edia influences
and convention-
al beauty stand-
ards have long
plagued society.
This issue took
on new urgency
in May 2023 when the U.S. surgeon
general issued a major public advi-
sory over the links between social
media and youth mental health.
Research shows that images of
beauty as depicted in movies, tel-
evision and magazines can lead to
mental illness, issues with disor-
dered eating and body image dis-
satisfaction. These trends have
been documented in women and
men, in the LGBTQ+ community
and people of different racial and
ethnic backgrounds.
Experts have long suspected
that social media may be playing
a role in the growing mental health
crisis in young people. However,
the surgeon general’s warning is
one of the first public warnings
supported by robust research.
The U.S. surgeon general says
the youth mental health crisis is
the ‘defining public health chal-
lenge of our time.’
SOCIAL MEDIA
CAN BE TOXIC
Body dissatisfaction among chil-
dren and adolescents is common-
place and has been linked to de-
creased quality of life, worsened
mood and unhealthy eating habits.
As an eating disorder and anxiety
specialist, I regularly work with cli-
ents who experience eating disorder
symptoms, self-esteem issues and
anxiety related to social media.
I also have firsthand experience
with this topic: I am 15 years post-
recovery from an eating disorder,
and I grew up when people were
beginning to widely use social
media. In my view, the impact of
social media on diet and exercise
patterns needs to be further re-
searched to inform future policy
directions, school programming
and treatment.
The mental health of adoles-
cents and teens has been declining
for the past decade, and the COV-
ID-19 pandemic contributed to
worsening youth mental health
and brought it into the spotlight.
As the mental health crisis surges,
researchers have been taking a
close look at the role of social me-
dia in these increasing mental
health concerns.
THE PROS AND CONS
OF SOCIAL MEDIA
About 95% of children and adoles-
cents in the U.S. between the ages
of 10 and 17 are using social media
almost constantly.
Research has shown that social
media can be beneficial for finding
community support. However,
studies have also shown that the
use of social media contributes to
social comparisons, unrealistic ex-
pectations and negative mental
health effects.
In addition, those who have pre-
existing mental health conditions
tend to spend more time on social
media. People in that category are
more likely to self-objectify and
internalize the thin body ideal.
Women and people with preexist-
ing body image concerns are more
likely to feel worse about their
bodies and themselves after they
spend time on social media.
A BREEDING GROUND
FOR EATING DISORDERS
A recent review found that, as with
mass media, the use of social me-
dia is a risk factor for the develop-
ment of an eating disorder, body
image dissatisfaction and disor-
dered eating. In this review, social
media use was shown to contribute
to negative self-esteem, social
comparisons, decreased emotional
regulation and idealized self-pres-
entation that negatively influenced
body image.
Another study called the Dove
Self-Esteem Project, published in
April 2023, found that 9 in 10 chil-
dren and adolescents ages 10 to 17
are exposed to toxic beauty con-
tent on social media and 1 in 2 say
that this has an impact on their
mental health.
Eating disorders are complex
mental illnesses that develop be-
cause of biological, social and psy-
chological factors. Eating disorder
hospitalizations and the
need for treatment have
dramatically in-
creased during
the pandemic.
Some reasons for this include
isolation, food scarcity, boredom
and social media content related to
weight gain, such as the “quaran-
tine15.” That was a reference to the
weight gain some people were ex-
periencing at the beginning of the
pandemic, similar to the “freshman
15” belief that one will gain 15
pounds in the first year of college.
Many teens whose routines were
disrupted by the pandemic turned
to eating disorder behaviours for
an often-false sense of control or
were influenced by family mem-
bers who held unhealthy beliefs
around food and exercise.
Researchers have also found
that increased time at home during
the pandemic led to more social
media use by young people and
therefore more exposure to toxic
body image and dieting social me-
dia content. While social media
alone will not cause eating disor-
ders, societal beliefs about beauty,
which are amplified by social me-
dia, can contribute to the develop-
ment of eating disorders.
According to a report from the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 42% of high school
students say they feel ‘persistently
sad’ and ‘hopeless.’
‘THINSPO’ AND ‘FITSPO’
Toxic beauty standards online
include the normalization of cos-
metic and surgical procedures and
pro-eating-disorder content, which
promotes and romanticizes eating
disorders. For instance, social me-
dia sites have promoted trends
such as “thinspo,” which is fo-
cused on the thin ideal, and
“fitspo,” which perpetu-
ates the belief of there is a
perfect body that can be achieved
with dieting, supplements and ex-
cessive exercise.
Research has shown that social
media content encouraging “clean
eating” or dieting through pseudo-
scientific claims can lead to obses-
sive behaviour around dietary pat-
terns. These unfounded “wellness”
posts can lead to weight cycling,
yo-yo dieting, chronic stress, body
dissatisfaction and a higher likeli-
hood of muscular and thin-ideal
internalization.
Some social media posts fea-
ture pro-eating-disorder content,
which directly or indirectly en-
courages disordered eating. Other
posts promote deliberate manipu-
lation of one’s body, using harm-
ful quotes such as “Nothing tastes
as good as thin feels.” These posts
provide a false sense of connec-
tion, allowing users to bond over
a shared goal of losing weight,
altering one’s appearance and
continuing patterns of disordered
eating. While young people can
often recognize and understand
toxic beauty advice’s effects on
their self-esteem, they may con-
tinue to engage with this content.
This is in part because friends,
influencers and social media algo-
rithms encourage people to follow
certain accounts. Not all teens are
on social media.
HOW POLICY CHANGES
COULD HELP
Legislators across the U.S. are pro-
posing different regulations for
social media sites.
Policy recommendations in-
clude increased transparency from
so-cial media companies, the
creation of higher standards of pri-
vacy for children’s data and pos-
sible tax incentives and social re-
sponsibility initiatives that would
discourage companies and market-
ers from using altered photos.
PHONE-FREE ZONES
Small steps at home to cut down on
social media consumption can also
make a difference. Parents and car-
egivers can create phone-free peri-
ods for the family. Examples of this
include putting phones away while
the family watches a movie togeth-
er or during mealtimes.
Adults can also help by model-
ling healthy social media behav-
iours and encouraging children
and adolescents to focus on build-
ing connections and engaging in
valued activities.
Mindful social media consump-
tion is another helpful approach.
This requires recognizing what one
is feeling during social media
scrolling. If spending time on social
media makes you feel worse about
yourself or seems to be causing
mood changes in your child, it may
be time to change how you or your
child interact with social media.
https://theconversation.com/mounting-research-
documents-the-harmful-effects-of-social-media-
use-on-mental-health-including-body-image-
and-development-of-eating-disorders-206170
Pooja, Model
Face
Day
of the
YOUR DAILY HOROSCOPE by Saurabbh Sachdeva
ARIES
MAR 21 - APR 20
A vacation you only dreamed about is
likely to become a reality soon. Healthy
eating will help prevent digestive ailments.
Money will be no constraint in buying what
you like. Driving down with lover to a hap-
pening place is indicated today.
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JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
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cious. Your knowledge about your line of
work will be roundly appreciated and get
you the thumbs up from higher ups. Friends
and family may get together to give you a
surprise and make your day.
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NOV 23 - DEC 22
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improvement in their condition. Smooth
going is indicated for those on a long
journey. Stars on the property front ap-
pear the brightest.
LIBRA
SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22
Something you have implemented at work
LVOLNHO\WRSURÉWWKHFRPSDQ\DQGJHW
you noticed. You are likely to celebrate
the achievement of a family youngster in
a grand way. Shifting into your very own
house may soon become a reality.
AQUARIUS
JAN 21 - FEB 19
Your stars favour a bright beautiful day .A
family reunion is on the cards and you may
get invited to a social function. Tax advisor
will be a big help in saving taxes, so don’t
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friends turned lovers to fall apart, so relax.
TAURUS
APR 21 - MAY 20
Your popularity is set to soar on both
personal and professional fronts. Some
of you will have to curb your splurg-
ing ways. Family life will cruise along
smoothly with much love and bonhomie.
Don’t speed up on the road.
VIRGO
AUG 24 - SEP 23
Money put together on previous occasions
is likely to come in handy. A family young-
ster is keen to learn from you, so don’t
disappoint. Settling down in a new house
is indicated for some. You may have to
awaken partner’s interest in you once.
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DEC 23 - JAN 20
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next step. Efforts in the real estate market
may bear fruit. A project left halfway by
someone else may come on your shoulders,
but your efforts will be acknowledged.
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OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22
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as earning opportunities come to you.
Help from co-workers in a time consum-
ing task will be forthcoming on the work
front. Support of family will encourage
you to take up a challenge.
PISCES
FEB20 - MARCH 20
Changes made by you at workplace may
not be appreciated by all. Strict dietary con-
WUROZLOONHHS\RXÉWDVDÉGGOH$IDPLO\
reunion is on the cards and will enable you
to meet everyone. You can be tasked to or-
ganise an outing for friends and relations.
GEMINI
MAY 21 - JUNE 21
Help extended to someone will help him
or her get ahead on the academic front.
People falling under this sign will have
very refreshing day. Visiting a mall or
watching a movie with family is likely to be
the highlight of the day for some.
CANCER
JUNE 22 - JULY 23
Money coming from various streams
will keep you in an elated state of mind.
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adopted promises to keep you in the pink
of health. Your search for perfect partner
may soon be over.
Social Media’s
Mental Menace
M
Your Page
JAIPUR, SATURDAY | JUNE 24, 2023
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10
Emily
Hemendinger
[email protected]