Digital Smarts - Is Social Media Causing Self Esteem to Plummet Among Girls?

A new survey has suggested to researchers in Britain that a sharp decline in British schoolgirls’ self esteem over the last seven years can be directly linked to their online activity, with the internet’s emphasis on images being cited as a factor. It was also acknowledged that social media has changed the face of bullying, with girls no longer able to leave upsetting behavior at the school gates and continuing to experience friendship problems online. They found that three in four girls aged 14 to 15 regularly chatted on social media, with one in five speaking to someone that didn’t know. One in eight had received a message they found distressing, and a third of all pupils questioned had looked for porn, violent images and games online. While none of this is revolutionary news, the survey does suggest that anti-cyberbullying campaigns have not had the impact hoped for with target audiences. For a graphic example of the kind of overly slender images girls are bombarded with, take a look at Disney Princesses With Realistic Waistlines Look Utterly Fabulous.