What the Science Says about: Social Media and Adolescents’ Body Image and Disordered Eating

Summary

This video explores how social media, particularly selfies, affects teens' body image. While social platforms offer creative freedom and connection, the emphasis on appearance exposes teens to criticism and pressure to alter their photos. Editing selfies can intensify body dissatisfaction, fostering harmful comparisons and unrealistic beauty standards. Such pressures may contribute to disordered eating or excessive exercise. The video emphasizes the importance of teaching teens to critically evaluate online content, recognize its potential negative impact, and understand that social media often presents unrealistic portrayals of real bodies. For further guidance, the handbook on adolescent digital media use and mental health is available at www.teensintech.org.

Takeaways

• 😀 Around 84% of teens use social media, which plays an increasingly central role in their lives.
• 😀 Social media can be a positive tool for self-expression, creativity, and connecting with peers.
• 😀 The visual nature of social media exposes teens’ appearances to unprecedented levels of scrutiny and criticism.
• 😀 Posting selfies and monitoring likes or comments is associated with body dissatisfaction in teens.
• 😀 Teens may feel pressured to digitally edit their photos to hide perceived flaws.
• 😀 Editing selfies can actually worsen body image by drawing more attention to perceived imperfections.
• 😀 Seeing peers’ edited selfies can lead to harmful social comparisons among teens.
• 😀 A gap often develops between a teen’s perceived appearance and their ideal appearance, creating emotional stress.
• 😀 This stress can lead to harmful behaviors such as disordered eating or excessive exercise to meet unrealistic beauty standards.
• 😀 Teaching teens to critically evaluate social media content can help mitigate negative mental health effects.
• 😀 Teens should understand that what they see online does not always reflect real people or real bodies.
• 😀 Resources like the Handbook of Adolescent Digital Media Use and Mental Health can provide guidance on protecting teens from digital media risks.

Q & A

Why can taking a selfie seem complicated for teens?

Taking a selfie can become complicated for teens because it involves not only capturing a moment but also navigating social media's impact on their body image and the pressure to present an idealized version of themselves.

How prevalent is social media use among teens?

Around 84 percent of teens use social media, and its role in their lives continues to grow, influencing how they express themselves and interact with others.

What are some benefits of social media for teens?

Social media can be freeing and creatively fulfilling, allowing teens to express themselves, connect with others, and explore their interests.

What downside does social media have on teens, especially related to body image?

The visual nature of social media exposes teens to constant scrutiny of their appearance, leading to body dissatisfaction and negative comparisons with others.

How can taking and posting selfies impact a teen's body image?

Activities like taking selfies and tracking likes and comments can make teens more focused on their appearance, often leading to dissatisfaction with their bodies.

What is the effect of editing selfies on a teen's body image?

Editing selfies to hide perceived flaws might initially seem to improve appearance, but studies suggest it can actually worsen body image, leading to increased focus on flaws and an unrealistic standard of beauty.

How do edited selfies from peers affect teens' body image?

When teens see edited selfies from their peers, it can fuel unhealthy social comparisons, making them feel their own bodies don't measure up to an idealized standard.

What can result from the gap between a teen's perceived and ideal body image?

This gap can lead to harmful behaviors such as disordered eating, excessive exercise, or unhealthy efforts to conform to beauty standards seen online.

Is social media likely to disappear soon?

It is unlikely that social media will go away anytime soon, as it continues to grow and evolve, becoming an integral part of daily life for teens and adults alike.

How can teens protect their mental health from the negative effects of social media?

Teens can protect their mental health by learning to recognize when social media negatively affects them, thinking critically about the images they see, and understanding that these images may not reflect real bodies or realistic beauty standards.