THE SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE
HELPING YOUR DAUGHTER NAVIGATE SOCIAL MEDIA
The ongoing challenge that females face, regardless of age or where they are from, is that beauty and appearance ideals constantly change.
Society has always set the benchmark for what is “more” beautiful or attractive when it comes to the female body, so this certainly is not a new thing for females to navigate. The problem with ideals is that they don’t allow or celebrate difference, nor do they embrace diversity in appearance.
As a result of social media platforms, exposure to fit, thin beauty and appearance ideals is more saturated and intense than ever. Thin and fit body ideals are flooding newsfeeds, constantly changing, reinforced by celebrities or influencers. Unfortunately, exposure to these images often drives feelings of inadequacy, ugliness and unworthiness due to comparison, particularly in young, vulnerable teenage girls.
When a young person feels this way, they are more at risk of behaviours such as excessive exercise, dieting and cosmetic procedures in an attempt to improve the way they look, with the hope of changing the way they feel about their body and appearance.
Of course, this is never the longterm answer and instead places them at greater risk of experiencing ongoing body dissatisfaction, disordered eating and, in some cases, an eating disorder.
Parents can play a vital role in supporting their daughters to navigate social media in a positive way. Understanding the various platforms is a great place to start.
This will help parents to empower their daughters to choose what they see and follow, and ultimately curate a more diverse, positive, and balanced “feed”.
It’s important parents are aware of what their girls are posting, what hashtags they follow and who they are following. This may help explain behaviours around eating, exercise, fashion, and beauty – particularly if behaviours have recently changed.
Helping girls to challenge the messaging behind posts (sponsored and non-sponsored) is also vital as developing a critical eye when looking at social media images can help them see beyond the image; build their social media skills, change the internal narrative and strengthen their body confidence.
While it may be challenging at times to communicate with an adolescent, it is important to find ways to connect. Honest, real, and non-judgmental conversations are key. Complimenting your daughter, often, on their non-appearance-based strengths and talents reaffirms that they are more than how they look – you value them for who they are. If you are concerned your daughter is overly preoccupied with health, weight, shape or appearance, and if their mood, eating and exercise behaviours have changed, trust your instincts and seek https://butterfly.org.au/get-support/helpline/ professional support: