Clinton’s warning over social media
HILLARY CLINTON has expressed concern that the “perfect” images of life on social media are undermining young women’s confidence.
The former US Secretary of State said people in the public eye should talk more openly about where they went wrong, to give others the “courage” to have a go.
Speaking to Fearne Cotton on her Happy Place podcast, Mrs Clinton, 72 said: “You know, this idea of perfection is so insidious and it undermines particularly young women’s confidence, their willingness to take a chance that may not fully succeed.
“I mean, you can’t tell how far you will go until you take that first step. And sometimes that first step could be the hardest of all.
“And I am just so worried that the false image of what life is like portrayed on social media is causing a lot of anxiety, stress and even depression among young women...at least that seems to be what is now being reported and researched certainly in our country, but I would imagine elsewhere.”
She said: “It helps for people who are in the public eye to say, hey, I messed up. I, you know, I had a tough time of it. It wasn’t always easy.”
Mrs Clinton, the US Democratic presidential candidate in 2016, said that “it’s never too late to really go after your dreams”.
But she added: “Now that doesn’t mean you just get up from the couch and go after your dreams. I mean, you have to educate yourself, train yourself, you know, be ready.
“But talking about failure should not be some kind of taboo.
“It should be much more open and people more willing to share their own stories, which in turn I think can give some courage to others.”
The Happy Place podcast is available now.