Social Media, the Digital Age, and its Effect on Young Women
Social media has revolutionized global communication since its inception alongside the internet and the iPhone. Today, it's rare and somewhat unusual to meet someone without an Instagram or TikTok account. While social media provides huge opportunities for socialization, it also presents significant challenges for our youth, particularly young women.
Platforms like Instagram are designed primarily for users to share images of themselves, their surroundings, and their daily lives, often highlighting only the best aspects. This selective sharing can create a distorted reality for viewers, fostering unrealistic expectations that are impossible to meet. This feature makes these platforms particularly appealing to young girls, who often seek validation from their peers. However, this constant quest for affirmation can lead to obsession and addiction. Girls, in particular, are vulnerable to these challenges as they strive to mirror the physical appearance and behaviors of others who conform to societal beauty norms.
Many young women, overwhelmed by images of “perfect” bodies and beautiful faces, begin to strive for that look of perfection in ways that are detrimental to their health and overall well-being.
In fact, according to a study by the International Journal of Eating Disorders, there is a significant correlation between social media activity and the likelihood of developing an eating disorder. The study found that girls are especially prone to these conditions, often internalizing body ideals such as being thin.
Because of the detrimental effects of social media on teen girls, their time on these addictive platforms should be limited. Interestingly, the government feels the same. On March 25, 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the HB 3 Bill, which requires all people with active social media accounts and those in the process of creating one to provide valid documentation proving their age. This bill restricts minors under the age of 14 from accessing social media sites and requires those aged 14 to 15 to have parental permission.
Although this new legislation might lead to some positive changes in the mental health of teens who previously spent the majority of their time on social media, it also raises concerns over its constitutionality. Opponents argue that limiting and restricting minors from joining social media actually restricts their right to free speech. Additionally, there is concern over the restriction of parental authority, since this bill gives the law more power over teenagers’ upbringing than their parents and families.
Both of these arguments are reasonable. While mental health is extremely important and something should indeed be done to address the alarmingly high rates of eating disorders arising in young women due to social media engagement, the best solution may not be to completely ban them from using the sites.
The impressionable nature of a teenager’s mind does not change significantly from ages 13 to 14 or 15 to 16. Though their maturity level might vary depending on their ages, young people, in general, tend to be more likely to be affected by things they see on the internet. Therefore, they should be able to differentiate between content that will generate positivity and content that will do the opposite without being completely shut out and limited by the law.
Furthermore, it is a parent’s job to teach their children about self-control and managing productivity. If their child spends an excessive amount of time on social media rather than doing schoolwork or interacting with their friends face to face, then the parent should intervene by teaching their teen about the importance of time management and interpersonal relationships outside of their mobile devices. Doing this will limit exposure to social media networks and possibly reduce the chances of developing mental health problems due to what they are constantly exposed to. Additionally, if a parent is aware that their child is experiencing mental health issues, they should do everything possible to alleviate that and possibly contact a therapist.
Completely restricting teens from social media might actually do more harm than good. They might want to protest the bill by increasing their time on social media, and the bill’s restrictions don't seem difficult to circumvent. If documentation is needed to prove their age, teens could potentially use their parents’ IDs to create a social media account.
It is crucial to protect young women, as they are among the most vulnerable in this digital age. These young girls will carry forward our future, and safeguarding their mental and emotional well-being should be our top priority. However, completely restricting their freedom of speech and right to express themselves would erase their presence in society and disregard their valuable thoughts. Everyone, regardless of age, deserves the right to be heard and to contribute to the conversation.
