Media influences and conventional beauty standards have long plagued society.
The issue took on new urgency in May 2023. U.S. Secretary of War Issues Serious Public Advisory over- The relationship between social media and youth mental health.
Studies show that images of beauty depicted in movies, television, and magazines can cause mental illnesseating disorder problems, body image dissatisfaction.
These trends have been documented for women and menin LGBTQ+ community and in people of different races and ethnic background.
For years, experts suspected social media was contributing to the increase. Youth mental health crisis. But the Surgeon General’s warning is one of the first. Public warning backed by solid research.
Social media can be harmful
Dissatisfaction with the body of children and adolescents is common, is linked to Decreased quality of life, worsening mood, unhealthy diet.
As Eating Disorders and Anxiety SpecialistI regularly work with clients who experience eating disorder symptoms, self-esteem issues, and anxiety. Social media related.
me too have direct experience with this topic: I’ve been recovering from an eating disorder for 15 years and grew up around a time when people started using social media extensively. In my view, the impact of social media on eating and exercise patterns needs to be further studied to inform future policy directions, school programming, and therapeutics.
The mental health of adolescents and teens declining over the last decadeand the The pandemic of the new coronavirus infection contributes to the deterioration of young people’s mental health and put it in the spotlight. As the mental health crisis surges, researchers are: Explore the role of social media With these concerns about mental health increasing,
pros and cons
About 95% of children and adolescents ages 10 to 17 in the United States are use social media almost all the time.
According to research, Social Media Can Be Beneficial to find community support. However, research has found that social media use is associated with social comparisons, unrealistic expectations, Negative effects on mental health.
Also, if you have pre-existing mental health conditions We tend to spend more time on social media. People in that category are more likely to: self-objectify and Internalize the ideal of a thin body.with women Those with pre-existing body image concerns You are more likely to feel bad about your body and yourself after spending time on social media.
eating disorders
A recent study found that social media use, like mass media, is a risk factor for: developing an eating disorder, body image dissatisfaction and disordered eating. This review showed that social media use contributes to negative self-esteem, social comparison, reduced emotional control, idealized self-expression, and negatively affects body image.
Another study called dove self esteem projectAccording to a paper published in April 2023, 9 in 10 children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 are exposed to harmful beauty content on social media, and 1 in 2 are exposed to it. Respondents say it affects their mental health.
Eating disorders are complex mental illness It is caused by biological, social and psychological factors.Hospitalization and treatment needs for eating disorders are increasing dramatically increased during the pandemic.
There are several reasons for this It includes isolation, lack of food and boredom. social media content related to weight gainQuarantine 15It’s a reference to the weight gain some people were experiencing early in the pandemic, similar to the “Freshman 15” belief that you’ll gain 15 pounds in your first year of college. Many teens whose daily lives have been disrupted by the pandemic have turned to eating disorder behaviors. often a false sense of control Or they were influenced by family members who held unhealthy beliefs about diet and exercise.
Researchers also found an increase in home time during the pandemic. Led to increased use of social media by young people As a result, we are increasingly exposed to harmful body image and weight loss social media content.
Social media isn’t the only thing that causes eating disorders, but conventional wisdom about beautythis symptom amplified by social media may contribute to the development of eating disorders.
“Shin-Spo” and “Fit-Spo”
Harmful beauty standards online include normalizing cosmetology and surgery, and eating disorder advocacy content that promotes and glorifies eating disorders. For example, social media sites have promoted trends such as “thinspo”, which focuses on the thin ideal, and “fitspo”, which perpetuates the belief that a perfect body can be achieved through diet, supplements and excessive exercise. .
According to research, Social media content promoting “clean eating”or dieting by pseudoscientific claims can lead to compulsive behaviors regarding eating patterns.These Unsubstantiated “Health” Posts May lead to weight cycling and yo-yo dietingchronic stress, body dissatisfaction, and are more likely to: Muscular and thin ideal internalization.
Some social media posting features Content that advocates for eating disorders, directly or indirectly promote eating disorders. Other posts encourage deliberate manipulation of a person’s body using hurtful quotes like “There’s nothing tastier than thin”. These posts give a false sense of connection, with users bonding by achieving common goals to lose weight, change their appearance, and continue patterns of eating disorders.
while young can often recognize and understand Considering the impact of harmful beauty advice on your self-esteem, you may still engage with this content. Part of the reason is that friends, influencers, social media algorithms encourage people To follow specific accounts.
Policy change
U.S. lawmakers suggesting something different Social media site regulation.
Policy recommendations include making social media companies more transparent and creating higher standards. Children’s data privacy and Possibility of tax incentives and social responsibility initiatives This will discourage businesses and marketers from using altered photos.
no phone zone
Taking small steps to reduce social media consumption at home can also make a difference. parents or caregivers Set a period when you don’t need to call for the family. Examples of this include putting your phone away while your family is watching a movie or eating together.
Adults can also help by modeling healthy social media behavior and encouraging focus on children and adolescents. About making connections and participating in worthwhile activities.
Careful use of social media is also a helpful approach. This requires being aware of what you are feeling while scrolling through social media. If spending time on social media seems to be making you feel worse or causing a change in your child’s mood, it’s time to change the way you or your child interacts with social media. You may be
Emily Hemendinger He is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
This article was originally published conversation.
