Help children and young people develop a positive body image by challenging idealised images on social media. Empower them to put value in more than just what they see in the mirror. Explore our tips and expert advice below to get started.
Young people see a lot of content online, but from deepfakes to body editors, not everything is what it seems. However, it can be hard for children to understand what is and isn’t real online. As such, they might try to live up to unrealistic and edited standards, making it hard to maintain a positive body image.
When they try to change a part of themselves to fit into that ideal, they might experience poor self-image. This can have negative impacts on their overall wellbeing. In fact, 1 in 10 girls aged 9-10 say that being online makes them worried about their body shape or size while 13% say it makes them jealous of other people.
According to the Mental Health Foundation*, 37% teens aged 13-19 felt upset and 31% felt ashamed about their body image. Further research from stem4** found that 3/4 of young people are unhappy with how they look. As such, when they take to social media, they might be more likely to edit their photos to appear in a way that makes them feel more confident.
However, they will still look like themselves offline and that can make it harder to create a positive self-image.
Additionally, the process of taking multiple photos, choosing the ‘perfect’ one, rejecting unflattering ones and editing them is an exercise in poor body image says child psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos. Once the process is complete, we then post the photo for all to see and comment on.
“The worrying thing about this kind of exposure to others’ beliefs is that there is no end to it,” says Dr Linda. “If what others think or believe about you matters, and your visibility is not something that you can control, then maybe you will never be able to firmly say who you are. There will always be another like or comment or share ready to unsettle you.”
Ultimately, a child might start to feel that they can never live up to the selfie they’ve created.
It’s important to have open conversations with your child on a regular basis about their digital lives. Ask them about the apps they’re using, how they’re using them and how it all makes them feel. Being mindful about their digital space can help them better manage their self-image and wellbeing.
Children who feel negative about their self-image may take to editing apps to create an idealised version of their appearance. Some apps may simply be used to change the colours or brightness of a photo. But apps that can change the shape of a face, make a body more muscular and more require more attention. Below are some widely-used editing apps to look out for.
Face and body edits
These apps allow users to ‘sculpt’ their bodies to look however they want. This means they can narrow faces, thin bodies, add makeup, remove blemishes and more. If your child uses any of these apps (or similar ones), consider asking them about it. How do they use it? Why? Where do they share the edited images?
Facetune
Face App
Peachy
Body Editor
AirBrush
Even if your child isn’t sharing these edited images on the profiles you follow, they might be sharing them elsewhere — such as in group chats or on alternate accounts.
General filters
Snapseed
VSCO
In-built features on smartphones and other devices
As adults, we understand that the world of social media, just like any other form of media, is stage-managed. However, we often forget to reinforce that message to our own children. Explain that people aren’t perfect and talk to them about what others post. Who’s taking all of these perfect pictures? How many shots do you think they took to get that perfect angle?
Discuss the ‘cult of perfection’
It’s important to talk to children about what they’re posting so they don’t get sucked into the cult of perfection. Real life is what you see all around you, not just what you see through the filtered lens of a smartphone. Discuss why it’s important to disconnect from the ‘constructed’ identities we all feel we need to develop online and underscore the notion of being free to be who you really are.
Review their social media
Keep an eye on who they’re following on sites like Instagram and what they’re posting. Talk to them about the effect their images could have on other people as well as on themselves.
How to empower children to develop positive body image
When we look at idealised images, it’s natural to compare ourselves. The way to deal with these images is to recognise that they are more like press releases — they showcase the best possible version of a face or body.
Influencers and content creators will often edit their photos to look a certain way and show a certain lifestyle. So, what children see online is not always even the best ‘version’. Instead, it’s an edited or altered version.
Be aware of the language that you use to talk about your own body. Children pick up on this, so it’s best to try and keep it positive to encourage them to stay positive about their own body image.
Being bombarded by images of people with abs or a certain body type on their social feed can lead young people to think that this is the norm. Making them aware of a range of body types can help them develop a balanced view of body image.
Many social media apps have settings to curate social feeds. This means young people can hide content they don’t want to see and keep their social feeds positive. See step-by-step guides for different platforms here.
Talk about the reasons behind why they are liking a picture; is it because others have liked it or because they’ve genuinely engaged with the photo? Getting them to think critically about this can help them developed a balanced view when it comes to seeking likes on social media.
Also, discuss the idea of algorithms. The more they ‘like’, comment and watch certain content, the more they will see. This means that negative content can be more difficult to get away from.
Positive self-image is more than just appearance. Remind children that they are more than what they see in the mirror. Encourage them to put value in the range of talents and skills they have to help them develop a strong sense of self and improve their self-esteem.
However, if they need to talk to someone, be open for them to come to you. Alternatively, helplines like Childline, Young Minds, The Mix and Meic can give them other options to talk about body image issues to get support.
Encourage them to celebrate what makes them unique, rather than comparing themselves to others online. Posting images that empower and inspire others can be a great tool to encourage others to do the same.
Similarly, encourage them to post honest images and videos instead of taking multiple photos or videos and editing the ones they choose.
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