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Media influences and conventional beauty standards have long plagued society.
This question took on new urgency in May 2023 when the The U.S. Surgeon General Issues a Major Public Notice above links between social media and youth mental health.
Research shows that images of beauty as depicted in movies, on television and in magazines can lead to mental illnessproblems with eating disorders and dissatisfaction with body image.
These trends have been documented in women and the menin the LGBTQ+ community and in people of different races and ethnic origins.
Experts have long suspected that social media could play a role in growth youth mental health crisis. However, the surgeon general’s warning is one of the first public warnings backed by solid research.
Social media can be toxic
Body dissatisfaction among children and adolescents is common and has been linked to decreased quality of life, worsening mood, and unhealthy eating habits.
Inasmuch as specialist in eating disorders and anxietyI regularly work with clients who exhibit symptoms of eating disorders, self-esteem issues, and anxiety. related to social media.
Me too have direct experience with this topic: I’ve been recovering from an eating disorder for 15 years and grew up in a time when people were starting to use social media widely. In my opinion, the impact of social media on diet and exercise habits needs to be further researched to inform future policy directions, school curricula, and therapeutic treatments.
The mental health of adolescents has been declining over the last decadeand the The COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to worsening youth mental health and put him in the spotlight. As the mental health crisis intensifies, researchers are looking into take a close look at the role of social media in these growing mental health problems.
The advantages and disadvantages of social networks
In the United States, approximately 95% of children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 are use social media almost constantly.
Research has shown that social media can be beneficial to find community support. However, studies have also shown that social media use contributes to social comparisons, unrealistic expectations, and negative effects on mental health.
Furthermore, those who have pre-existing mental health conditions tend to spend more time on social media. People in this category are more likely to self-objectify And internalize the thin body ideal. Women and people with pre-existing body image issues are more likely to feel worse about themselves and themselves after spending time on social media.
Fertile ground for eating disorders
A recent study found that, as with mass media, social media use is a risk factor for developing an eating disorder, body image dissatisfaction and eating disorders. In this review, social media use has been shown to contribute to negative self-esteem, social comparisons, decreased emotional regulation, and idealized self-presentation that negatively influences body image.
Another study, called Dove Self-Esteem Projectpublished in April 2023, reveals that 9 in 10 children and adolescents aged 10 to 17 are exposed to toxic beauty content on social media and 1 in 2 say it impacts their mental health.
Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses which develop due to biological, social and psychological factors. Eating disorder hospitalizations and the need for treatment have increased significantly. increased during the pandemic.
Some reasons for this include isolation, food shortage, boredom and social media content linked to weight gain, such as “quarantine15.” This was a reference to the weight gain some people were experiencing at the start of the pandemic, similar to the “15-year-old freshman” belief that one will gain 15 pounds in the first year of ‘university. Many teens whose routines have been disrupted by the pandemic have turned to eating disorder behaviors to an often false sense of control or were influenced by family members who held unhealthy beliefs about food and exercise.
Researchers also found that increased time spent at home during the pandemic leads to increased use of social media by young people and therefore greater exposure to toxic body image and social media content about dieting.
Although social media alone cannot cause eating disorders, societal beliefs about beautyamplified by social networks, can contribute to the development of eating disorders.
“Thinspo” and “fitspo”
Toxic beauty standards online include the normalization of cosmetic and surgical procedures and pro-eating disorder content, which promote and romanticize 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 there is a perfect body that can be achieved through diet, supplements and excessive physical activity.
Research has shown that social media content encouraging “healthy eating”» or dieting through pseudoscientific claims can lead to obsessive behavior regarding eating habits. These unfounded “well-being” posts can lead to weight cycling, yo-yo dietingchronic stress, body dissatisfaction, and a higher likelihood of muscular and thin-ideal internalization.
Some social media posts include pro-eating disorder content, which directly or indirectly promotes eating disorders. Other articles promote deliberate manipulation of the body, using harmful quotes such as “nothing tastes as good as feeling thin.” These posts provide a false sense of connection, allowing users to bond over a common goal: to lose weight, change their appearance, and perpetuate disordered eating habits.
While the young can often recognize and understand The effects of toxic beauty advice on their self-esteem, they can still continue to interact with this content. This is partly because friends, influencers and social media algorithms Encourage people to follow certain accounts.
How policy changes could help
Lawmakers across the United States offer different regulations for social media sites.
Policy recommendations include increased transparency from social media companies, creating higher standards of privacy of children’s data And possible tax incentives and social responsibility initiatives This would discourage businesses and marketers from using altered photos.
Phone-free zones
Small actions at home to reduce social media consumption can also make a difference. Parents and guardians can create phone-free periods for the family. For example, putting away phones while the family watches a movie together or during meals.
Adults can also help by modeling healthy behaviors on social media and encouraging children and teens to focus. about making connections and participating in valued activities.
Mindful consumption of social media is another helpful approach. This requires recognizing what it feels like to scroll through social media. If spending time on social media makes you feel worse about yourself or seems to cause mood swings in your child, it may be time to change the way you or your child interacts with social media.
This article is republished from The conversation under Creative Commons license. Read it original article.
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