SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — The fall-out from social media toxic messaging continues. As reported this past fall, Facebook, now Meta, was aware that Instagram was harmful for young people. Mental health and body image disorders are both linked to social media. Now parents are picking up the pieces and trying to figure what to do next. Ivanhoe introduces us to one mother and her daughter whose severe anorexia was triggered by these apps.
Tik Tok challenges drive teens to feel not picture perfect. One of those teens was Mariam Fawzi. It became a huge trigger for Mariam.
Mariam said, “Like the face symmetry challenge or the jawline challenge.”
It triggered her battle with anorexia. At its lowest, Mariam’s weight plunged to seventy-four pounds, and her heart stopped beating twice.
Neveen Radwan, Mariam’s mother explained, “When she was admitted, she was very, very sick. She was literally on death’s door.”
Mariam is one of the countless teens who has been affected by toxic images on social media.
Carla Marie Manly, PhD, a clinical psychologist told Ivanhoe, “They’re engaging in content when it’s toxic that’s telling them they’re not enough.”
Radwan said, “I don’t believe that eating disorders are caused by social media, but they’re absolutely triggered by them.”
Radwan, like other parents, is now figuring out what to do about her child using social media. Dr. Manly says the key is communication.
Manly tells parents, “Stay really attentive to how much time your child is spending on social media. Have very clear limits. And pay attention to unusual mood fluctuations.”
For now, Radwan is playing it safe and keeping Mariam away from social media.
Mariam said, “Toxic Tik Tok trends shouldn’t define who you are.”
Massachusetts’ attorney general is now leading a bi-partisan nationwide investigation of Instagram’s impact on young people. It’s examining whether the platform violated state consumer protection laws and put the public at risk. Other states taking part include Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Vermont. Many parents, such as Neveen Radwan, don’t believe Meta platforms will do the right thing, on their own.
Contributors to this news report include: Jennifer Winter, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor; and Joe Alexander, Videographer.
TOXIC SOCIAL MEDIA: NOT PICTURE PERFECT #2932
BACKGROUND: Social media is very influential in today’s society, especially among the youth. Popular apps like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube showcase facades that sometimes make people feel insecure about themselves. In a survey conducted by the Florida House Experience, out of 1,000 men and women, 87% of women and 65% of men compared their bodies to images they consumed on social media and traditional media. Some tips to increase self-esteem and have a positive outlook on body image, regarding social media, are (1) unfollow accounts that try to sell products with their bodies, (2) watch how “body positive influencers” treat their bodies, (3) don’t speak badly about your body on social media, or in real life, and (4) disconnect from social media to be active.
(Source: https://online.king.edu/news/social-media-and-body-image/)
EFFECTS OF TOXIC SOCIAL MEDIA: According to HelpGuide, too much exposure to social media can promote negative experiences such as inadequacy about your life or appearance, fear of missing out (FOMO), isolation, depression and anxiety, cyberbullying, and self-absorption. The most common reason people spend so much time on social media is because of FOMO. FOMO can compel a person to pick up their phone every few minutes to check for updates, or compulsively respond to every alert, even if that means risking their life while driving or missing sleep.
(Source: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm)
NEW STUDIES ON ADOLESCENTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA: A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2019 observed the psychological effects social media had on teens. Over the course of three years, researchers studied 6,595 teens between the ages of 13 and 17 and monitored their behaviors after consuming excessive amounts of social media. The researchers found that teens who spent more than three hours a day on social media were more likely to report internalizing behaviors compared to teens who didn’t use social media at all. Although social media has benefits, like connecting with friends and family, it is important to understand and watch out for the consequences of too much social media.
(Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190911142733.htm)
* For More Information, Contact:
Carla Manly, PhD
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