INVESTIGATING THE IMPACT OF VIRTUAL WORLD LIKES ON TEEN SELF-ESTEEM IN SARAI JULLENA, NEW FRIENDS COLONY, NEW DELHI

The present study explores how online validation through likes affects the self esteem of teenagers. With social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Snapchat becoming central to teenage social life, the desire for online approval has grown significantly. Many teenagers now associate their self-worth with the number of likes they receive, making online validation an important factor influencing their self esteem and emotional well-being. The research was conducted using a cross-sectional survey involving 120 high school students aged 12 to 17, with an equal number of boys and girls from two schools in Sarai Jullena, New Friends Colony. A 15 item questionnaire measured their virtual world behavior, while Rosenbergs Self Esteem Scale assessed their self-esteem. Based on their responses, students were classified as either highly influenced or least influenced by likes. The findings showed that teenagers who were highly affected by likes had lower self esteem than those who were less affected. Girls were more negatively impacted than boys, with a greater drop in self esteem scores. These results emphasize the need to raise awareness about the psychological effects of online validation and encourage healthy social media habits among teenagers.