Blog Post- Women in Society
Social media has completely changed the game when it comes to the self confidence and self-esteem of young females. Despite the positives of social media connecting people across the globe and making up for lost face to face time, it has a negative effect on the younger generation, especially young women. Social media is known for bullying, exclusion, and unrealistic expectations. However, there are more long-term effects. Young females are constantly scrolling on various social media platforms, unconsciously comparing themselves to other females they come across. Young females are programmed to believe that no matter what they look like, nothing is ever good enough. Upon opening apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, the viewer is bombarded with an abundance of filters. The filters range from funny backgrounds, crazy hair, interactive games, to changing the shape of your face. There are face slimming features, “skin beautifying” filters, and even cheek bone lifting filters. When young women put these filters on, they feel pretty, but what happens when they take the filter off? Do they still feel beautiful? It creates a sense of psychological conditioning where young females feel they are never going to good enough, or they do not meet up to society’s beauty standards. However, beauty standards are ever evolving. If you are skinny enough, then you do not have the curves that everyone wants, but if you have the curves that everyone wants, then your stomach isn't flat enough. There will never be an answer.
Social media “influencers” get paid just for showing off their bodies. They’ve built a career on their visual appearance. From looking at their Instagram feed, it is implied that with great happiness, you must receive a great deal of attention. With comments like “slay bae” and “pop off queen”, wouldn’t anyone want the same attention and hype? More social media followers does not make you more social. Eighty-six percent of models suffer from anorexia, depression, or even both, but they would never tell you that. Females in their adult years are showing the younger generation of females that in order to be successful, you must look or pose a certain way. Are these the type of role models we want our young females to look up to?
According to studies, there is a direct correlation between screen time and low self-esteem, in young girls in particular. Comparing yourself is so convenient and easy when social media is right at your fingertips, there is always going to be someone who you feel is prettier, smarter, thinner, etc. Comparison is inescapable with social media.
Social media is easily a part of our everyday lives. It’s how we connect with old peers, get inspired by new ideas, and look at a funny meme at the end of the day. A media study showed that teens spend up to nine hours a day interacting with their friends, and the rest of the day online. Continued research also showed concerning data. Screentime included increased anxiety, depression, and poor body image for teenage girls. For example, there are thirteen year olds who are getting lip injections because they want to look like Kylie Jenner. No shade to Kylie Jenner, but whatever society made Kylie Jenner feel like she had to get lip injections, contour her face, and change her body is in an ill society.
A survey has found that one in every three females feel the pressure to depict themselves as having a perfect life on social media. Obviously everyone is going to portray their best self on social media, but it is hardly true, even for the most famous celebrities. Anyone has the power to face tune their body. Even Kim Kardashian got caught morphing her body just for a picture on the gram. Let’s not forget she has a personal trainer and dietician. Needless to say, social media has the same effect on Kim Kardashian than it does on you and I. Comparing our bodies, even lives, is mentally draining.
This growing problem is not the fault of teenage girls. In a perfect world, females should be able to wear whatever they want and dress however they want without feeling insecure about their bodies. However, that is not the world we live in. For a solution, our young women need true role models to look up to. Women that have prevailed, not just in government, but in society. An athlete, leader, or activist that inspires young females to be original, act confidently, never discouraged, and to persevere when confronted with obstacles.