In recent years, the emergence and rapid growth of social media platforms have revolutionized the way we communicate, share information, and connect with others. Now that we are in the digital age, social media has become an integral part of the lives of teen girls. The influence of social media on the lives of these girls has become subject to increasing concern as the issue has intensified. There have been clear patterns in the way that young girls are perceiving themselves and how they feel about their appearance alongside this increase of social media exposure.
Along with the changes in the way these girls view themselves compared to what they see on social media, there have been changes to their mental health as a result. There has been an increase in negative mental health effects being experienced by young girls. While not everyone is impacted in the same ways, generally there is correlation between these factors which will be explored further below.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with mental health therapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, and couples with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, and more. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing in-person sessions and teletherapy sessions to residents of New Jersey, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Utah.
Surely, social media is not all negative. What are some of the benefits?
While social media can negatively impact the mental health of teens, it is essential to acknowledge that social media is not inherently negative. It can also be a positive tool for empowerment, creativity, and sociability. Many young girls have used social media platforms to advocate for themselves or causes that they believe in. Social media is also a useful tool for education and community when used consciously and responsibly. When used appropriately and safely young girls can use social media as a tool to boost their personal knowledge on anything they are interested in.
Many organizations, influencers, and experts share informative content, tutorials, and resources on various subjects. Having the ability to be connected to anyone, anywhere in seconds allows young girls to form support systems for themselves which can limit feelings of isolation and promote positive encouragement and belonging. Social media provides access to diverse role models and people with unique life experiences and stories to share that can resonate with a lot of young people. Role models can broaden aspirations and challenge societal stereotypes as well as help young girls develop a more inclusive and empowered mindset.
Some Background Information on Social Media in Your Teen’s Life
The average youth spends about 6-8 hours a day on screens which consists of switching between and mindlessly scrolling through social media sites and intaking content that may not even be of interest to them.
The following platforms are some examples of spaces that offer self-expression and connectivity:
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook
Reddit
TikTok
Snapchat
However, alongside the benefits, there are growing concerns about the impact of social media on the well-being and self esteem of young girls. To learn more about self esteem in young girls check out our blog, “Do You Understand Your Self Esteem?.”
There have been profound effects on the psychological, emotional, and social well being of young girls in today's interconnected world. The pervasive nature of social media and its influence on various aspects of young females’ lives can not be overlooked. This blog explores the various ways in which social media influences the lives of young girls and provides insight on how they can navigate this digital landscape while maintaining a healthy sense of self.
How does social media influence teen girls?
Social media has the ability to positively and negatively influence the lives of young girls. There are certain aspects of social media that have a profound effect on young girls and influence their lives in an undeniable way.
Unrealistic Beauty Standards
The youth of today consumes an overwhelming amount of pictures and videos each day that are meant to portray the daily lives of people. Whether it is influencers, models, celebrities, or the average person, everyone is trying to display their life in a way that is intended to be perceived in a particular way by consumers.
Platforms are flooded with images of flawless, edited bodies that promote a narrow image of beauty. The representation of unauthentic lifestyles leads to impressionable young girls fetishizing unattainable standards. Young girls can develop a distorted perception of their own bodies, feeling pressured to conform to these idealized standards. To learn more about body image issues take a look at our blog, “How to Overcome Body Image Issues.”
The perpetuation of unrealistic body standards can lead to:
Low self esteem
Body dissatisfaction
Body dysmorphia
Negative body image
Mental health issues (e.g., anxiety, depression)
Extreme dieting and exercise
2. Influencer Culture and Materialism
The rise of influencers on social media has impacted young girls' values and aspirations. Influencers often showcase luxurious lifestyles and an abundance of material possessions, and embody the idea of instant fame and success. This can create a sense of inadequacy in young girls and a desire for an excess of material items. It is important for teens to understand that self worth does not come from material possessions.
3. Comparison and Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
Social media platforms foster a culture of comparison, as young girls often find themselves comparing their lives, appearance, and achievements to those of their peers or media presences they look up to. This bolsters the need to fit in and do what others are doing that most girls already feel.
Social media tends to amplify the fear of missing out on social activities and events when they are posted about and shown off. The constant comparisons can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, loneliness, and even depression.
4. Behavioral Pattern of Seeking Validation
All aspects of the use of social media in our society has resulted in young girls seeking likes, comments, and followers. This is fueling a constant need for external validation and an unhealthy preoccupation with online popularity, sometimes at the expense of real-life relationships and self fulfillment.
A sense of belonging and identity is something that most young girls seek during this time of their life and it is not healthy if they define these through the validation they get on social media. This can create anxiety and a sense of self worth that is dependent on social media interactions, potentially affecting their overall well being long term.
5. Spreading of Misinformation
Since social media is easily accessible to most, this means that anyone can share their opinions and thoughts at any time. A lot of people have a false sense of trust in what they hear or read from the internet and tend to believe that everything they see must be true. This is unfortunately very inaccurate. There is a lot of information online that is completely false and sources should always be verified.
Anyone can spread lies and misinformation to be consumed by the masses and some sites have little to no regulation of what is said. Media literacy is important for this very reason- being able to identify what is a trustworthy source and what is not based in fact or logic. Without the insight to doubt what is posted and further investigate any information seen online, young girls can fall victim to some of the more harmful misinformation that exists which can lead them to negative behaviors or thought processes.
6. The Role of Toxic Advertising
The promotion of sponsored products creates a culture in which any personal dissatisfaction can be resolved with pills and supplements or serums and make up. When everyone's favorite celebrities post about taking a weight loss supplement, people feel that they need to use them to look a certain way or to embody a similar lifestyle.
This is a toxic practice because the people who make these promotional posts are being heavily compensated to advertise the products that, in some cases, are dangerous and do not work. Most of the time the people who post do not actually even use the products. There is little to no integrity in these marketing schemes and they can result in negative health consequences for those who are influenced to use the products.
Common influencer sponsored products include:
Hair growth vitamins
Appetite suppressing snacks
Powdered greens supplements
Waist trainers
Flat tummy shakes
Tea detoxes
Teeth whitening LED lights
The issue with products like the ones listed above is that the promoters make it seem like they are quick fixes to certain health issues or body problems. In most cases, there is no scientific backing to these products and they are not federally regulated or approved, making them potentially dangerous.
For example, when an actual scientific analysis is done of the ingredients, it has shown that most of these weight loss or detoxing products contain active laxative ingredients. These products are very deceiving and, even when an end goal is being achieved or the product seems to be working, it may not be in the way that was intended by the consumer. Therefore, it could be potentially harmful for your health. There have been numerous large lawsuits to have this type of campaigning banned from social media because of the negative practices that it encourages.
7. Online Harassment and Cyberbullying
Social media platforms serve as breeding grounds for cyberbullying and online harassment which impacts the mental health and wellbeing of young girls. With the anonymity of most online spaces, people may feel more comfortable engaging in harmful behavior.
Harmful behavior can include but is not limited to…
Negative comments
Hate speech
Exclusionary behavior
The circulation of pictures without the sender's permission
The constant presence of social media exacerbates the issue as young girls may find it difficult to escape the torment. Cyberbullying can lead to anxiety, depression and social withdrawal.
8. Less Privacy
Most young girls do not consider the long-lasting nature of anything that is posted or sent through social media. Digital footprints last beyond a lifetime and the information can be retrieved at any given time, even if they forget about it.
It is very important that young girls are strategic with what they decide to share with the world because it can follow them forever. The sharing of personal information, photos, and locations can make them vulnerable to online predators and cyber criminals. Without the proper guidance and awareness young girls may unknowingly be exposing themselves to potential dangers.
9. Sleep Disturbances
Engaging with social media before bed or through the night can disrupt sleep patterns. Our smart devices emit a blue light which can suppress the production of melatonin, especially when exposure occurs before bed. The increased and constant mental stimulation social media provides us keeps our mind racing even during times where rest is trying to be achieved.
These platforms are designed to grab and retain users' attention, often with notifications and constant updates. Seeing emotionally charged content can increase stress levels and make it harder to relax. The phone disrupts the wind down process before bed and can delay the onset of sleep. Sleep deprivation can negatively impact mental health, leading to increased stress, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
If you struggle with poor sleep, check out our blog “How CBT Can Help With Your Insomnia.”
While it can be easy to harp on the downfalls of social media, it is undeniable that social media has also played a positive role in the lives of many people, including teen girls.
Social media offers opportunities for empowerment and positive change. By promoting digital wellbeing, young girls can utilize social media as a tool for personal growth and self expression.
Young girls can use social media platforms to:
raise awareness about issues they care about
connect with like-minded individuals
showcase their talents.
How can I support my teen’s social media usage?
As a society, there are certain things that can be done to help promote positive social media tendencies in young girls. If you consider yourself part of a support system for a young girl in your life, you should consider taking steps towards ensuring that girl is navigating social media in a safe and responsible way.
Any of the following are ways to possibly prevent some of the negative consequences mentioned earlier:
Encourage your teen to question and analyze any image they encounter online
Promote digital citizenship
Educate your teen girl about online safety
Foster a healthy sense of self worth
Educate your daughter on reporting mechanisms and protocols
Emphasize individuality, talents and achievements
Encourage your child to take a break from social media, for more about this check out our blog “How to Help Your Teen to Social Media Detox”
Promote body positivity
Encourage the growth of offline relationships
Focus on personal growth
Encourage self care practices, for more about this see our blog post “The 8 Forms of Self Care & How You Can Practice Them”
Open communications with parents or guardians
How can Anchor Therapy help my teen?
Anchor Therapy has licensed therapists that are equipped to help young girls cope with any psychological deficits they are experiencing as a result of social media usage. There are different types of counseling used depending on the situation that could benefit your teen as well as the family and support system. It is important that you are all on the same page in regards to how to maneuver this time of your lives.
Social media undoubtedly has a profound impact on the lives of young girls, both positively and negatively. It is crucial to educate and empower your teen to navigate these digital platforms responsibly and critically. With the right tools and education, young girls can harness the positive aspect of social media while mitigating its potential harm.
It is important to note that not all young girls are equally affected and the impact of social media on mental health can vary depending on individual reliance, social support and usage patterns. Ultimately, by cultivating a supportive and inclusive online environment, we can help young girls thrive in the digital landscape and use social media as a force for positive change.
Grace Anderson
is an Intern at Anchor Therapy. She is an undergraduate student at the University of Delaware studying Human Services with a minor in Psychology. She is looking to pursue a graduate degree in Social Work upon graduating undergrad.
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