Girls, Social Media and Mental Health (Part 2)

Source: www.unsplash.com

By Sam Piha

This is one blog in a series of blogs regarding the issue of social media and youth mental health. 

Body Image





“It ultimately really affected my body image, my perception of what was considered beautiful or accepted into society. But the only thing I was getting out of social media was feeling fatigued, or I would feel sad.” [i] - Lea Nepomuceno, 18, a freshman at George Washington University

 

According to Reagan Lord, “In the digital era, social media has become an integral part of teenagers’ daily lives. With the click of a button, they can access a world of curated images and videos that often depict idealized versions of beauty and perfection. As a result, many young people find themselves comparing their own bodies to those of influencers and celebrities, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. In this blog post, we will explore the ways in which social media can impact teenagers’ body image and discuss strategies for promoting a healthy self-image in today’s online world.



Source: Ruling Our
Experiences (ROX)

Social media has a profound influence on teenagers’ body image, often perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards that can lead to negative self-perceptions and mental health issues. However, by raising awareness of these risks and implementing strategies to promote a healthy body image, we can help young people navigate the digital world with confidence and self-assurance. It is essential for parents, educators, and society as a whole to prioritize the well-being of teenagers and provide them with the tools they need to develop a positive relationship with their bodies. By fostering a culture of self-acceptance and authenticity, we can empower the next generation to embrace their uniqueness and value themselves for who they are, rather than how they appear online.” [ii]

KidsHealth.org offers the following advice: 

 

“How Can I Accept the Way I Look?:  Some people think they need to get in better shape to have a good body image. They think, “When I get in better shape, I’ll like my body.” But it’s best to start the other way around. Accept yourself first. Here are ways to do that:

• Realize that nobody’s perfect. Everyone has "flaws," even people with seemingly ideal figures. So, see your body the way it is rather than the way you want it to be.
• Don’t body-shame yourself. When you make harsh comments about your own body, it harms your self-esteem. That’s true whether you say something out loud or think it to yourself. It can hurt as much as if someone else said it. So be kind and respectful to yourself. Ask, “Would I talk this way to my best friend?” Treat yourself like a good friend would.
• Don’t compare yourself with other people. The saying goes “comparison is the thief of joy.” Find things to like about your own body and be thankful for all the great things it can do.
• Accept compliments. When someone gives you a compliment, say “thank you” instead of not believing what’s being said. 

“How Can I Like My Body?:  When you accept your body, it’s possible to learn to love (or at least like) what you have. Here’s how:

• Find things to like about your looks. Every time you look in the mirror, find at least two things you like about yourself. Maybe your hair, face, or hands. What about your shape, shoulders, or legs? Your eyes or smile? Make a habit of telling yourself what you like and why. If you get stuck, ask someone who cares about you, like a good friend or trusted adult. Know that there’s lots to like about you. Let yourself feel good.
• Focus on what your body can do. There’s more to your body than your looks. When you play a sport, walk, run, dance, or swim — that’s your body in action. Your body is there for you when you stretch, reach, climb, or jump for joy. It also allows you to you carry and build things, and give someone a hug. Be amazed and thankful.
• Be aware of your body. Pay attention to your body as you go through the day. Enjoy the way it feels when you walk, run, and play. Listen to it when it needs food or rest. Things like yoga can help you observe your body more closely, teaching you to pay attention to how you breathe and move.” [iii]

“People try to make you feel bad about what you’re doing or how you look.” [iv] – Teen girl 

 

Source: www.pexels.com

Photo Filters

According to the Boys & Girls Club of America, “Teens are inundated daily by digitally manipulated images. For instance, more than 69% of U.S. teens use Snapchat2, a multi-media instant photo messaging app known for its image filters. Instagram, Facebook and Twitter also offer various forms of photo enhancements. And, there are hundreds of photo editing apps, like Facetune and Picsart, that take these editing capabilities even further. It’s no surprise that 80% of girls say they’ve downloaded a filter or used an app to change the way they look in photos by the time they’re 13 years old.

One of the many problems with image filters is that young people scrolling through their social feeds often don’t know they’re being used, mistaking enhancements and airbrushing as reality. A 2017 study in the journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications found that subjects only correctly identified manipulated images 60% to 65% of the time3. The pervasiveness of digitally-altered images is now having a profound impact on girls’ expectations and understanding of societal beauty standards and how they see themselves.” [v]

“Research conducted by the Dove Self-Esteem Project in 2020 revealed startling insights:

• 80% of girls have downloaded a filter or used an app to change the way they look in photos by age 13.
• 67% of girls try to change or hide at least one body part/feature before posting a photo of themselves.
• 59% of girls with lower-reported body-esteem regularly distort their photos before posting them on social media.
• 37% of girls say they don’t “look good enough” without any photo editing.” [vi]



“With the rise of social media, digital distortion is now happening on a much bigger scale, by younger people, without regulation…when editing apps are used to digitally distort images to conform to unrealistic beauty standards that cannot be achieved in real life, it can damage young people’s self-esteem. Dove wants to highlight this issue and provide tools to parents and caregivers to help young people navigate social media in a positive way.” [vii] —  Firdaous El Honsali, Global Communications & Sustainability Director, Dove 

Source: ROX

“Their experiences are beginning to reveal to them the various ways that social media has impacted their relationships, confidence, body image and decisions and they don't want that same experience for their younger peers or siblings. ... As adolescent and teen girls spend more time on social media platforms, constantly exposed to information and feedback from others about their appearance, successes, failures, conflicts, and more, life challenges that may have been minor blips can become magnified and take a toll on their well-being.” [viii] - Lisa Hinkelman, founder and CEO of Ruling Our eXperiences, a nonprofit focused on research and programming about girls. 

To read and download our briefing paper, Social Media and Youth Mental Health, click here.

To watch our webinar on this topic, click here. 

END NOTES

[i] The Associated Press, In Their Own Words: What Young People Wish They’d Known About Social Media

[ii] Reagan Lord, The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers’ Body Image

[iii] Kidshealth.org, Body Image and Self-Esteem

[iv] Monica Anderson, et. al., Connection, Creativity and Drama: Teen Life on Social Media in 2022

[v] Boys & Girls Club of America, Digital Distortion: How Filters are Changing the Way Girls See Themselves

[vi] Boys & Girls Club of America, #TheSelfieTalk: A Must-Have Conversation with Kids in the Digital Age

[vii] IBID.

[viii] Suzanne Blake, Teens Willing To Give Parents Control of Their Social Media