New Study Reinforces the Need to Help Students Handle The Pressure of Social Media
It’s no surprise that social media and student well-being go hand-in-hand. In fact, 45% of Gen Z believe that there is too much pressure to be perfect online.
Now there is even more evidence that social media affects the way students feel about their bodies. A recent study revealed that three out of four children as young as 12 years old dislike their bodies and are insecure about how they look and link these feelings to social media. This number increases to 80% when they reach ages 18-21.
These new findings highlight the importance of equipping students to Handle The Pressure or helping them find their own path no matter the pressure from others, both online and offline. This report also emphasizes the value of empowering students to navigate social media, tech, and their well-being in healthy and high-character ways from an early age.
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The study, led by stem4, a youth mental health charity, surveyed 1,024 students between the ages of 12 and 21. What did they discover? The importance of taking action to support students and promote their well-being when it comes to social media.
“We need to improve understanding of the potentially compelling impact of social media content, and the reinforcement created through algorithms, on young people’s engagement with apps and their consequent mental health,” shared Dr. Nihara Krause, who is a consultant clinical psychologist and the CEO and founder of stem4.
According to the survey, four in 10 respondents are in mental health distress, with one in five experiencing body image issues. Only one in 10 shared they were receiving treatment.
In addition, the survey also found that 97% of students are on social media, with almost 70% of respondents sharing that social media makes them feel stressed, anxious, and depressed. When it comes to getting support, students are more likely to turn to social media to connect with others through online communities. The survey found that students are four times more likely to go to social media rather than friends and families when seeking support about body image and insecurities.
TSI’s Take
This study reminds us of the impact that social media has on student self-confidence, a significant driver of well-being. Social media plays a crucial role in students’ lives, and it’s not going away. By taking a proactive approach, we can empower students to navigate their social world positively and equip them with the tools to feel confident both online and offline.
We recently huddled up with Dr. Jennifer Green, a psychologist and associate professor at Boston University, to talk about how educators can support students. Check out our blog to gain strategies and insights on how you can support your students in the classroom.
You can also use technology to empower and equip students to use social media in positive ways. Through our online learning platform #WinAtSocial, educators can run the #WinAtSocial Curriculum Lesson, Exploring the link between social media, body image, and the rise of BeReal, to discuss with students how social media impacts body image in their own life and create strategies to navigate these social pressures.
Contact us today to gain access to this lesson and more to help students Handle the Pressure of social media!
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in understanding student experiences and creator of #WinAtSocial, a gamified, online learning platform that equips students, educators, and families to navigate social experiences — online and offline — in healthy ways. Our unique, student-respected approach incorporates topics like social media, technology use, and current events that have a significant impact on student well-being. Lessons teach life skills for the modern day to inspire high-character decisions that support the health, happiness, and future success of students, while capturing data that provides insights to school leaders to inform school policy and communications, and enable high-impact teaching and a healthy learning environment. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities. For schools, our turnkey technology allows for easy implementation and a comprehensive game plan to support the well-being of school communities.