Social Media and Body Image

When you think of social media, is the first thing that comes to your mind a selfie?  You know, the fish face with pursed lips?  Why do we take these pictures?  Better still, why do we post these pictures?

I read an article posted by Common Sense Media called "Is Social Media Giving Your Teen A Negative Body Image?"  The article was written in 2014 by Caroline Knorr and you can read the full text of it here.  Her thoughts are that students are seeking body image validation.  She comments that students learn how to edit and alter their photos from a very young age.  She references a statistic that 80% of 10-year-olds have been on a diet.

Common Sense Media offers this article to help your daughter with body image issues and this article to help your son with body image issues.

This infographic offers ways to help your child.

While this article is old (2014), all you have to do is Google social media and body image to find tons of current research.  This is a thing.  Kids (boys and girls) are dealing with unrealistic body image issues because of this early exposure and judgment of their images posted on social media.  Our culture is obsessed with women's looks.  Girls seek to imitate celebrities despite the fact that sometimes the celebrities use surgery, makeup, and photo editing to reach their final "camera perfect" appearance.

Take Away Messages

• Worry about your son's body image as much as your daughter's.  It's not just a girl thing.
• Ban "fat talk" in your home.
• Help your child find a positive social media outlet.
• Focus on healthy living instead of body image.  
• Seek to feel good about your own body image as your vocal dissatisfaction could be projecting to your kids.
• Remember media is very influential so challenge assumptions and stereotypes when you see them on commercials or tv shows.

Social media is meant to offer your child a community to share and be supportive.  It wasn't meant to rob your child of his/her self-esteem or fret about body image.  Social media is a great thing when used productively.  Our kids need our guidance.  Keep your eyes open for this issue of body image with your kids and use the Common Sense Media files as conversation starters.

Please use the comments section to offer advice or to share a story about your experience in moving your child in a positive direction with social media use.