The growing impact of social media on teenage girls’ well-being is widely debated as social media usage reaches younger and younger audiences.  Some believe social media serves as a platform to connect with friends as it makes connecting with new people easier. However, others believe that social media serves as a breeding ground for insecurities and mental health problems. The impact of social media on teenage girls is significant to highlight because adolescence is a specifically troubling time for girls due to several factors. From changing bodies to personalities forming, it is apparent that social media can negatively affect these impressionable kids. So, does social media make female teen years more tolerable or even worse? 

To see how this complex issue impacts the school, the Crossed Sabres team surveyed girls of numerous ages, upbringings and social circles. This survey aimed to find  continuities among girls through  social media. Despite characteristic differences, most girls shared common habits when it came to social media use. 82.4% of girls use social media, and an average of 82% spend more than two hours on social media per day. However, the survey took a more divided turn when it came to the impact of social media on mental health. 50% of girls believe that social media makes them want to change their physical appearance. If we were to project that statistic across the entire girl population at the school, that would mean around 709 girls would want to change how they look due to social media use. 

Similarly, 73% of girls see their peers negatively affected by social media. According to sophomore Hana Kinnard, “[I have] definitely seen some people go down rough roads because of them comparing themselves to people they see online.” Kinnard said. 

Additionally, the survey addressed topics relevant before the days of Instagram and Snapchat: the desire to fit in at high school. Approximately 79% of girls feel like they belong at the school. But what does it take to fit in? According to our survey, social media plays a significant role. About 76% of girls agreed that social media influences their and their peers’ style and 52% agreed that social media influences how you need to look to fit in at the school. 

“The people you see online, like the really pretty girls, the ones with good style and stuff, they definitely have an influence on other people,”  Kinnard said.

So what happens to the girls who do not conform to the social media standard? 

“There are people that treat me differently depending on whether I’m wearing a cute outfit and makeup.” One survey response said.

Another surveyor reflects on the desire to be more carefree and open. 

“I just wish that we could be us without having to change and calculate everything about us so we aren’t “tempting” people to do [horrible] things.” Another survey response said.

 This comment highlighted an issue not discussed or brought to light within the school community. When did social media become so suffocating that girls have to hide who they truly are and pretend to be someone they are not?

“I think some people like to keep it real, but I think there’s definitely a lot of faking it,” Kinnard said.

Additionally, the survey response describes “tempting” people to do terrible things to one another. While bullying has always existed in high schools, the role of social media has changed the way that we see bullying and where it occurs. It is important to note that a tool such as social media has the software and technology to leave posts under anonymous names and distribute them around the school community in minutes. 

85% of girls see girls being mean to each other, and 69% see this happen online. These findings conclude that not only can social media be a place of unrealistic standards and insecurities, but also a place of bullying and cruelty.  Why do girls pick on each other online?

“You see a lot of girls putting that girl down to make themselves seem better,”  Kinnard said.

At the Crossed Sabres, we were saddened to see the negative impact that social media has on the female population at the school. However, it is important to note that not all social media is used with negative intent. In fact, to some people, social media is a place of belonging and communication. As part of the school female community, it is our responsibility to make sure that every girl feels like she belongs and can be herself online or off. Instead of looking at other girls online as competition or enemies, we need to embrace our role as allies to one another and make sure it stays that way

“It’s really hard to not focus on appearances and what other people think of you. As hard as I try to focus on myself and my goals, it’s hard to completely ignore the pressure. But just because your priorities are different doesn’t make you any less perfect, and you shouldn’t feel like you are missing out. I’ve actually had such a hard time keeping friends because unfortunately girls can be really mean and petty and immature and stab you in the back,” One anonymous surveyor  said.