Existing social-media networks can be damaging to young people. Our "whole-family social network" hopes to prevent and even counteract this damage.
The following article is a long excerpt taken directly from Fortune Magazine, Oct 5, 2021, by Dr. Kim Elsesser entitled "Here's How Instagram Harms Young Women According to Research."
1. Eating disorder risk increased with social media use. Study after study shows an social media use is linked to higher risk for eating disorders. So many studies have been completed on body image and eating disorders relating to social media that reviews of this research have already been completed. One review of a whopping 67 studies on this topic was published six years ago in 2015. Their conclusion? “The use of the internet, and particularly appearance-focused social media, is associated with heightened body image and eating concerns. Developmental characteristics may make adolescents particularly vulnerable to these effects.”
2. Depression, lower self-esteem, appearance anxiety and body dissatisfaction are all associated with Instagram use. One study examined the frequency of Instagram use, and found it was linked with all of these negative outcomes.
3. Posting selfies impacts mood. One study published in 2018 found that college-age women who took and posted selfies reported worse mood and felt less attractive. Interestingly, these negative outcomes occurred even when allowing participants to retake and retouch their photos.
4. Social media use increased desire for cosmetic surgery. In 2010, a study examined 600 Dutch adolescents between 11–18 years old, and found social media use was associated with an increased desire for cosmetic surgery.
5. Brain activity changes with “likes.” One study conducted a brain fMRI study of adolescents to examine their brain activity associated with Instagram “likes.” fMRI is a type of imaging that can pinpoint the changes in blood flow in different parts of the brain and can indicate the location of brain activity. The participants exhibited greater brain activity when they were shown photos with more likes. When their own photos received likes, the brain’s reward center was activated. The researchers conclude, “A like is a social cue specific to adolescents’ cultural sphere, and adolescents use this cue to learn how to navigate their social world.”
6. “Drive for thinness” increased with Instagram use. In particular, this study found that viewing appearance-focused posts (models, fitness bloggers) resulted in an increased drive for thinness. Viewing other types of posts did not have the same impact.
7. Manipulation of photos is a problem for body image. A study entitled, “Picture Perfect: The Direct Effect of Manipulated Instagram Photos on Body Image in Adolescent Girls,” published in 2016, found that the manipulation of Instagram posts had a negative impact on adolescent girls. Since photos these days are easily manipulated, this study investigated the impact of viewing Instagram photos of peers that were manipulated to remove eye bags, wrinkles, and impurities, and to reshape legs to be thinner and waist to be slimmer. Results showed that exposure to these manipulated Instagram photos directly resulted in a decrease in one’s own body image.
8. Social media literacy intervention can help teenage girls avoid eating disorders. The research link between eating disorders and social media is so well established that researchers are already examining solutions. One group found that an intervention that taught young girls about social media and its risks resulted in a reduction in the risk of eating disorders.
9. Those who compare themselves with others at greatest risk. Several studies indicate those who engage in social comparison (compare themselves to others) are at greatest risk for the negative outcomes associated with social media use.
10. Suicidal thoughts linked to social media use. One review of nine studies on social networking and suicide found, “Online social networking also leads to increased exposure to and engagement in self-harm behavior due to users receiving negative messages promoting self-harm, emulating self-injurious behavior of others, and adopting self-harm practices from shared videos. Greater time spent on social networking websites led to higher psychological distress, an unmet need for mental health support, poor self-rated mental health, and increased suicidal ideation.”
11. Reducing social media reduces loneliness and depression. One set of researchers had a group of university undergraduates reduce their social media use for three weeks. A control group did not reduce their social media use. The group that reduced their social media presence were less lonely and depressed compared to the control group.
This is just a small sample of the studies that have been completed on this topic. Given the number of young Instagram users, its time to start discussing these issues. According to The Wall Street Journal, 22 million U.S. teens use Instagram each day, and more than 40% of Instagram’s users are 22 years old and younger. It’s important that we use all available resources to fully understand social media’s effects on their well-being.
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