The lasting impacts of social media usage and mental health have long been studied. The findings are notorious for a chronic diagnosis. As we all know, increased social media usage has been linked to a higher chance of mental health disorders. Whether this be ADHD from doom scrolling, or eating disorders resulting from over-edited Instagram posts that depict unrealistic body types, Gen Z has found a way to separate social and personal lives with the power of Soft Launch.
Soft launching on social media is “two drinks on a swanky bar top, a hand that’s definitely not yours resting on your knee, or a pretty bouquet of red roses with someone’s shadow in the background,” according to the Cosmopolitan article, ‘Here’s Exactly How (and Why!) You Should Soft Launch Your Relationship on Instagram.’ Unlike Facebook’s taken or single status update, the only way to let your followers know you are in a relationship is on a post or story. The soft launch is perfect for those looking to update the gram without the expectations and judgment of others.
Celebrity Soft Launches
Justin and Hailey Bieber are masters of the soft launch, especially looking back on Justin’s Instagram page @lilbieber. Justin posted the two of them kissing at a New Year’s Eve party in 2016. The photo blurs Hailey just enough that followers have to guess or investigate further into her identity. I’m sure this was quite the experience for fans looking to play: Who is Justin dating now? These days, now that the two are serious, you often see them posting updates with their child, Jack Blues Bieber. In the early stages of their relationship, the much-needed privacy allowed the couple to navigate romance on their own terms and out of the public eye.
Privacy and Mental Health
New studies are emerging discussing the implications of a public social media account versus a private. Researchers have found that those with a public social media account had higher odds of depression and anxiety. When private social media accounts are used alongside the soft launch, this creates a more controlled environment for those looking to share but not be perceived. There is a difference! Similarly, young adults who reported having their social media supervised in their youth, despite having a public account, reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety. Perhaps it is not what we are consuming, but how we are consuming it!
Let’s keep our hearts full and our minds free, N Crowd!
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