Social media is a horrible influence on young minds. From a young age, children and teenagers are being exposed to so much more than generations of the past because of social media apps, such as Instagram and TikTok.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, more people turned to social media as a way to escape reality. TikTok was the main source of entertainment for many, with its new trends and dances. There were many people who grew their follower count during this time and became influencers.
These influencers have such a large platform and influence on teenagers, and sometimes they do not realize the harm they can do. One popular TikTok influencer is Sienna Mae, who claims to advocate for mid-sized girls. The only problem is that she is not mid-sized. She sticks her stomach out in videos to try and look bigger than she actually is.
The problem with this is that young girls are going to see her and think she is actually considered mid-sized. This can cause body dysmorphia for these teenagers, and could lead to larger problems, such as eating disorders.
Many influencers also create videos titled “What I eat in a day.” This is another thing that can lead to eating disorders in young people because it may lead them to think that they have to eat like this person if they want to look like them. In reality, the reason that influencers look the way they do is genetics, or because they go to the gym.
Another trend that has unfortunately become more popular is body checking. There are a few influencers who film “Get ready with me” videos, but they start the video in just their undergarments, showing off their body. This is very common for women who have society’s “perfect body.”
The issue with all of these trends is they are exposing teenagers to many different ways to treat your body and they try to show you how to look like them. It is extremely unhealthy both mentally and physically to be constantly comparing your body to others and trying to manipulate it to look different.
Instagram also heavily influences young minds with all the Photoshop and facetuned celebrities. This once again shows teenagers an unrealistic body type and manipulates what they think they should look.
It is definitely more common for female influencers to target young girls with their content, but it is also common for men to do the same. Male influencers also film videos about what they eat throughout the day or what they do at the gym, which could mess with their younger audience’s mind.
Not every man is going to be extremely muscular and go to the gym daily, but when that is what you are being shown constantly, it is going to affect how you think about yourself. Social media has turned into one of the most toxic places, and it is causing more issues than it is worth. While it is a great source of entertainment, it is also a dark place that results in eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
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