For many Rowan University students, social media is both a lifeline and a burden. Keeping friendships from miles away burning bright, sparking creativity, and providing endless hours worth of entertainment. However, it also takes away time, fuels comparisons between their peers, and has the potential to make even the most confident person question their self-worth. 

As students wrestle with the fine line between connection and comparison, many find themselves questioning their identity. The endless stream of curated images, achievements from their classmates, and highlight reels can make it anything but easy to forget that students are just seeing a small portion of a Rowan student’s daily life. Micaiah Tinklenberg, a sports communication major, knows the trap all too well. 

“I catch myself doing this [self-comparison] sometimes, and it always makes me feel miserable. The second I recognize what I’m doing, I get off social media. It’s a slippery slope that absolutely drains you, but it’s never worth it,” said Tinklenberg.

According to a 2022 two-part study that consisted of 144 participants, the National Library of Medicine cited that comparisons made on social media are more likely to be heightened as many users tend to present an idealized version of themselves and their lives. Thus, social media users are likely to believe that others are happier and living a better life than they are. 

For some of the students at Rowan University, that doesn’t hold true. Especially for Brandon Rosa, a junior advertising major who recently went through a breakup this past year and went on a journey to learn more about himself. 

“I would say those who glorify themselves on it [social media] do it too much. They make it their whole personality, and if it is not going well at the moment, it negatively affects them,” said Rosa. For him, social media became a double-edged sword: both a distraction and a way to stay connected to his friends from back home in North Jersey. While Rosa acknowledges social media’s usefulness, he also admits that it has impacted his academic focus over the years. 

“Now thinking about it, ever since I got a phone in high school, my focus on schoolwork has declined immensely. It can often become a distraction and make you realize that time is moving fast,” said Rosa. He’s since engaged in other activities that don’t involve scrolling through his Instagram or Snapchat, like slipping on his headphones and hitting the gyms on campus to work out. 

While Rosa steers away from social media, the opposite can be said for Jordyn Henderson, a freshman biology major who finds that social media is a powerful tool to strike creative inspiration from YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. 

“It’s certainly a tool because I personally like trying new things, and again, it’s mainly art and cosmetology. So I like trying the things that I see on social media,” said Henderson, who has invested her time into creating unique nail art designs she finds on social media. 

Despite the variety of experiences across the board, one thing remains clear for Rowan University students: social media is what the Profs make of it. For some, it’s a source allowing creativity and connection, and for others, a constant comparison trap that chips away at their self-worth. As Rowan students continue to trek the ever-evolving digital landscape, many of them are still learning to implement healthy boundaries, find a balance, and ultimately redefine their relationship with social media. 

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