We already know it’s hard out there on social media, with all the unrealistic beauty standards being set by some of the world’s most-followed influencers. But new data now shows the extent of the damage of all that filtering and photoshopping is having on young Aussies, with 52% of girls saying they constantly check how they look in photos and wish they looked better – and 48% revealing they often wish they looked like someone else.
It’s not the only disheartening statistic from the the new research, which was conducted by the Dove Self-Esteem Project. They also found that 70% of young girls in Australia believe the influencers they follow on social media set the standard for how they should look – yet 54% of the respondents admitted that seeing idealised beauty content impacts negatively impact their self-esteem.
“Social media has become a normal part of life for many people, but this is especially true for young girls,” explains Dr Hannah Jarman, Researcher in Body Image and Social Media and Dove’s campaign expert.
“While social media can be beneficial for some, the research suggests that it can also be quite harmful.”
Harmful indeed, with almost half of the girls who took part in the study admitting they have undertaken at least one beauty procedure, from invasive treatments such as botox and lip fillers to procedures like skin bleaching or lightening, tanning, teeth whitening and eyelash extensions as a result of toxic influencer advice – all in the name of looking like somebody else.
“Social media is often filled with ‘beautiful’ people living their ‘perfect’ lives and research tells us that the more we see this type of content, the more likely we are to compare ourselves,” explains Dr Jarman.
“Unsurprisingly, these comparisons cause girls to feel worse about themselves in a range of areas, from their appearance to their social life. Given the majority of young people use social media, it’s essential that something is done to start to address this issue.”
Changing the game
Interestingly, the research also found that 60% of young girls in Australia wish they had information about how to avoid or deal with idealised beauty content – and that’s where adults come in, right? That’s why Dove has partnered with the Butterfly Foundation and created the #DetoxYourFeed campaign, as well as developing a 4-step guide for parents to help them talk to kids about toxic beauty standards that are so prevalent on social media, and a downloadable Dove Confidence Kit.
“It is our mission to empower young people to define their own beauty standards and not feel pressure to look like someone they see on social media,” says Christine Weatherby, Dove Marketing Manager Australia.
“We want to arm parents, carers and educators with the tools they need to encourage young people to develop and maintain a healthy body image during the transition to adulthood.”
If you or someone you know needs support with body image issues or eating disorders, contact the Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23. For urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
