We are living in a time when children are growing up online and too soon. There are countless pressures adolescents face in the world. Adding social media on top of what they already face can be overwhelming. While there are plenty of benefits of social media, there are countless harmful and long-lasting effects on adolescents. One of the harmful effects of social media on adolescents is a rise in body image issues. It is difficult to tell the difference between what is real and what is not and even if you can spot the difference, it is hard not to compare yourself to what the mind considers to be the “perfect” body. It isn’t that much of a surprise that more teenagers are struggling with body image issues with all of the posts, editing apps, and filters available nowadays.
Body image issues can stem from a young age, as children and teenagers are quite impressionable. According to the CDC, children and teenagers ages 9-15 experience varying extremities and concerns regarding body image and how easily influenced they are by social pressures. Young teenagers in particular are still forming their self-esteem, confidence, and relationships with others so they are likely the most influential in that age range. The CDC also goes further in depth about this age range by stating how “[t]he young teen years of 12-14 can be challenging as teens are in between a.) the high expectations they have of themselves b.) the high expectations they feel from others and c.) their own lack of confidence” (“Teen”). With a deeper understanding of the age range and reasons why adolescents are so easily influenced, it’s time to dive into what exactly on social media is being seen by teenagers and how it affects their body image issues.
There is an endless stream of cosmetic surgeries, “thinspo” and “fitspo” pictures/videos, and tutorials on how to become prettier. I interviewed my roommate’s younger sister who has grown up with social media. She is 15 years old and she had much to say on body image issues stemming from social media. This was the interview with her:
“At what age did you get a phone and start using social media?”
Shelby: “I was in 5th grade… so I was 10.”
“Did you notice yourself comparing how you looked to your peers and influencers online?”
Shelby: “All the time. I would compare myself to my peers more when I was younger and when I started using apps like TikTok and Instagram more, I compared myself more to influencers.”
“Do you think social media affected your mental health in any severe way?”
Shelby: “Definitely. I wanted a nose job when I was younger and I started to follow the diets influencers posted. I now struggle with body dysmorphia and disordered eating because I don’t like my body after seeing all of these perfect looking girls online.”
“Do you think you would have had a healthier relationship with your body if you hadn’t grown up with social media?”
Shelby: “I don’t know… I don’t think I could have grown up without some type of social media because everyone had it growing up. I feel like I would have missed out on a lot without social media and I probably would have still felt bad about my body but from other influences.”
The interview with my friend’s younger sister is a great example of how many other adolescents feel regarding the harmful effect social media has on them. She raised a valid point that it would have been nearly impossible for them to grow up without social media since so many aspects of life are now online. School clubs now require Facebook group chats, post events on social media, etc. I even experienced something similar with my Digital Storytelling class. I never had Twitter until I had to download it for a class assignment.
The world is revolving more around technology and the media and the youth are growing up faster than ever. While social media keeps everyone in touch and allows for more world-wide connections, there is a cost to it all. Research by Solstice east found “88% of girls say they compare themselves to images in the media and half claim that they feel negatively affected by this.” That percentage shows just how detrimental social media is to teenagers. It is important to keep in mind that not everything seen on social media is real but unfortunately, the separation between reality and the false representations online is getting harder to differentiate.
A Typical Fear Food:
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