In a recent study done by the American Psychological Association, teens and adolescents who reduced their social media usage by 50% saw a significant increase in the positive attitude they had towards their body image, weight, and overall appearance. On average, teens spend about 6-8 hours per day on social media, and these hours exposes them to beauty ideals and standards set by the mass that for many, are unattainable. The study that they conducted only looked at the short-term effect of reducing social media usage and it proved to be a potential component in treating “body-image-related disturbances” and is greatly beneficial to the vulnerable population with heavy social media usage. They expanded their research to include any gender limitations as well, but found that gender did not play a part in the differences in the views on body image. Teens and adolescents can be encouraged to decrease their screen time, especially on social media sites, to show positive improvement in mood and view for a short period of time. Currently, the same team is trying to conduct a study where the long-term effects of this strategy can be analyzed to prove even more greater psychological benefits.

Read the full article here!: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230223132843.htm

Tulsi Patel,

Research Assistant, UConn KIDS

---