It is quite possible that five years from now, fourteen-year-olds would think about getting plastic surgery. We see that fourteen-year-olds now dress like women who are in their twenties, walking around with crop tops that show their stomachs, a deep v-neck that shows off their chests, huge hoop earrings, lash extensions, and even making the same poses and faces as mature women on their Instagrams. What happens to the “awkward phase” that every child goes through, boy or girl? The impact of social media and exposing these kinds of things affect how young children see themselves. A really bad impact of this could encourage even younger children to start dressing this way. But there are other effects that social media has on teenagers and their growth being a part of certain social media apps, such as Instagram and Facebook. The younger generation is growing up too fast, and this happens at a faster rate each year, especially with the influence of social media.
The need to fit in into today’s beauty standards is the reason why teens try to achieve a certain look and pursue a certain image. Social media plays a large role in how teens start to view themselves in comparison to other people, which possibly leads to unhealthy choices and affects mental health negatively. Kylie Jenner is a perfect example of an influencer on the media when it comes to beauty standards. Younger girls or even women of her age compare themselves to her; the frustration comes along when they feel that they have things to “fix” but cannot because it is unaffordable. Meanwhile, Jenner can fix anything she wants about herself without money being an issue: larger breasts, nose jobs, bigger lips, a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift). In a text called “Understanding Facebook Use and the Psychological Affects of Use Across Generations” by Marie Haynes, Katherine van Stolk-Cooke, and Fred Muench, it is explained that the negative effects of social media, specifically Facebook, emotionally affect younger individuals more than older individuals. In a survey, the amount of social media use was compared between people of old age and people of younger age. This was done to see if social media hurts or improves one’s well-being. The results explain how people who are younger spend more time on special media compared to the older groups. They even correlated the amount of Facebook use and personality, self-esteem, and depression. There was a negative relationship between age and the amount of time spent viewing one’s own images on Facebook (Hayes, Page 3). In addition the article explains how younger adults are more influenced by what they see in the media. Conclusions were made that younger users are more likely to feel self-conscious about body image and have the need to change how they look as they compare themselves to friends’ photos. Based on previous research, dissatisfaction is consistent throughout the life-span of an adult, but the importance of body image decreases with age (Hayes, Page 4). The impact that social media has on younger adults has a wave-like effect on younger generations as they rely on advanced technology unlike older individuals. The younger generation observes and mimics. What they see in the media nowadays sets their view of beauty standards that they believe they have to eventually achieve. It is no surprise to see a competition with who can look and act the most mature the quickest, whether they are male or female.
Social media has a lasting impact on the growth of teens. The negative impact social media has on young adolescents can impact mental health that has long-term effects. These effects take a while to recover from, especially if people are not aware of its causes. The text “Social Media and Adolescent Development: Hazards, Pitfalls and Opportunities for Growth,” by Diane F. Barthe mentions the psychological effects of social media on young adolescents: “…However, there can also be a cause for concern, not only with bullying and stalking, but with encouragement of problematic behavior such as online gambling or, for example, when an anorexic turns to one of the many sites that encourage her not to eat” (Barth, Page 6). Furthermore, social media becomes a part of one’s lifestyle and causes a great impact on their growth. This is evident in young adolescents. The article also explains how adolescents find it harder to grow up without the internet: “‘Communication technology is…a central fixture within our society and has radically changed individuals’ social interactions, learning strategies, and choice of entertainment’” (Barth, Page 1). The younger generations include social media in their daily life, and the media forms their way of thinking and behavior. Nowadays, we see babies and toddlers use electronic entertainment more than toys, which starts their attachment to technology. As they get a bit older, these types of entertainment could upgrade to models like the iPhone, for example, where they are more likely to be exposed to social media at an early age, as well as have the opportunity to choose what to mimic based on what they see. As they become much older, it is possible that the amount of social media use can lead to mental health issues that can also affect their physical health. Understanding that this happens, it is a huge concern for teenagers who grow up with the media.
Although social media is harmful, it can be helpful. In “Social Media and Adolescent Development: Hazards, Pitfalls and Opportunities for Growth,” the writer explains that it can help children connect. It is a great way to connect and relate to others, freely express oneself, and to share talent and interests. It is a way to connect with other people and create small communities that help you feel accepted. However, it can also make one feel unaccepted; it becomes quite hurtful when people start to compare themselves and their lifestyles to what they see. It is also very tempting to go along with what is seen. The more exposure younger kids have with it, the sooner they will want to be a part of what is going on in the media.
Social media, although could be very helpful in our daily lives, has a great impact on the mental and physical health of the younger generation, including the need to grow up too fast. Being exposed to it at a young age impacts the growth of individuals as it shapes their mentality, lifestyle, the way one expresses themselves, and what they value. The comparison of oneself to others and the need to fit into today’s beauty standards often leads to mental health and even physical issues that are not quick to resolve. This is not just about the appearances of younger individuals dressing up more maturely. It is moreso about younger generations missing out on being a kid because they see other kids their age trying to prove themselves to the world with the influence of social media. This leads to the question of innocence. Do children lose their innocence much quicker? Does the awkward phase slowly disappear? Do young children, much younger than a preteen start to compare themselves to other people and, them too, feel the need to prove themselves?
Sources:
Barth, F. Diane. “Social Media and Adolescent Development: Hazards, Pitfalls and Opportunities for Growth.” Clinical social work journal 43.2 (2015): 201–208. Web.
Hayes, Marie, Katherine van Stolk-Cooke, and Fred Muench. “Understanding Facebook Use and the Psychological Affects of Use Across Generations.” Computers in human behavior 49 (2015): 507–511. Web.
