by Ryan Cook
Introduction
In today’s world, where everyone is connected through technology, social media has become a big part of our everyday lives. It’s a place for talking, expressing yourself, and making connections with others. However, there’s a worry that it is affecting how younger generations see their bodies, especially adolescent girls. A recent study in the Journal of Children and Media, (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2159676X.2021.1888152) talks about how social media influences the way young people, especially these young girls, view their bodies. In this post, we’ll talk about the studies findings and look at the bigger picture of how social media creates certain expectations of beauty.
The Virtual Beauty Standard
This article talks about how social media creates and keeps up with an idea of beauty that’s not real, and this can really affect how adolescent girls view themselves (Goodyear, et, al, 2021). The study shows that seeing so called “perfect” pictures on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat can make girls believe in beauty standards that aren’t completely achievable. This can lead to a misconstrued idea of physical appearances, and in worse cases, body dysmorphia (Goodyear, et. al, 2021).
The Power of Influencers
The study tells us that social media influencers also have a big impact on the way young girls are viewing themselves (Goodyear, et. al, 2021). These influencers show a seemingly perfect life with perfect pictures, and this heavily influences the idea of what is considered beautiful and what is not. Teenage girls, especially, see these influencers as examples and strive to be like them. Seeing examples of what they might consider a perfect lifestyle can make them feel like their own lives and looks are not good enough, and this can lead them to feel less confident in who they are.
The Filtered Reality
The majority of social media sites all contain lots of filters and tools to make photos look better. People use these to show an edited, but more “appealing” version of themselves. Even though it might seem acceptable by society, it actually creates a false reality that mixes up what’s real and what fits into the beauty standard (Goodyear, et. al, 2021). Teenage girls often find it hard to tell the difference between these edited pictures and real life, which, in turn, can make them expect too much and feel unhappy with their own bodies.
The Role of Peer Comparison
The study also talks a lot about how comparing with friends on social media affects teenagers (Goodyear, et. al, 2021). Teens naturally compare themselves to others to feel accepted. Social media makes the habit of comparing yourself to your peers a lot easier. Since it is so easy to access your friends, families, and the general public’s accounts, it is also easy to see all the things they post. This can make young adults feel like they are not good enough, and want to look like what they see. Trying to fit in and be accepted can lead to extreme decisions being made in order to meet these impossible standards.
Cyberbullying and Body Shaming
While having its perks, social media can also have a negative side when it comes to how adolescent girls view their bodies. Cyberbullying and body shaming happen quite frequently. The study shows that teenagers, especially girls, often face negative, and sometimes rude, comments online about how they look (Goodyear, et. al, 2021). This can lead to anxious thoughts about how others are perceiving these young adults, and increase the need to be socially accepted. It would be extremely beneficial if, eventually, social media platforms were able to incorporate some sort of anti-bullying strategy into their sites.
Empowering Adolescents in the Digital Age
In the study, problems with social media are thoroughly discussed, but it is also noted that improvements can be made. The study suggests that teaching teenagers how to understand social media and all its aspects is important (Goodyear, et. al, 2021). This means helping them see social media in a smarter way. Schools, parents, and communities can all help by teaching young adults that social media isn’t always real. They can also show how important it is to feel good about themselves for who they are.
Promoting Positive Body Image
To make social media less of a threat for body image, it’s important to show all kinds of beauty. Social media should include and celebrate different body shapes, sexualities, ethnicities, and abilities. The study claims that seeing many different kinds of beauty can help stop the negative effects of thinking there’s only one perfect way to look (Goodyear, et. al, 2021). If society comes together as a whole, we can make social media a more inclusive and positive place for younger generations.
Conclusion
The article discussed mainly focuses on how social media affects how teenage girls view their bodies. It shows that social media can be good for inspiring and connecting people, but it also has risks for mental health and body image. It’s really important for everyone, such as society, teachers, parents, and social media platforms, to work together to solve these issues. It is critical to make sure the online world helps these young adults feel confident in who they are, be strong, and accept themselves. Educating others on social media and how it operates, while showing diverse groups of people can help reduce the negative effects of social media, making it a better place for the next generation.
References
Goodyear, V., Andersson, J., Quennerstedt, M., & Varea, V. (2021, March 3). #skinny girls: Young girls’ learning processes and health-related social media. Qualitative research in sport, exercise and health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8802897/