


The problem is these versions of “beauty” are not obtainable because they aren’t realistic. Social media influencers, celebrities, TV, movies, magazines and the internet all bombard teens with images and pressures about what their bodies should look like. Media’s effect on body image can cause self-image issues which can lead to eating disorders, drug and alcohol use, cutting, bullying and sexual risk behaviors.

Their mental perception of what they look like can become distorted, leading them to engage in risk behaviors when they feel they don’t measure up to the impossible goal set in front of them. Media, social media and peer pressures influence the way teens see themselves. 75 percent of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating.38 percent of boys in middle school and high school reported using protein supplements and nearly 6 percent admitted to experimenting with steroids.Teen girls that have a negative view of themselves are 4 times more likely to take part in activities with boys that they’ve ended up regretting later.About 20 percent of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood.Over 70 percent of girls age 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, when they feel bad about their looks.As parents and educators, it is vital to instill in our kids that beauty is more than skin deep educating them to look beyond the media’s view of beauty and not fall into the traps of eating disorders and unhealthy body image. How does media affect body image negatively? Society tells them that they must be thinner or more muscular to be loved, accepted and successful in life. The media and social media have created a world that makes teens believe their self-worth is solely based on their outward appearance. More than ever, teens today are saturated with a constant stream of media and societal pressures related to body image. How does media affect body image negatively? Empower students to say YES to self-acceptance and no to unhealthy body image
