if less attention is paid to this concern. This makes the users more inhuman to themselves since they align with the ideologies that make them idealize themselves.

Instant satisfaction from likes and comments causes the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine to be released. But the effects don't last long. Tristan Harris, a former Google design ethicist, explains: "Social media platforms are designed to be addictive, keeping users in a loop of temporary satisfaction.” This cycle exhausts users emotionally by keeping them entangled in a never-ending pursuit of approval.

The emotional toll of always seeking acceptance cannot be ignored. Many users have experienced psychological exhaustion due to the pressure to maintain an online image that is aligned with social norms. Psychologist Sherry Turkle points out that this pressure leads to "emotional exhaustion and burnout," because users detach from their real selves in favor of performing for social approval.

Confinity attempts to address these issues with a more healthful relationship with social media, where the authenticity of self-expression is valued over validation in likes and shares.

Confinity: A Platform That Prioritizes Authenticity

Unlike the validation criteria-based social media, Confinity fosters authenticity, legacy building, and deep connections. While Confinity emboldens users to share their real-life experiences and to be part of setting heritage for the future, traditional social media lets them curate an ideal self-image.

According to The Global Wellness Institute study shows that users who seek likes and shares as an indicator of approval encounter 29% worse mental health and 23% worse life satisfaction. In line with the emphasis on long-term personal growth beyond immediate approbation, our platform’s inspiration is to make users reflect on their actual lives and create more meaningful material.

Through intergenerational storytelling and the preservation of memories, Confinity shifts its focus from transitory acceptance to lasting fulfillment and offers users the opportunity to rediscover their true selves free from the pressure of social comparison.

Confinity fosters mindful use by reminding users not to scroll mindlessly through their feeds. Not getting into compulsive seeking for likes and truly engaging with the content personally goes a long way to decreasing anxiety and promoting overall well-being.

A psychologist and well-being specialist, Dr. Tim Kasser, explains “Platforms that support long-term objectives, such as legacy building, give users the chance to experience more emotional stability and fulfillment”. By focusing on more meaningful pursuits, Confinity promotes a more positive mental attitude by diverting attention away from consumerism and superficiality, two major causes of widespread anxiety and despair. 

Confinity's focus on mental health is supported by studies. The latest studies show that the users who consider true, meaningful communication more important than accumulating social validation are emotionally more stable and fulfilling. So, giving such attention, results in greater connection and creates an easier, positive self-image, making the overall mental well-being of the users better. Healthier digital environments are therefore provided where users can grow emotionally and cognitively, through authentic, raw material and discouragement of vanity metrics

Confinity supports the idea that thinking back on one's life enhances mental health, also emphasized in a study conducted by Harvard University study. This gives the users purpose and fulfillment, which is relatively lacking in most traditional social networking, as they can engage in meaningful stories and long-term projects on the site.

Confinity stimulates emotions, assists users in emotional wellness, and features help users reflect on themselves and what they appreciate. It overlooks the culture of comparison, which lingers around traditional platforms, thereby allowing the chance to develop a healthier mind and build a positive perspective on life.