The Latest on Social Media and Self-Esteem

Move Over Glossy Magazines. Now Social Media Makes Young Girls Hate Themselves.
by Katy Waldman (Slate.com)

"In case you were starting to feel OK about this newfangled Facebook thing, two recent studies show that the blue-and-white behemoth is ruining young girls’ self-esteem. Do you want to hear about the disordered eating first, or the increase in plastic surgery rates?

The American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery recently surveyed a group of its 2,700 members and discovered that 1 in 3 doctors saw an uptick in procedure requests for 2013. The researchers attributed the rise in part to “patients being more self-aware of looks in social media.” They write that 13 percent of plastic surgeons mentioned patients who wanted procedures specifically because they didn’t like their appearance on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or Selfie.im. Not surprisingly, many of these patients were teenage girls. The composite face of plastic surgery is getting younger, the researchers say, noting that 58 percent of the surveyed AAFPRS members reported an increase “in cosmetic surgery or injectables in those under 30.”"
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Study Finds Being Ignored on Facebook May Lower Self-Esteemby Nick Bilton (Bits at NYTimes.com)

"Social media promises to make people feel better about their lives and promotes the ability to connect with others and share wonderful moments.

Yet according to a new psychology report, when people are ignored on social sites, the rejection can have adverse affects.

The study, “Threats to belonging on Facebook: lurking and ostracism,” was published by Taylor and Francis Group, an academic book publishing house, and found that if no one “likes” a person’s post on Facebook, that lack of interaction can lead that person to have a lower self-esteem. The research was led by a team from the psychology school at the University of Queensland in Australia...

...In both instances, the participants in this second study were mostly ignored. When asked by researchers how that felt, the participants said they felt “invisible.” Some went as far as saying they felt less important as individuals and had a lower self-esteem after the experience."
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Self esteem and the online world: More than likes and followers
by Martine Oglethorpe (the ModernParent.net)

"Are likes, followers, shares and comments the new currency for self esteem? Must every child’s friendship be legitimised with a selfie proclaiming BFF status? Are kids placing their very self worth on the accumulation of affirming ‘friends’ they have neither seen nor spoken to?

With our kids relying increasingly on social networking sites for much of their socialisation, connection and sense of belonging, it appears that for many kids, too much of their self worth is being hinged on their online popularity. Nothing new of course. Kids have always wanted to belong, to be popular and to be liked. That hasn’t altered. But of course with this new playing field, the medium and scope of people they need to be ‘liked’ by has certainly changed."
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