What do we need?
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs explains that we have needs for happiness: Physiological Needs, Safety and Security, Love and Belonging, Self-Esteem, and Self-Actualization. Physiological Needs at the bottom, because Physiological Needs are a prerequiste to fulfilling the needs above it.
Social media and our needs
Social Media and the internet has totally changed how we operate as individuals. Socialization is a core part of human beings, and we now have hundreds of micro-interactions with people over the course of the day, just by reading comments or posting photos of ourselves. The meaning of some of Maslow’s needs have changed over time because of this. And for the needs that might retain their meaning, the means of attaining the highest level of fulfillment has been affected by social media. If our physiological needs must be met first, we, both as individuals and as a society, must be confident we can meet them.
Physiological needs
We can talk about basic biological needs in the context of hunger, clean water access, and health/hygiene. The Guardian highlights how social media has been an amazing tool for people who are living/have lived without access to these resources to share their experiences. Awareness for issues as the details of people’s situation has risen, and the awareness keeps these issues in conversation. UNICEF Sweden, however, posted a video on Youtube of impoverished children sharing that while UNICEF has almost 200,000 likes on Facebook, while simultaneously emphasizing how likes don’t save lives.
HUNGER
Over 90% of adolescents have at least one social media account, and their presence on social media continues to grow. Snacks and drinks are constantly marketed towards teens and children by influencers online. They are easy to market to as they are not experienced in making nutrition decisions for themselves. Studies have shown that children are more likely to remember an ad if it's about a sugary or unhealthy food. Social media advertisements' influence will contribute to the risk of developing obesity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes if it continues to go unchecked. We could possibly intervene through legislation, or in app features that filter ads like these, or ads content warning/information so users have a complete understanding of a product.
What can we do?
By being cognisant of the importance of our needs to our happiness, we already take steps forward against being suseptipal to digital spaces that work against them. We could also pass laws that regulate what can be marketed to children, and what must be disclosed about products marketed online that affect physical health. We could also build in certain desgin features to apps that allow people to advertise freely, such as easy access to nutrition information. Social media could also be better utilized by community leadership to inform people of ways to directly help local food shelters, or other volunteer oppurtunities.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html
https://www.uhs.wisc.edu/student-volunteering-could-have-health-benefits/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_M0SDk3ZaM
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/may/28/social-media-raising-awareness-world-hunger
https://www.thoughtco.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4582571