SAFETY TIP OF THE WEEK

Accepting and sharing positive affirmations with our loved ones helps to break us all out of spiraling self-criticism. With so many social media platforms inspiring self-criticism, it is important, now more than ever, to be kind to ourselves and to our loved ones.

TODAY’S TOPIC

Self-Image and Social Media

When you hear the phrase “self-image,” you might think of the last time you looked in a mirror. Maybe you felt good about your reflection, and you strode out the door ready to take on the day, confident and comfortable in your appearance. Maybe you felt you couldn’t quite get your hair right, and no matter how hard you tried, you weren’t satisfied with the person looking back at you. Those days can be anxious and exhausting. Today, it is tough to shake the feeling that we aren’t good enough, especially when messages on social media are always near to hand. Swimsuit models, bodybuilders, influencers, and a whole host of people ready to comment on the content we post can make us feel small and uninteresting. Many social media platforms capitalize on the fact that we can’t seem to look away from those images that make us feel ashamed.

Instagram, especially, cultivates and capitalizes on this obsession. Its developers know that the time we spend judging our appearance can increase screen time and content engagement, so they tailor our content to instigate poor self-image. Dieting supplements and lifestyles have been pushed on girls as young as 13, assuring them that they are imperfect and that they can buy the solution from their linked sites. This pressure can lead to body dysmorphic disorder, in which young people feel fat, ugly, or otherwise inadequate. Low self-esteem and poor self-image can lead to feelings of depression and anxiety, and they can isolate your children from the love and connections they need in order to love themselves.

_{WHAT CAN YOU DO?}

It’s important to understand the pressures that social media apps like Instagram place on young people. Unfortunately, despite efforts to hold them accountable, social media companies are not making changes to the way they do business. They will continue to tailor content to drive up engagement, and they aren’t concerned about the negative impacts their apps can cause to your child’s mental health. Even so, these apps can only take from us when we give them our time and energy. Below are some tips for building your child’s self esteem amidst the constant pressures of social media.

• Encourage Reduced Screen Time, Especially during Bedtime: Setting healthy boundaries with social media helps you to stay in control of its power to affect your mental health. People existed without social media for millennia: it is not an essential part of existing in the world. The companies that create these apps don’t own you, and you don’t owe them your time, energy, or information. 

• Practice Positive Reinforcement of Self-Esteem: As children grow into adolescence, they often want to try new things. New looks, new hobbies, and new friends are all an important part of their journey. Being overly critical of these changes can make kids feel inadequate, and when they internalize that, it can lead to low self-esteem. Respect their autonomy in defining themselves while also keeping clear and firm boundaries against unacceptable behavior. As their #1 trusted adult, your children will look to you for stability and safety as they make their own journey of becoming themselves. 

• Actively Listen: Experiences in your child’s life might cause them to feel insecure. When that happens, they may come to you for reassurance. Listening to their interests and experiences validates their feelings. To listen actively, ask clarifying questions and encourage your child to share more details about things that stick out to you.

• Know Your Child’s Interests, Especially as They Appear in Social Media: As social media apps are built to reflect our interests on us, seeing your child’s feed can give you an idea of what sort of messages the apps are sending them. The apps may give you a better idea of activities you and your child can do together, or hobbies that your child might be interested in pursuing.

▶ Slang Word of the Week: “GOAT” – an acronym for “Greatest of All Time.” A person can be the GOAT or they can be GOATed, meaning that they have or resemble the qualities of one who is greatest of all time.