In an age dominated by technology, social media has become an inseparable part of our lives. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube have created a virtual world that seems more real to many than the physical one. While social media offers many benefits such as instant communication, access to information, and a platform for creativity, it also has a darker side. For students who have just cleared their 10th or 12th-grade exams, the social media hype can often become a serious distraction and even a curse. The period following the 10th and 12th board exams is one of the most crucial and sensitive phases in a student’s life. These transitional years shape one’s future, demanding focus, informed decision-making, and serious self-reflection. Unfortunately, this is also the time when teenagers are most vulnerable to external influences. Social media, with its flashy content and exaggerated success stories, can hijack a young mind's attention, leading them into a spiral of comparison, distraction, and unrealistic expectations. In the age of reels and retweets, where dopamine flows with every like and share, students—especially those in the 10th and 12th grades—stand at the crossroads of aspiration and anxiety. Academic results, once a personal milestone shared with close family, have now become digital spectacles, amplified through social media megaphones. As students anxiously await their board exam results, social media doesn't just reflect their emotions—it shapes them. In this era, “How did you score?” is not just a question, it’s a trending topic.

The Celebration of Toppers: A Double-Edged Sword

Every year, the academic landscape lights up with newsfeeds celebrating toppers. Screens are flooded with pictures of smiling faces, scores flaunting 99% and above, and captions that scream #ProudParent, #HardWorkPaysOff, and #TopperDiaries. These posts do more than celebrate success—they set a benchmark for others.
For many students, especially those who didn’t meet their own expectations, this can be deeply unsettling. The overwhelming glorification of academic excellence creates a silent pressure cooker of comparison. “If she scored 98%, why did I only get 85%?” is not just a thought—it’s an internalized critique, made sharper with every scroll. While appreciating achievement is natural, the unintentional consequence is the creation of an elitist narrative—where anything less than 'topping' is treated as underperformance.
The Rise of Academic Influencers and the “Result Culture”
Social media has birthed a new kind of celebrity: the academic influencer. These are students who, after topping exams, are sponsored the Ambassadors for Coaching Centres like in Srinagar SKIE Coaching Center did. After knowing her results ,she just came again on Social media that she is in mental trauma. Al’s many students create YouTube channels or Instagram pages to share their study hacks, productivity routines, and "how I got 99% in 12th" stories. Their intention may be noble, but the impact is complex.
This curated perfection can feel intimidating. Students begin to doubt their own methods and feel inferior even before their results are out. The idea of “success” becomes boxed into rigid templates—morning routines starting at 5 AM, study timetables split into color-coded blocks, and zero screen time for fun.
When a student’s reality doesn’t match this perfection, it often leads to guilt and a decline in self-worth. What social media fails to show is the silent majority—the students who worked hard but didn’t get the highest marks, and still have bright futures ahead.

Trend-Driven Stress and Meme Culture

Ironically, social media is also the place where students vent their stress. Every result season, meme pages explode with content about failing maths, overprotective parents, or "hiding from relatives." Laughter becomes a coping mechanism, a digital sigh of collective relief.
However, beneath the humor lies real anxiety. Students tag friends in posts about "marks ruining my life" or "becoming a monk after seeing my result," but not everyone is laughing on the inside. The joke is often a mask for pain. Moreover, viral trends such as “result reaction videos” or “how my parents reacted to my board marks” bring private emotions into the public eye. The line between genuine emotion and performative content is blurring, leaving students unsure of how to process their feelings authentically. One of the young girl from South Kashmir Kulgam Nillow suicide after her 12th class results were declared.
Peer Comparison and the Psychological Toll
Social media encourages a culture of comparison. Whether it's a cousin showing off a perfect report card or a friend sharing their acceptance letter from a prestigious college, students are constantly evaluating themselves against their peers.
This leads to what psychologists call “imposter syndrome”—the feeling of being a fraud despite genuine effort. Even high scorers may feel inadequate because someone else scored a fraction more or secured a spot in a better college.
What makes this worse is the "highlight reel" nature of social media. Students see only the successes, not the failures, sleepless nights, or moments of doubt. This creates a skewed perception of reality and can drive feelings of worthlessness and depression.
Parental Pressure and Social Expectations Amplified
In many households, especially in South Asian cultures, academic performance is still a major measure of worth. With social media in the mix, parental expectations are now public. A father sharing his son’s 99% score on Facebook isn’t just proud—it sends a message to his circle about his family’s status.
For students who don’t meet these unspoken standards, this visibility can feel suffocating. They not only feel they've let themselves down but also believe they've failed to uphold their family’s online reputation. This pressure isn’t always expressed directly—it’s in the silence that follows a disappointing result, the absence of a social media post, or the constant comparison with a more "successful" cousin.

Digital Detox or Digital Dependence ?

Ironically, while social media contributes to this stress, it also becomes a place for support. Students share their stories, form study groups, and follow mental health pages. But the key is moderation. Some students choose to go on a digital detox during result season to protect their mental peace. Others, however, find themselves trapped in a loop—refreshing feeds, waiting for updates, checking how others fared, and reading motivational quotes they don’t truly believe. This unhealthy dependence can extend beyond results—affecting college admissions, career choices, and long-term confidence.

The Way Forward: Creating a Healthy Digital Culture

Social media is not the villain; it's a mirror. What we reflect onto it is what we see. Parents, educators, and influencers must help students engage with it mindfully.
Here are a few steps to make social media a healthier space for students during result season:
Normalize All Outcomes: Celebrate effort, not just marks. Success comes in many forms.
Promote Real Stories: Share not just the 98%, but also stories of resilience, improvement, and growth. Like a girl Shabnum G who is living in Tarpaulin tent in Tral Area of Pulwama scored 463/500.She must be encouraged so that she will carry her carrier with flying colours.
Digital Mentorship: Encourage academic influencers to include mental health messages and promote balance.
Parental Sensitivity: Parents must resist the urge to post marks online unless their child is comfortable. One of my colleague’s daughter got extraordinary marks in recent 12th Class. Many of the teachers tried to tell him about the Mark’s of her daughter but He just politely answered them she got good Mark’s. This defines the foresightedness of a father.
Peer Compassion: Students should support, not compare. Everyone has a different journey.

Last Thought

Board exam results are important—but they are not a student’s identity. In an age where social media makes every emotion public and every achievement trend-worthy, it's crucial to remember that true success lies in self-worth, not just numbers. Social media is a powerful tool, but in the hands of unprepared minds, it can be a dangerous distraction. For students who have just cleared 10th or 12th, the hype and noise of social media often lead to more harm than good. This period of life demands focus, introspection, and smart planning — not comparisons, distractions, or illusions of fame. Parents and educators must play an active role in guiding students to use social media as a stepping stone, not a stumbling block. Only then can the youth of today turn this digital age into a source of empowerment, not confusion.
Let us build a digital culture where toppers are celebrated, but every student is respected. Where trends do not define self-esteem, and trauma isn’t masked behind likes and laughter. Let’s remind our 10th and 12th graders: your marks are a chapter, not the whole story.

                                                   Email:------------------------umairulumar77@gmail.com