Social Media

What the science says

There are studies that have shown that those who spend more time on social media feel greater body dissatisfaction than those who spend little to no time on social media. This is because social media creates an environment in which disordered thoughts and behaviours are allowed to thrive. In young people, there is a prevalence of perfectionism and being the perfect body shape or live the perfect lifestyle which in itself can bring about anxiety.

Validation of these images or social media posts only distorts the self-image of an individual further by falsely fulfilling their need for acceptance.

The complicated truth about social media and body imageMany of us suspect that the beautiful, often highly-edited images of people we see on social media make us feel worse about our own bodies. But what does the research say?

Link Between Social Media & Body Image | King University OnlineSocial media and body image are now inextricably linked. Find out its positive and negative effects and how you can avoid its unexpected consequences.

F.O.M.O - Fear Of Missing Out

The fear of missing out (F.O.M.O) is a big worry for young people. Some teenagers feel the need to check their phones constantly in case they have missed something within their friendship circle. This can cause great anxiety for a young person and so if this is happening then it is important to take some steps in order to support a young person in moving away from the necessity of their phone.

How to ensure you get 'digital downtime'

Don't log on late at night

It is important that a teenager gets plenty of rest. Set an evening routine in which you give a time that you log off social media and technology. This will allow your body to fully wind down and switch off before bed.

Create family time

It is important to be reminded of the benefits of switching off technology for a little while. Why not suggest that the family has phone-free time and do something as a family. This is also a great way of disconnecting to reconnect with loved ones!

Take up a new hobby

When we are on social media or hand-held devices, we are often oblivious to the world around us. There are plenty of activities and hobbies to participate in to satisfy your attention, most of which don't involve staring at a screen for hours!

What can parents do to ensure their child is safe on social media?

Encourage the value of what is real and what matters

It is important to remind children that social media is just a 'snippet' of a person's life and not the reality of that person. Usually, pictures are edited to make them look better. Real life isn't like that.

Talk to your child about the friendships of reality vs. online

Ask them:

What would a true friend do for you?
How many truly close friends do you have?
What makes a friendship work?
What are the hallmarks of true friendship?
What's the difference between a friend and an acquaintance?

Encourage your child to think about what they share

Social media is not a policed environment and there can be dangerous people online. Have a conversation with your child about what they post online and the potential dangers that come with this.

Prioritise good friendships in your own life

Be positive about the place your friends have in your life. Make sure your child knows how much you value your own closest friends – a wider network is great, but not the same as a dependable inner circle.

Periodically review your child's internet safety

Review the privacy settings on all of your child's social media accounts. If they set up a social media account, it may be worth monitoring what they post to ensure that they do not give any personal details away and that they are sensible online.

Discuss the long-term impact of the internet

It is important to stress that once something goes online then it is online forever, for anyone to see and access. Even if it feels like it has gone, it will still be visible to see.

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